Villa di Pietra is a typical Tuscan villa with an exclusive swimming pool with spetacular views.This independant villa is the centre of a property of over 18 acres of woods and olive groves. It is on the last Western slope of Mount Albano, approx. 250 mtrs. above sea level. The owners have carried out a rigorous and accurate renovation using only materials (such as stone) from the surrounding area and period while ensuring a structure which respects the norms of bio-architecture. The living areas have been renovated with a careful eye for details - antique furniture, (some going back as far as the 16th Century.) antique ornaments, paintings, doors, prints and Persian carpets. On the other hand, the house has every possible modern comfort.
Ground floor: Large lounge-dining room which seats up to 14 people and has a large 15th century fireplace with lounges and armchairs. There is also a lovely view of the garden and pool area as well as views looking up to the old town (the original town) of Monsummano Alto. Another sitting come lounge room which leads to the big Tuscan kitchen with its own fireplace and antique-style oven. On this floor there is a bathroom decorated with an antique basin and floor but with modern design shower etc. There is also a double bedroom which gives onto a covered verandah with table and chairs(actually church pews) for eating overlooking the pool and hillside towns. north verandah, south verandah, Laundry: next to the kitchen there is the laundry with a large washing machine.
Second floor They are furnished with antique furniture, paintings and Persian carpets.
From the entrance there is a stone staircase leading to the bedrooms It has a beautiful wrought iron 17thC bannister. On the floor of the middle and top landings of the staricase there are cotto tiles dipicting the Florentine lily. On the ceiling there are cotto rosettes painted in imitation bronze.
One main bedroom (30 sq.mtrs.) with its own bathroom with Turkishbath/shower and a lovely view up to Monsummano Alto which is lit up at night. Another bedroom which is a little smaller and has a view over the valley, olive groves, woods and pool. It shares a bathroom (with a Jacuzzi bath and shower with light and aroma therapy.)with the third bedroom which has two single beds which, on rerquest, can be put together to form a double bed.
This also has a pidgeon hole window which looks up to Monsummano Alto (Alto means "on high"). All the upstairs bedrooms have antique cotto floors and beams, which have been restored with taste and care by the owners.
Yellow bedroom: This is the master bedroom and it is 30 sq mtrs. The bedroom itself has a very tall Piedmonte 18thC oak wardrobe, a king-size brass bed above which hangs a large Madonna and Child ,an oil painting of the Bologna school of the 17thC. In front of the bed is a French window with a lovely view over the Southern valley and up to Monsummano Alto which is illuminated at night.On one side of the window there is a 17thC red velvet chair and on the other side there is a 17thC chest of drawers. The room is finished with antique prints, paintings and a large persian carpet. The Bolognese walnut 17thC little table is below the second window. Note the 2 laquered Neapolitan doors if the 18thC.This bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with a Turkish bath with Jacuzzi shower, aroma and chromo therapy and there is magnificent view of the valley through the large double window.
Blue bedroom: To the left of the landing there is the blue bedroom with 2 single beds (that can be put together to make a double bed), which on request can be united. The paintings are French, the 18thC walnut wardrobe is from Piedmont and the chest of drawers is Liberty. This room shares the bathroom of the pink bedroom
Red bedroom: As a bed-head we have used the frontespiece of a C 17th walnut chest. There are two delightfull Napoleon III bedside commodes and a C 18th walnut wardrob from Piedmont. There is also a Tuscan priedieu of the C 18th, a Louis Philippe armchair and a beautiful walnut chestofdrawers/desk with rolldown top. Persian carpets and antique paintings complete the decor.
The bathroom has two doors, one for the blu and one for the red bedroom. A multifunctional Jacuzzi tub and shower with chromo and ozono therapy. Above the bath there is an oval stone window with a lovely view out over the valley and olive trees.
The outside: The outside of the villa is covered with tipical local stone as are almost all the houses in the surrounding area and keeps the original aspect of when it was built two hundred years ago. The garden looks over a 360° view of woods and olive groves , hill side towns and hills with chestnuts and cypress trees. To the North one can see the towers of Serravalle Pistoiese and in the distance the mountains of Abetone, famous skiing resort. To the South West the characteristic hillside town of Monsummano Alto. The road in front of the villa leads only to the few surrounding houses. All i