Car essential Wheelchair access Nearest amenities: 6 km
Notes:
No pets allowed Suitable for children No smoking at this property Self-catering
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 into 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 - the villa and inner courtyard with the Jacuzzi pool
La Tabaccaia - the master double bedroom opening onto both the inner courtyard and the gardens
La Tabaccaia = the living room with dining area opening onto one of the terraces
La Tabaccaia - the villa, inner courtyard and Jacuzzi pool
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.
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Pisa: 50 km
Railway:
Castelfiorentino: 6 km
Ferry:
Livorno: 50 km
Activities near Montaione
Sports: Tennis in town Horse Riding Golf within 30 mins drive Fishing
Great for: Walking holidays Rural / countryside retreats
Facilities
Luxuries:
Jacuzzi / Hot tub, Log fire, Internet access, DVD player
General:
Central heating, Air conditioning, TV, Video player, CD player, Telephone, Fax, Satellite TV, Wi-fi available
Bedrooms (3), En suite (2), Shower rooms (1), WCs (3)
Furniture:
Single beds (2), Double beds (2), Cots (1), Dining seating for 8, Lounge seating for 6, Sleeps maximum of 6
Other:
Linen and towels provided. Highchair available.
Outdoors:
Balcony / Terrace, Private outdoor pool (unheated), Private garden, BBQ
Access:
Wheelchair access, Secure parking
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 21 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. * There is daily morning fresh bread and grocery delivery service available as required. * A Children’s Club is held at Santo Stefano between 11 July and 29 August and is held a minimum of 3 mornings per week. The Club offers educational activities as well as periods of play including fun team games and activities where children can get to know each other and make new friends. The educational activities include learning about the estate of Santo Stefano and its history, archaeology, local nature and farm animals. Visits can be arranged to local places of interest for both children and their parents, such as old castles with wineries, olive oil mills and local museums. Please note that the Children’s Club is provided on a gratis basis and the only likely costs are for entrance fees to museums etc.
Conditions
To Book: A deposit of 30% of the rental is payable at the time of booking and the balance of 70% is required six 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.
Cancellation Charges: 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.
Security Deposit: A refundable breakage deposit of £1000 per rental is payable with your final balance and this will be refunded to you within 15 days of the end of the rental, assuming that there are no deductions for breakages or additional charges.
Prices: In the light of the current weakness of Sterling against the Euro we reserve the right to adjust prices to take account of significant changes in the exchange rate.
In promoting La Tabaccaia, Fattoria Santo Stefano, Montaione we are acting as agents on behalf of the owners Fattoria Santo Stefano srl. Full details of their booking conditions are available on application.
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: British £
Convert to:
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
Late October 2009
17 Oct 09
31 Oct 09
1725£1,725
0-
0-
1 Week
March - April 2010
20 Mar 10
3 Apr 10
2050£2,050
0-
0-
1 Week
Easter 2010
3 Apr 10
10 Apr 10
2340£2,340
0-
0-
1 Week
April 2010
10 Apr 10
1 May 10
2110£2,110
0-
0-
1 Week
May 2010
1 May 10
22 May 10
2340£2,340
0-
0-
1 Week
May - June 2010
22 May 10
26 Jun 10
2590£2,590
0-
0-
1 Week
June - July 2010
26 Jun 10
3 Jul 10
3030£3,030
0-
0-
1 Week
July - August 2010
3 Jul 10
21 Aug 10
3370£3,370
0-
0-
1 Week
Late August 2010
21 Aug 10
28 Aug 10
3030£3,030
0-
0-
1 Week
August - September 2010
28 Aug 10
4 Sep 10
2590£2,590
0-
0-
1 Week
September 2010
4 Sep 10
25 Sep 10
2590£2,590
0-
0-
1 Week
September - October 2010
25 Sep 10
16 Oct 10
2340£2,340
0-
0-
1 Week
Late October 2010
16 Oct 10
1 Nov 10
2050£2,050
0-
0-
1 Week
121
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
Prices Include:
* Rental of the property for a week / 7 nights including all utilities, air-conditioning and central heating as required.
* All linen for the villa, including pool towels
* Weekly maid service, additional maid service on request.
* Final cleaning at the end of the holiday.
* Wifi
Additional Services:
Cots, high chairs and baby baths can be arranged as required and are payable locally.
Payments:
Can be made by bank transfer, personal cheque and also by credit or debit card using Paypal in either Sterling or Euros. Please ask for the relevant Euro prices if required. We reserve the right to pass on the relevant merchant charge.
Guestbook for La Tabaccaia
Dear Linda, Thank you,we really enjoyed our stay at the villa and are considering returning with a large party of friends next year. Kind regards D G - 2009
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 - 2009
Availability
See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here
Key:
11
12
Booked
11
12
Available
11
12
Unknown
11
12
Arrival/Departure dates
Availability notes:
La Tabaccaia is open annually from Easter to the end of October.
Send Enquiry
To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/38451
Contact details for the advertiser of home 38451
Name:
Linda Bethell
Mobile:
+44 (0)7831 569685
Be aware of time-zones Please mention Holiday Lettings when contacting this advertiser
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