Villa Rovezzano is only a few minutes from central Florence and yet set in a peaceful and elegant park, approached by a long tree lined drive way. It is the perfect way to have total access to the city whilst still being able to escape in an oasis of green tranquillity.
The villa was originally the limonaio (Green house), stables and granary of a much larger noble villa near by. By no means diminutive it’s self it has been in the same Florentine family for several generations housing their residences upstairs and a cottage workshop that wove fine Florentine textiles downstairs, now on the ground floor there are 4 apartments.
The villa was built on medieval foundations in the 17th century. During the second half of the 19th century it used to belong to the baroness Firella Favard de L’Anglade and since 1946 houses the artesian workshop created by Countess Maria Antionietta di Frassineto who wished to continue the antique Florentine Renaissance art of hand weaving drapery fabrics. Guests are also invited to observe specific characteristics and the fabric production techniques in the owners historical archives.
Accommodation: One enters the villa by way of a fairly steep stair case which finishes in a spacious open area that houses a large antique writing desk and book shelves. From there is a long hall way off of which open all the double bedrooms with their own bathroom. Each room has it’s own television and air conditioning. Wi-Fi internet connection available.
The bathrooms are pleasantly tiled with pastel colours and in good condition, they were last renovated in 2008 and are all fitted with hairdryers. The bathrooms are all en suite and have showers.
At the end of the hall way is the sitting room with another smaller desk, two commodious comfy sofas, a fire place and other occasional furniture. The white washed walls are hung with 18th and 19th century prints, the floors are original worn terracotta and the ceilings have massive chestnut beams. From the living room one passes to a large open plan dining and kitchen area that opens on to an equally spacious terrace, wide enough for two long dinning tables as well as sun lounges and pots of lemons.
The kitchen is well out fitted with stove, oven, fridge and dishwasher as well as a big wooden dining table and Carrara marble counters.
Garden and Swimming pool: A delightful gravelled path, flanked with clipped hedges and a shady avenue of mature poplar trees, leads you to the villa. The large and immaculately manicured renaissance park includes a walled vegetable garden, a fenced area with the swimming pool and extensive lawns, on the other side of clipped hedges stretches an even larger botanical garden belonging to the Florence city council.
The feeling is of being immersed in greenery despite being minutes from the city centre. Please note that swimming pool is open in high season only and is 11,50 x 7,00 meters and 1,30 - 2,20 meters deep. The pool is private and just occasionally is shared with the owners.