Villa Leopoldo A

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Apartment |2 bedrooms |Sleeps 4

Montisi in San Giovanni d'Asso

from £159 / night

£1111–£1213 / week

1 night minimum stay

Changeover Saturday

Be the first to write a review

Key info  Swimming pool, balcony/terrace, car essential, private garden, no pets allowed

Check availability and book

About the home

Villa Leopoldo A is an enthralling 110–square–meter (about 1,184 square feet)
apartment which sleeps four people. It features a wide private terrace with a
view to a valley and shared swimming pool and garden. The apartment is part of a
fascinating historical construction. It features heating and parking space.

There is a double bedroom, a twin bedroom, two bathrooms, a living–room with a
fireplace, and a kitchen.


The place

You will be in a small and gracious medieval hamlet consisting of old houses in
stone and surrounded by the green of vineyards and olive groves. The hamlet is
located on a prominent position on one of the sweet hills which are part of the
'Crete Senesi '. All around you is a landscape which is the most loved and
typical of Tuscany, reproduced by numerous artists and filled with an atmosphere
of peace and tranquility to be experienced by all!

You will be in the area where the famous Brunello di Montalcino wine is produced.
The little town of Montalcino, with its beautiful cellars where you can taste
heavenly wine is only 27 km (about 16.7 miles) away. The beautiful medieval
towns of Pienza and Sinalunga are about 15 km (about 9.3 miles) away, Siena is
50 km (about 31 miles) away, and Florence is 110 km (about 68.3 miles) away.

In addition, a few feet away from the place, there is a restaurant and some food
shops. In Pienza you will have shops open even on Sunday.

You will need a car during your stay at Villa Leopoldo A.


Its history

From the fourteenth century…

The apartment is part of a small castle whose origin dates back to the
fourteenth century. During that century, the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala
of Siena, owner of the surrounding lands, built the castle as a fort to keep all
the products of the place. The warehouses of wheat and oil, along with the main
house and the peasant and artisan lodgings, were enclosed within the crenellated
walls and protected by a high watch tower and moats filled with water.

During centuries the hamlet and the nearby land had belonged to the Hospital of
Siena. But then, in 1775, the place was sold by the Grand Duke of Toscana,
Pietro Leopoldo, to the ancestors of the current proprietors.

Unfortunately the elegant medieval crenellated tower was destroyed and knocked
down by the Germans during their withdrawal from the Second World War.

…up to today!

The castle still preserves its medieval structure on the inside: still intact
are the two small courts around which there were the lodgings of the peasants
and the shops of the artisans. And you can still visit the main house. On the
walls you can still see the old coat of arms of the Hospital of Santa Maria
della Scala and of the oligarchs who have succeeded throughout the centuries.

Inside the master apartments you will be able to visit the bedroom with the
splendid canopy bed where the Grand duke Pietro Leopoldo used to sleep during
his visits, the old reception room with its authentic furnishings, the great
kitchen, and also a gracious and small eighteenth–century theater.

Right outside the walls you will see a perfectly preserved small church where
religious ceremonies and weddings can be held.

The castle is surrounded by lands from which their proprietors still get wine
and olive oil: products that you can purchase at the place along with the
fantastic creamy Limoncello, which is produced by the owner with the lemons of
the garden.


The shared swimming pool and the gardens

While at Villa Leopoldo, you will have, along with other guests of the other
three small apartments, a large garden and a beautiful 11 x 7 meter (about 36 x
22 feet) swimming pool completely at your disposal. The pool is in a panoramic
position, and even from inside the water you will have a wide view of the wavy
hills below.

Around the swimming pool there are umbrellas, sun loungers, and deck chairs. And
next to the pool, you can relax outdoors on a terrace shaded by a cover with
roofing tiles.

The swimming pool is available from half April to half October.

You will be able to organize outdoor barbecues, maybe with the famous Tuscan
steak: in the garden, at your disposal, is a barbecue in stone and a pergola
under which there are tables and wooden benches.

From the garden you can reach a portico under which a ping–pong table and some
mountain bikes are placed, all available to every guest.

Another wide and fascinating shared garden is placed along the walls of the
castle, and it features the shape of a large and long terrace facing the valley
below. This garden is shaded by a linden tree and fruit trees, and there are
also big vases where lemon trees are cultivated, quite typical of old Tuscan
master houses. In the shade of the trees, you will have tables and chairs
available.

Along with the entrance to this garden, you will notice a spacious common living
area. It is an informal and nice room to be enjoyed with somebody else: it
features a magnificent vaulted ceiling with bricks, and you will also notice,
amidst shelves with bottles of wine and antique objects of the countryside life,
a small living–room in wicker furniture, a table, an easel, and a lot of space
for you to enjoy your hobbies.


The house

Villa Leopoldo A has an entrance which is separate from the inside courtyard. In
order to step into the apartment, you have to climb a stairway consisting of 15
steps of stone. You will enter a spacious living–room where there is a large
fireplace, a couch, armchairs, and a television set. The kitchen communicates
with the living– room, and it is quite spacious. Besides the cooking area, there
is also a dining table. The kitchen is equipped with a four–burner stove, a
small oven, and a fridge.

From the living–room you can reach the two beautiful bedrooms, which have
windows overlooking the valley. The bedrooms are large and elegantly furnished.
Each has its own bathroom with shower. One room is a double bedroom while the
other features two single beds.

Villa Leopoldo A boasts the fascination of old Tuscan countryside houses: the
floor is in terracotta, the ceiling is sustained by wooden joists, and the
furniture is in wood and wrought iron from the local handicraft. Furnishings are
elegant and well cared for.


The private terrace

From the living–room of Villa Leopoldo A you can go straight onto your private
terrace, about 20 square meters (about 215 square feet) large. From the terrace,
your eyes will gaze at a vast horizon of green hills. On the terrace you will
have an umbrella and a large table with chairs: the perfect place to enjoy some
fresh air from your first cup of coffee in the morning until your evening dinner
under the stars!


Nearby tourist attractions

During your stay at Villa Leopoldo A you will be in a great and convenient
position to go on daily visits to places in Tuscany, beginning from Siena (50 km
or about 31 miles away), the one hundred castles spread in the Sienese
countryside, Florence (110 km or 68 miles away) and all the surroundings.

You can also travel for two hours and reach beaches of the coast, such as those
of Monte Argentario and of the fascinating lagoon of Orbetello. You can even
visit Rome easily on one–day tours.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
Its history

From the fourteenth century…

The apartment is part of a small castle whose origin dates back to the fourteenth century. During that century, the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala of Siena, owner of the surrounding lands, built the castle as a fort to keep all the products of the place. The warehouses of wheat and oil, along with the main house and the peasant and artisan lodgings, were enclosed within the crenellated walls and protected by a high watch tower and moats filled with water.

During centuries the hamlet and the nearby land had belonged to the Hospital of Siena. But then, in 1775, the place was sold by the Grand Duke of Toscana, Pietro Leopoldo, to the ancestors of the current proprietors.

Unfortunately the elegant medieval crenellated tower was destroyed and knocked down by the Germans during their withdrawal from the Second World War.

…up to today!

The castle still preserves its medieval structure on the inside: still intact are the two small courts around which there were the lodgings of the peasants and the shops of the artisans. And you can still visit the main house. On the walls you can still see the old coat of arms of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala and of the oligarchs who have succeeded throughout the centuries.

Inside the master apartments you will be able to visit the bedroom with the splendid canopy bed where the Grand duke Pietro Leopoldo used to sleep during his visits, the old reception room with its authentic furnishings, the great kitchen, and also a gracious and small eighteenth–century theater.

Right outside the walls you will see a perfectly preserved small church where religious ceremonies and weddings can be held.

The castle is surrounded by lands from which their proprietors still get wine and olive oil: products that you can purchase at the place along with the fantastic creamy Limoncello, which is produced by the owner with the lemons of the garden.

Further details outdoors:
The private terrace

From the living–room of Villa Leopoldo you can go straight onto your private terrace, about 20 square meters (about 215 square feet) large. From the terrace, your eyes will gaze at a vast horizon of green hills. On the terrace you will have an umbrella and a large table with chairs: the perfect place to enjoy some fresh air from your first cup of coffee in the morning until your evening dinner under the stars!

The shared swimming pool and the gardens

While at Villa Leopoldo, you will have, along with other guests of the other three small apartments, a large garden and a beautiful 11 x 7 meter (about 36 x 22 feet) swimming pool completely at your disposal. The pool is in a panoramic position, and even from inside the water you will have a wide view of the wavy hills below.

Around the swimming pool there are umbrellas, sun loungers, and deck chairs. And next to the pool, you can relax outdoors on a terrace shaded by a cover with roofing tiles.

You will be able to organize outdoor barbecues, maybe with the famous Tuscan steak: in the garden, at your disposal, is a barbecue in stone and a pergola under which there are tables and wooden benches.

From the garden you can reach a portico under which a ping–pong table and some mountain bikes are placed, all available to every guest.

Another wide and fascinating shared garden is placed along the walls of the castle, and it features the shape of a large and long terrace facing the valley below. This garden is shaded by a linden tree and fruit trees, and there are also big vases where lemon trees are cultivated, quite typical of old Tuscan master houses. In the shade of the trees, you will have tables and chairs available.

Along with the entrance to this garden, you will notice a spacious common living area. It is an informal and nice room to be enjoyed with somebody else: it features a magnificent vaulted ceiling with bricks, and you will also notice, amidst shelves with bottles of wine and antique objects of the countryside life, a small living–room in wicker furniture, a table, an easel, and a lot of space for you to enjoy your hobbies.

Nearby tourist attractions

During your stay at Villa Leopoldo A you will be in a great and convenient position to go on daily visits to places in Tuscany, beginning from Siena (50 km or about 31 miles away), the one hundred castles spread in the Sienese countryside, Florence (110 km or 68 miles away) and all the surroundings.

You can also travel for two hours and reach beaches of the coast, such as those of Monte Argentario and of the fascinating lagoon of Orbetello. You can even visit Rome easily on one–day tours.

Further details

The swimming pool is available from half April to half October.

Photos

 

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The Tuscany / Siena Province region

The incomparable scenic beauty of the Chianti lands, patchwork of vines and olive trees, the huge variety of landscapes characterize the incredible territory of Siena. Towards the south, Orcia and Chiana valley complete this amazing area. The city of Siena is the heart of this extraordinary geographical and environmental repertory, where every town, village or hamlet contains art treasures and historical evidence of priceless value.

According to the legend, Siena was founded by Senio and Ascanio, sons of Remus, famous twin brother of Romulus, with whom he founded Rome. In fact, statues of the wolf feeding the twins can be spotted everywhere in the city... but they have been made without any historical foundation ;-)

Siena is indeed the most uniquely intact city of Tuscany, the town where each stone has remained in the same place throughout the ages. Located in the very centre of Tuscany, is the perfect starting point to easily reach many Tuscan cities, villages and tourist attractions: Florence, Lucca, Arezzo, Cortona, San Gimignano, Pienza, Montalcino, Monteriggioni, Volterra, Massa Marittima, Montepulciano, San Galgano Abbey and many more.

The well-preserved medieval streets and piazzas are the lovely setting of the annual popular Palio festival, a risky horse race that takes place in Siena's main square: the "Campo". The city is divided into "terzi", or thirds, and within each of these there are a number of the districts known as "contradas". The contradas are 17, and each one has its own appellation, chapel and flag: all of them are represented during the festival and take part to the competition to win the Palio.

You will plausibly cover the city's centre within the walls on foot...Siena has plenty of monuments and museums that would delight anybody. The Terzo di Camollia, for example, contains the gigantic and shadowy Basilica of St Francesco, dating from the late 13th century; the rival Dominican church, the Basilica of St Domenico; the Sanctuary of St Catherine of Siena; the former Medici Fortress, which is now a pleasant and panoramic public park.

Piazza del Campo, also simply known as "il Campo", is a must: the centenary heart of Siena, a sloping amphitheatre, lined with café tables and restaurants and thronged with tourists, school parties and locals. In the middle of the piazza, you will find Palazzo Pubblico (1250) which is the City Hall, where you'll admire some fine frescoes.

At the ticket office in the internal courtyard you can buy a range of tickets. These give access to almost all Siena's attractions, and some of them are valid for several days: a good way to save money, if you're planning a longer stay!

A combined ticket for a few Euro gives you access to the Museo Civico inside the Palazzo, and also to the imposing bell-tower, the Torre del Mangia. The tower is an excellent way to view Siena, the panoramas over the town and countryside are breathtaking and unforgettable... it's something that just people in good health conditions can do! Climb up to the highest bell is quite hard, indeed.

Moving on to the museum, highlights include superb frescoes by Simone Martini, whose Maestà religious scene is one of the oldest examples of Senese painting and glows with colour and life. Even more fascinating is a fresco by Ambrogio Lorenzetti (1319-1348), the Allegories of Good and Bad Government. Also worth seeing are an exquisite rose-tree made of gold (a gift to Siena from a Pope), and some beautiful carved choir stalls with religious illustrations (one fine example shows the dead clambering from their graves on Judgement Day).

One of Siena's remarkable landmarks is the Duomo,with its black-and-white striped marble façade and a Romanesque lower section, and the inlaid marble floor features works depicting biblical stories. A few ruined walls and arches remain to show the magnificence of the cathedral's uncompleted design due to the plague and wars, which would have created one of the largest churches in the world. The Duomo is free to visit; although there is a small charge to visit the Piccolomini Library, (off to the left of the nave), where charming courtly scenes by Pinturicchio recount the life story of Sienese Pope Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pius II).

Museo dell'Opera del Duomo is located on the corner of the Duomo. This museum is home to sacred works of art dating from 1300 to 1500, including those by the famous Duccio.

One reason why you should swing by here is the snaky, incredibly high staircase that leads up to an outdoor walkway, from which you get a panoramic view of Siena.

Santuario di Santa Caterina da Siena, which is the ancient St Catherine's home: inside it, you'll find the "Oratorio della Cucina" and "Oratorio della Camera", respectively kitchen and and personal bedroom of the Siena's patron saint.

The San Giovanni d'Asso / Montisi area

Let yourself be enchanted by Montisi: charming hamlet of San Giovanni d'Asso, in the area of Crete Senesi, near Siena, whose name probably derives from a temple situated 2Km away and dedicated to to the goddess Iside (worshipped by the Etruscans).

The charm and natural elegance of Montisi are even enriched by the small Music Academy sited into the ancient castle, dated back to the XIII century, which is the highest point of the village. You'll be able to enjoy great classical music concerts anytime of the year!

The lively 400 souls living here, make this place even more interesting: proud of their origins, the inhabitants of Montisi exploit the beauty of this sorcerous village with festivals and dinners involving everyone.

A taste of history...

In the XII century Montisi was the castle of Counts della Scialenga, native of Asciano and belonging to the family of Cacciaconti that, in 1175, recognized the sovereignty of Siena. About 30 years later, the heads of Montisi's family were sworn in by the Scialenghi, at the head of Siena. This oath of allegiance provided that the Cacciaconti had to reside in Siena for at least 3 months a year and, in this way, the family slowed down the control of Montisi in order to take part in the political life of Siena.

The citizens of Montisi paid a rent to cultivate their own lands, but from that moment had the freedom to manage everything by themselves. This is how Montisi – or Monte Isi, as it used to be called – became a free commune in 1283.

In 1291 the Cacciaconti brothers stipulated an act for the partition of the land rent coming from the hamlet and the castle of Montisi. The citizens did not take up this act willingly, so that an year later Simone Cacciaconti with a group of people attacked the castle and, after a bloody battle, conquered it. Simone realized that he couldn't impose his domination on Montisi anyway, so plundered the inhabitants and set Montisi on fire.

The Giostra di Simone, that disputes very year on Sunday before the 5th of August, during the celebration of the Patron Saint of Montisi (Madonna delle Nevi) is a medieval game that represents this historical event.

You must see the competition that involves the four districts of Montisi: Castello, Torre, Piazza and St Martino. There are various knights symbolizing the "contrade", all armed with lances with the aim of hitting, at the end of a ride at a gallop, the "buratto". The buratto is a ligneous effigy representing the wicked Simone, with a butt on the left arm and a ring called "campanella", while the right arm holds the "flagello", sort of balled whip that will hit the knights' back is they're not quick enough.

The game is very suggestive and offers a real taste of ancient times. The joust is indeed preceded by a costume procession, walk-ons of the four districts, "massari", armigers, drummers and clarion players along with the long silvery trumpets with a martial sound.

How to get there

Villa Leopoldo A What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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Fly to Florence or Perugia - Villa Leopoldo is respectively at 131 km and 84 Km from the airport. Cheap flights to Perugia available at www.ryanair.com

Montisi is located about half way between Rome and Florence, in southern Tuscany. Siena lies to the north while the wine towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino are about 10 miles away to the south and to the west. The nearest railway station is Sinalunga, and the autostrada A1 passes to the east with an exit at Valdichiana, on the way to Perugia. The village itself is sited on the ridge of hills separating the broad Val di Chiana and the Crete Senesi, a unique landscape of rolling downland.

Car hire available at www.avis.com. www.autoeurope.com

Activities near San Giovanni d'Asso

Rental prices

Prices for group size 4
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
	13 May 13	29 Jun 13	1300€ 1300	-	-	Flexible
	29 Jun 13	31 Aug 13	1420€ 1420	-	-	Flexible
	31 Aug 13	19 Apr 14	1300€ 1300	-	-	Flexible
	19 Apr 14	26 Apr 14	1420€ 1420	-	-	Flexible
	26 Apr 14	28 Jun 14	1300€ 1300	-	-	Flexible
	28 Jun 14	30 Aug 14	1420€ 1420	-	-	Flexible
	30 Aug 14	4 Apr 15	1300€ 1300	-	-	Flexible
	4 Apr 15	11 Apr 15	1420€ 1420	-	-	Flexible
	11 Apr 15	4 Jul 15	1300€ 1300	-	-	Flexible
	4 Jul 15	29 Aug 15	1420€ 1420	-	-	Flexible
	29 Aug 15	2 Apr 16	1300€ 1300	-	-	Flexible

The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

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

Availability

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

Contact the manager

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5 years listed You are contacting Luca Trotta Summer In Italy (property manager) Payment accepted Credit cards accepted Languages spoken The property manager is based in Italy and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2008. This apartment has so far received no reviews.

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