Montaione holiday villa rental, Santo Stefano with walking, log fire, jacuzzi/hot tub, disabled access, balcony/terrace, air con

Print this pageE-mail to FriendAdd to Facebook

La Tabaccaia (villa)

Home description

Set amongst Mediterranean gardens and lawns, La Tabaccaia is approached through impressive wrought iron gates and a long cypress lined drive which takes you to the courtyard at the front of this impressive three bedroom villa. Fully air-conditioned and built and furnished to the highest standards with a cool, modern, contemporary décor, this new villa iscomplimented by large picture windows which provide views to the gardens and beyond.

It is rare in Tuscany to find a villa that offers such a high standard of accommodation and facilities with a large private Jacuzzi pool. La Tabaccaia is perfect for a small family or three couples appreciating luxurious accommodation in a very exclusive location.

Dating from the 13th century, the private country estate of the Fattoria Santo Stefano is set amongst a sweeping landscape of gentle hills and valleys in a little known area of northern Tuscany, yet less than an hour from the historic centres of Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Siena. The estate covers over 1000 acres of rolling countryside, lakes, woodlands, cornfields, olive groves, vineyards - even a wildlife reserve. At its centre is the hamlet of Santo Stefano with the remains of an old castle and church with its Etruscan tombs and cellars which remains in use today.

A number of the estate’s former farmhouses and agricultural buildings have been carefully restored by local craftsmen to offer holiday accommodation with all the facilities demanded by the 21st century holidaymaker, but with all the charm of a classic Tuscan estate.

La Tabaccaia - inner courtyard and Jacuzzi pool	La Tabaccaia - the master double bedroom
La Tabaccaia - the lounge and kitchen area	La Tabaccaia - the inner courtyard with sunloungers and seating

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/38451

The Tuscany region

The people of Tuscany can rightly claim to have just about the best of everything - Italy’s greatest collection of art, classical architecture, beautiful countryside, some of finest fresh produce to be found in Italy and many quality wines. It was the home of the Renaissance, some 600 years ago, that had a quite dramatic effect on the remainder of Europe.

Visitors are drawn to Tuscany by the architectural splendours of Florence and Siena, the wonderful art of Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and many other 14th to 16th century masters. But there is much more to a holiday in Tuscany away from the ‘tourist honey pots’, a wonderful rolling countryside, charming villages and some of Italy’s most impressive hill towns including San Gimignano, Volterra, Cortona and Montepulciano. But wherever you travel in Tuscany you will come across villages with charming piazzas, historic churches, cafes and enticing food shops set amongst fields of sunflowers, olives and vineyards.

Montaione / Santo Stefano area

Nearby La Tabaccaia are the market towns of Castelfiorentino and Montaione (both just 6kms away), each has a good range of shops, cafes, restaurants and weekly market. Supermarkets and food shops are open Monday to Saturday from 0830 to 1300 and then from 1600 to 1930. Some food shops are open in Montaione on a Sunday morning in summer between 0830 and 1300. Slightly further away are the historic town of Certaldo and Gambassi Terme with its spas.

Food is an important part of any holiday in Tuscany and there is an excellent selection of restaurants ranging from friendly trattorie to internationally renowned restaurants all within easy reach of the estate. One of our favourites and offering good value for money is Il Caminetto, which lies on the edge of the estate and serves wonderful Tuscan home cooking. Another favourite is the Antico Posto in nearby Castelfiorentino which serves local specialities. Osteria del Vicario, set in historic Certaldo Alto, which serves fine creative cooking and I Quattro Gigli in Montopoli serving Tuscan medieval specialities. All have excellent cellars offering some wonderful Tuscan wines.

There is a good range of sporting facilities in the surrounding area. There is a tennis club in Castelfiorentino, mountain bikes can be rented and riding can be booked at a local ranch. Fishing can be arranged at Montaione and Moriolo and there is an 18 hole golf course at Castelfalfi, just 25 kms away.

The management of the Santo Stefano estate have an unsurpassed knowledge of their local area. They are on hand to assist you to make the very best of your holiday and can recommend places to visit and will make reservations for sports facilities and local restaurants. Through their excellent local contacts private tours and informal visits can be organised to potteries, historic villas, gardens, vineyards and olive mills. They can also advise on the local shopping outlets, local speciality shops, spas and beauty treatments.

La Tabaccaia makes a perfect base if you want to explore the many attractions of Northern Tuscany. Set almost equidistant between Florence, Lucca, Siena and Pisa, Santo Stefano is perfectly placed for visiting most of the famous towns and villages of Tuscany. San Gimignano with its medieval 'skyscrapers' is 25 kms, Volterra one of Tuscany’s best kept secrets is 40 kms, Lucca one of Tuscany’s most perfect towns is 60 kms away, whilst the many historic attractions of Florence, Pisa and Siena are all within 50 kms and less than an hour’s drive away.

FLORENCE to the north east of La Tabaccaia – known locally as Firenze, the city is located in a valley on the banks of the River Arno amongst low hills covered with olive groves and vineyards. Cradle of the Renaissance and home of Machiavelli, Michelangelo and the Medici you could spend the whole of your holiday in the city. Florence is compact and probably the best way to experience it and to get your bearings is firstly to take guided tour. If your time is limited start on the Ponte Vecchio, then the Uffizi gallery, The Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Gondi, Brunelleschi’s masterpiece, the Duomo and Giotto’s Campanile and much, much more.

SIENA to the south east of La Tabaccaia – home of the famous Palio horse race, has a wonderful medieval centre bristling with majestic Gothic buildings such as the Palazzo Pubblico on Il Campo (the Piazza del Campo), the main square which is the setting for the Palio. The Duomo, or cathedral is one of Italy’s greatest gothic churches, begun in 1196 and a wonderful example of a Pisan church. Throughout the city a wealth of art is to be found in numerous churches and small museums.

PISA to the north west of La Tabaccaia – was once a major maritime power to rival Genoa and Venice, but today its fame is from an architectural project that went terribly wrong – the Leaning Tower. The tower is a part of a trio of Romanesque pieces of architecture that adorn the Campo dei Miracoli, one of Italy’s most famous squares.

LUCCA to the north west of La Tabaccaia - is a Tuscan gem hidden behind imposing Renaissance walls, which enclose a compact centre of atmospheric medieval streets and towers, Romanesque churches and palazzo. Piazzas like the Anfitheatro are a wonderful place for a leisurely meal just watching the world go by.

SAN GIMIGNANO to the south east of La Tabaccaia – as you crest a hill approaching the town from the east the 13 towers of this walled city make it look like a medieval Manhattan. The towers, there were once 72, were symbols of the power and wealth of the medieval families during the 12th and 13th centuries.

VOLTERRA due south of La Tabaccaia - is set on an imposing rocky plateau and the town’s imposing ramparts give it a forbidding air. Less commercialised than nearby San Gimignano, the streets have a timeless quality and the views over the surrounding countryside are quite exceptional .

How to get there

BY Air - The nearest airports are Pisa (50kms), Florence (50kms), Bologna (150 kms), Genoa (210 kms) and Milan (325 kms). Of these airports Pisa is the most convenient and most easily accessible airport from the UK as it is served by both British Airways and a range of low cost carriers. Airlines serving Pisa from UK include:
* British Airways - www.ba.com - from Gatwick.
* Ryanair - www.ryanair.com - from Bournemouth; Doncaster; Dublin; East Midlands; Glasgow; Liverpool; Stansted.
* Easyjet -www.easyjet.com - from Bristol; Gatwick.
* Thomsonfly - www.thomsonfly.com - from Bournemouth; Coventry; Doncaster; Gatwick; Manchester.
* jet2 - www.jet2.com - from Belfast; Edinburgh; Leeds Bradford: Manchester; Newcastle.
* Meridiana (part of Alitalia) flies to Florence from Gatwick.
CAR HIRE – Can be arranged at all airports. Check these sites www.holidayautos.com; www.europcar.com; www.avis.com; www.hertz.com
BY CAR - If you prefer to drive, the following sites can help you to plan you route – www.viamichelin.co.uk; www.theaa.com; www.rac.co.uk. There are many routes and one of the best is to cross the Channel and then travel via Belgium, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, Switzerland, the Gottard Tunnel, Milan, Bologna and Florence to Santo Stefano. There is secure free car-parking.

Activities near Montaione

Facilities

Further details indoors:
Built of stone on one level, the entrance to the villa is from the front paved inner courtyard which houses the Jacuzzi pool and a number of furnished sitting and eating areas beneath several old olive trees. The well equipped and furnished living room incorporates a modern kitchen and dining area and a comfortable lounge. The lounge has Satellite TV and DVD and CD player, and an impressive feature fireplace. Stone walls contrast with contemporary wooden floors and comfortable furnishings. Large sliding doors open onto a rear terrace and lawned garden area, with far reaching views over the estate.

From the lounge there is rear lobby off which is the spacious master double bedroom furnished in contemporary hues of grey with two full walls of glass. Sliding doors on one side of the room open onto the front inner courtyard and Jacuzzi pool, whilst on the other they open on to another small terrace and the lawned gardens. With its large king size double bed the bedroom is well furnished and equipped, with a feature fireplace. En suite to the bedroom is a large modern shower room. From the lobby a further door opens onto a furnished rear terrace which faces east and is perfect for breakfast and taking the morning sun.

From the entrance a corridor overlooking the Jacuzzi pool leads to the two other bedrooms. The furnishings continue the contemporary theme and both have wonderful large double sliding doors which open onto the rear terrace and lawns. The first bedroom is a twin with an en suite shower room and the second is a double bedroom with an adjoining shower room.

Further details outdoors:
La Tabaccaia is surrounded by lawns and terraces and has a number of sitting and dining areas which will allow you to follow the sun, breakfast facing east at the rear, lunch on the south terrace and sundowners on the front inner courtyard overlooking the Jacuzzi pool. At night the gardens are lit producing an ethereal feeling located in a very exclusive and private environment.

Further details

* On your day of arrival the villa will be available between 1700 and 2000 and you will be expected to depart between 0800 and 1000 to allow for the preparation of the property for new arrivals. Please take this into account when booking flights.
* The swimming pool, weather permitting, is open from 15 March to 01 November.
* The English manager of the estate and her team are on hand to assist you to make the very best of your holiday at Fattoria Santo Stefano.
* A full range of concierge services from cooks to baby sitters, from daily morning fresh bread and grocery delivery service to restaurant reservations are available as required - full details on request.
* Please note that the villa has wi-fi internet and a good mobile signal. Fax and land line telephone is available from the Fattoria office.

Conditions

A deposit of 30% of the rental is payable at the time of booking and the balance of 70% is required 8 weeks before the start of the holiday rental. Payments can be made by personal cheque and also by credit or debit card using Paypal in either Sterling or Euros. We reserve the right to pass on the relevant merchant charge.

In the case of cancellation the following cancellation fees will apply:
* Up to 60 days before the start of a rental - the cancellation fee is the 30% deposit
* Between 60 days and the start of the rental - the cancellation fee is 100% of the rental. If the property is relet at the same rent for the period cancelled by you then a 10% cancellation fee will be made.

We would therefore recommend that you should take out comprehensive travel insurance including cancellation cover when you book your holiday.

A refundable breakage deposit of Euro 2000 or £1500 per rental is paid with the final balance and this will be returned at the end of the rental, assuming that there are no deductions for breakages.

The weekly rental price includes:
* Rental of the property for a week / 7 nights including all utilities, all linen and towels, and air-conditioning and central heating as required.
* Maid service 5 days a week with a change of bath linens. Additional services on request.
* Final cleaning at the end of the holiday.

In promoting La Tabaccaia, Montaione we are acting on behalf of the owners Fattoria Santo Stefano srl.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
June - August	15 Aug 08	30 Aug 08	2985£  2,985	0-	0-	1 Week
August - September	30 Aug 08	27 Sep 08	1995£  1,995	0-	0-	1 Week
September - October	27 Sep 08	11 Oct 08	1995£  1,995	0-	0-	1 Week
October - November	11 Oct 08	1 Nov 08	1790£  1,790	0-	0-	1 Week
Easter 2009	4 Apr 09	18 Apr 09	2690£  2,690	0-	0-	1 Week
April - May - June 2009	18 Apr 09	1 Jul 09	2475£  2,475	0-	0-	1 Week
July - August 2009	1 Jul 09	1 Sep 09	3150£  3,150	0-	0-	1 Week
September 2009	1 Sep 09	1 Oct 09	2475£  2,475	0-	0-	1 Week
October 2009	1 Oct 09	7 Nov 09	1995£  1,995	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.
The prices quoted for La Tabaccaia are based on 6 people sharing the property. Prices are determined by the arrival date. A full consierge package is available - please ask for details

Payments can be made by personal cheque and also by credit or debit card using Paypal in either Sterling or Euros. We reserve the right to pass on the relevant merchant charge.

Guestbook

Dear Linda,

Just got back from Tuscany, thank you for the use of your lovely villa, we had a great holiday.

All the best

C & M.

Availability notes

To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/38451

Contact owner

To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/38451

Contact details for home 38451 Please mention Holiday Lettings
Name:	Linda Bethell
Mobile:	+44 (0)7831 569685
Be aware of time-zones
Languages:
Contact Notes: E mails - any time
Advertiser joined: 16 Jan 2007 This property added: 3 Oct 2007

Your Name
Your E-mail
Telephone
Dates	JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec   to   JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Guests	Adults       Children
Message
Where did you find us?	--Please select--Search EngineWord of MouthNewspaperMagazineRyanair Seat BackExhibitionForum / Other WebsitePrevious BookingRightmoveOther
Receive newsletter (info) Receive copy of enquiry
Use of this form is restricted to genuine enquiries about renting this property. Unsolicited commercial marketing is strictly prohibited.

Other homes from this owner
The Lakes Due in Montaione, Italy	Anxova Blava in Collioure, France	Les Pins in Argeles, France	The Lakes Uno in Montaione, Italy