A former convent now a luxurious villa in the hills west of Arezzo

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Accommodation

In a lengthy labour of love, the owners laid gentle hands on the original structure and layout, the result of which has preserved spacious rooms and features not often found in a Tuscan home. One is seen as soon as you enter the arched door on the eastern facade, for no sooner are you in the house than you can see out of it - into the lovely inner courtyard at the heart of the house. In the living area another delight - a central stone pillar supporting four wide arches under which comfortable sofas and chairs afford the perfect place to recount the day's discoveries. And so it goes throughout the house, everywhere there is something to appreciate. The kitchen areas would please any chef, both the spacious two-stationed professional kitchen as well as the handy kitchen next to the dining room, for they are nicely furnished to give the sense of home, yet equipped with everything necessary to cook for a crowd, including a high-speed dishwasher and a pasta boiler. Off the main kitchen is another living area perfect for younger guests, for with toys, TV and video equipment, a table for eight, an open fireplace and access to a furnished terrace outdoors, it can entertain for many hours running. Beyond the dining room, which seats 16 comfortably, is the only ground floor bedroom, with ensuite shower room and a door to a small, furnished terrace. The last room on this floor is the studio, a restful place to read, play the electronic keyboard, write an overdue postcard or simply marvel at the treasure in the floor, the remnants of a foundation wall that stood 1,000 years ago - a humbling memento.

On the upper floor there are two additional living areas and seven charming bedrooms, each distinctive in look, but all beautiful places in which to wake up. In all the bedroom suites in this large house, in addition to the beamed ceilings and terracotta flooring, there is a lovely mix of well-selected country antiques, lovely fabrics and the whimsy of ceramics. Most bedrooms have ensuite bath or shower rooms, though two share a nearby bathroom and one has a lovely shower room just across the large Hall containing a beautiful pietra serena fireplace. One final suite remains; accessed off the wide enclosed loggia, it includes a sitting room with sofa bed, a shower room and a lovely bedroom under the eaves.

Local area

Despite the great comfort of the interiors, guests will probably want to head out into the six landscaped acres that surround the property - perhaps to gather around the pizza oven on a night someone comes to reveal a pizzaiolo's secrets, or else under the vine-covered pergola that will seat the whole group for al fresco dining. Across the wide lawn is a large swimming pool connected to a children's wading pool by a cascading waterfall, and a shaded furnished pergola and a poolhouse with shower room, changing room, and refrigerator to save the trek back to the house. Add the fact that a charming Caretaker stands ready to help you realize all the excursions and in-house activities you may wish to build into your Tuscan holiday, and L'Eremo is just about perfect. Whether for large family reunions, festive events or a business retreat, this house can accommodate it all. The fact that its location makes it a great base for exploring local hills on horseback or reaching medieval city festivals and antique markets in less than half an hour can only make it better.

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