San Gimignano holiday apartment accommodation, Gambassi Terme with walking, rural retreat, TV, DVD

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TORRICCHI PODERE APARTMENT.3 (apartment)

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Podere Torricchi is in a typical tuscan landscape characterised by hills with olive trees and mediterrenean bush. Podere Torricchi is a group of converted farm buildings. The apartment has been newly restored in a traditional Tuscan style.

Gambassi Terme and San Gimignano are only few kilometers far. At disposition of the guests is a shared pool(14metersx7meters), private garden, barbecue, private parking and also a lot of paths for naturalistic walkings by foot or mountain-bike, dipped in the forest where it is possible to meet the classic fauna totally free (hares, wild boars,squirrels, pheasants and deer) with plenty in the surrounding area to see and do during your stay.

The surrounding landscape is just spectacular. Torricchi number 3 apartment is ideal for up to 6 people.
It is composed by a large sitting room on the ground floor with kitchenette with 6 fire plates, electric hoven and fridge with freezer, fireplace, and a double bed-sofa.On this floor there is 1 bedroom with a king size bed and en suite bathroom. On the first floor 1 room with a castle bed (this the kids room), 1 double room with stunning view on the countrisyde and 1 bathroom. Outside is a area furnished with table, chairs and barbecue so to eat outside.

13 apartments are available - please enquire for more information.

Our flat	Swimming pool at Torricchi farm
Swimming pool	Living room and kitchen

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/56787

The Tuscany region

Very few places in the world can boast an artistic legacy with contents so deeply rooted in the territory and popular culture as Tuscany. We invite you to discover this elect land of art and civilisation which today continues to be a sought-after place of residence and source of inspiration for numerous Italian and foreign artists.

The countless testimonies of art in Tuscany indeed narrate a story as articulated and complex as it is unique and unrepeatable, starting at the dawn of civilisation and continuing, without solution of continuity, up until present day.

For the visitor, a trip to Tuscany at the beginning of the Third Millennium holds much the same fascination that accompanied the travellers on the Grand Tour. The first-time visitor to the lands of Tuscany can not but be amazed by the natural symbiosis between landscape and culture, history and the expressive means of architecture and town-planning, the urban and rural dimension, and its patrimony of art, architecture, monuments and museums.

Podere Torricchi is the perfect starting place for fascinating escursions in the nicest places of artistic Tuscany, from Florence, Pisa, Siena that are about 50 km far, to the nearest Volterra and San Gimignano (20 km), Valdelsa and the numerous minor centres you can discover.

San Gimignano / Gambassi Terme area

San Gimignano is Town declared by UNESCO to be part of the World's Architectural Heritage!!!

San Gimignano rises on a hill (334m high) dominating the Elsa Valley with its towers. Once the seat of a small Etruscan village of the Hellenistic period (200-300 BC) it began its life as a town in the 10th century taking its name from the Holy Bishop of Modena, St. Gimignano, who is said to have saved the village from the barbarian hordes. The town increased in wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages thanks to the "Via Francigena" the trading and pilgrim's route that crossed it. Such prosperity lead to the flourishing of works of art to adorn the churches and monasteries. In 1199 it became a free municipality and fought against the Bishops of Volterra and the surrounding municipalities. Due to internal power struggles it eventually divided into two factions one headed by the Ardinghelli family (Guelphs) and the other by the Salvucci family (Ghibellines). On the 8th May 1300 Dante Alighieri came to San Gimignano as the Ambassador of the Guelph League in Tuscany. In 1348 San Gimignano's population was drastically reduced by the Black Death Plague throwing the city into a serious crisis which eventually led to its submission to Florence in 1353. In the following centuries San Gimignano overcame its decline and isolation when its beauty and cultural importance together with its agricultural heritage were rediscovered. The construction of the towers dates back to the 11th and 13th centuries. The architecture of the city was influenced by Pisa, Siena and Florence. There are 14th century paintings of the Sienese School to be seen and 15th century paintings of the Florentine School.
These are the most important events held in the city:
"Ferie delle messi"
Medieval Harvest Festival of the People of San Gimignano.
Blessing of the knights, historical parade, tournament, medieval games and entertainment that commemorate the harvest period. (JUNE)
"Dentro e fuori le mura - Dalla Città per la Città"
SUMMER MUSIC FFESTIVAL
A series of performances and events including opera, poetry, theatre, ballet, classical concerts and movies. (JULY – AUGUST)
Castelvecchio Historical Group
Archeological Summer Camp.
Excavations at Castelvecchio. (AUGUST)
San Gimignano Musica
Classical music concerts. (SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER)

San Gimignano is also very famous for the SAFFRON:
The extremely pure saffron of San Gimignano is produced naturally without the use of any chemical products in all phases of its cultivation, drying and conservation.
The saffron of San Gimignano is extremely pure. It is produced naturally and no chemical products are used in any phase of its cultivation, drying and conservation. The saffron stamens are packaged whole in order to guarantee their pure quality as well as to protect their strong pungent and slightly bitterish aroma.

Open air markets ( food) , pub, restaurants and pizzeria, famous italian ice cream shop ,church, medical doctor and police station are available in San Gimignano
Vernaccia Wine - Vernaccia di San Gimignano
In 1966, VERNACCIA was the first Italian wine to receive the Denominazione di Origine Controllata, a prestigious recognition given to the wine by the Italian government for quality. The vernaccia, one of Italy's highest quality white wines, is produced exclusively in the territory of the Medieval town of San Gimignano (SI) a major tourist attraction known through out the world.
The medium altitude of the vines is approximately 280 meters and the earth is pliocene, made up of jellow sand and sandy clay.
The vines are grown in part Gujot and in part rammed cord, with a density of about 3000 stocks per hectare.
The time in which the grape harvest takes place is roughly from September 15 to October 15, with a yield of 90 quintals of grapes per hectare.
The wine-making process in "white " follows the traditional style with a gentle pressing and low temperature in order to keep its exceptional fragrance.
The fermentation, at a controlled temperature, has a medium duration of 12 to 18 days in either cement or steel vats.

These are the characteristics for VERNACCIA di SAN GIMIGNANO:
COLOR: yellow straw-like hue, tending towards a golden color with age;
SCENT: fight and penetrating;
TASTE: dry, with a slightly bitter after taste;
SUGAR: max. residue 4%o;
TOTAL ACIDITY: min. 5%o;
DRY EXTRACT: net min. 15%o;
ALCOHOLIC GRADE: min. 11%. For the "Riserva " 11, 50%o;
Some producers, destinate a part of their choosen vineyards (to report to the CCIAA) to the making of VERNACCIA "RISERVA". With the decree of 9 July 1993 n. 169 signed by the minister of the agriculture On. Diana, VERNACCIA di SAN GIMIGNANO has entered into the category of the finer Italian prestigious wines carrying the title of D. O. C. G. (De- nominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita).
VERNACCIA of 'SAN GIMIGNANO is an excellent aperitif, it is also excellent with hor d'eouvres, it is an exquisite accompaniment with all fish dishes and is highly suitable, for white meat courses.
To be served cool at a temperature of 11 -12° C.
San Gimignano Olive Oil
Togheter with the wheat and the vine, the olive-tree was the third support of the Greeks’ production. Tardily it was imported to Italy and little by little it became a basic element for Roman economy and culture. So the olive oil assumed an important function of cultural identification, opposite to the animal fat (butter,lard…) that characterized celtic and germanic civilisation of north Europe. In fact for grecian writers the BARBARIC world was made of men who ate butter rathen than oil.
Apart from food aim, it was also utilized for cosmetics (e.g. into perfumes). The cultivation and the utilization of olive oil grew up during the Middle Ages, also thanks to the Christian Religion propagation that emploied olive oil into various Liturgical Rites, and forced people to observe abstinence from animal food some days a week.
Today Italian law defines the olive oil the product optained by the working fruit (DRUPA) of olive-tree (OLEA EUROPEA) without different kind of oil and substances addition. The classifications depend on the various type of working (vergine, extravergine…) and Tuscany boasts one of the best national production, thanks to the soil, the weather and its secular trees.
The Saffron of San Gimignano
The saffron is a spice taked out of CROCUS SATIVUS purple flowers, a little bulbous plant named saffron too. The plant grows up whether in a spontaneous way, and it flowers in autumn (From October to November), or cultivated in different variety, and San Gimignano offers the right conditions to favour its full growth.

The entire process of cultivation is manually executed in the morning, when the flowers are closed. The flowers are dried up under the sun or near a moderate heat and they are also traded as powder, assuming a particular yellow colour.

The spice finds employment to colour and flavour foods, and it is diffused in central and south Europe.

How to get there

Podere Torricchi is at about 1 hour drive from FLORENCE (55 kilometers)

Get the Firenze- Siena "superstrada" and exit at Poggibonsi Nord. Follow for San Gimignano and drive through the village. Follow for Gambassi Terme.

All major low-cost airlines fly to Pisa Airport from most important airports in UK. (Ryanair, Thomsonfly and Jet2)

Pisa Airport is about 1 hour drive to Podere Torricchi.

Florence Peretola airport is only at about 1 hour and 15 minutes drive.

Fly to Florence Peretola from Heathrow or Gatwick airport.

Car hire comapnies operate from both Florence or Pisa airport (Hertz, Maggiore and Avis)

Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

Shops and local restaurants are at about 3 kilometers from Torricchi
San Gimignano is at about 8 kilometres, same as Montaione and Gambassi Terme

Activities near San Gimignano

Facilities

Further details indoors:
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a large sitting room with a lovely kitchen

Further details outdoors:
For your pleasant stay, the Podere Torricchi makes available to you:
Swimming pool with exclusive view on the hills and loungers, private parking with lighting system.

Further details

All Linen is provided excluding swimming pool towels.
Change of linen once a week
Bookings: Minimum stay 3 nights during low season, minimum 1 week during mid and high season
Rental is flexible.

Conditions

30% on reservation please.
Payment by bank transfer.

CANCELLATION POLICY
FROM TO CANCELLATION FEE
Reservation 51 days before Check In 30%
50 days before Check In 31 days before Check In 50%
30 days before Check In 11 days before Check In 70%
10 days before Check In 0 hours before Check In 100%
No Show - 100%

A deposit of Euro. 200,00 is required.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
VERY LOW	18 May 09	7 Jun 09	400£ 364	0-	0-	1 Week
LOW	7 Jun 09	5 Jul 09	500£ 455	0-	0-	1 Week
MEDIUM	5 Jul 09	10 Jul 09	600£ 545	0-	0-	1 Week
HIGH	10 Jul 09	18 Jul 09	850£ 773	0-	0-	1 Week
HIGH	21 Jul 09	6 Sep 09	700£ 636	0-	0-	1 Week
MEDIUM	6 Sep 09	1 Nov 09	600£ 545	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

Refundable deposit of Euro. 200,00 is required at final payment

30% deposit with booking required. Remainder to be paid 4 weeks prior to visit.

We can accept payments by bank transfer in GBP or Euros.

Guestbook for TORRICCHI PODERE APARTMENT.3

Thank You for the wonderful stay, very enjoyable and beautiful.John & Sarah July 2008

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Send Enquiry

To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/56787

Contact details for the advertiser of home 56787
Name:	Marco Nori Bufalini
Tel:	+39 055 489869
Fax:	+39 055 474809
Mobile:	+39 335 7876922
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Advertiser joined: May 2008