Villa Scaparzi is an elegant villa with room for up to 16 guests set in a beautiful position, on a ridge in the Elsa valley, close to Siena, surrounded by its very own vineyards. A private gate opens onto a sweeping cypress-lined avenue that leads to the villa, with vineyards and beautiful views on either side.
All the bedrooms in Scaparzi are ensuite and air-conditioned, and the the villa comes with breakfast and daily room service included, and a mosaic-lined infinity pool looking out over the rolling hills of Western Tuscany. The house sits at the centre of vineyards producing excellent wines which can be enjoyed while overlooking the very vines that grew the grapes, and there are plenty of furnished outdoor spaces to allow you to enjoy the views, as well as an excellent barbecue and pizza oven.
The charming village of Casole d'Elsa is only a short drive away, with restaurants, shops and a small museum, while Siena, Florence, Arezzo and Lucca are within easy reach.
The end of the cypress-lined drive opens to a wide piazza in front of the main house that is framed by a large terracotta patio and furnished dining pergola on one side and an annex accommodating two apartments on the other.
Entrance to the villa is via a short entrance hall with a stairway to the upstairs ensuite bedrooms, a guest WC, and opposing doors to the living and the kitchen areas that run the length of the house. The generous living room has sofas in front of an open pietra serena fireplace as well as a long cushion-strewn divan facing a satellite TV. While wide french doors open directly out to the back patio and pool area, an arched hallway connects the living area to the kitchen and dining side of the house.
The dining room is a very generous space filled with light pouring through two large sliding glass doors at either end. Furnished with a table seating 16 and having direct access to the patio, garden and pool, this room immediately speaks to conviviality and the spirit of being on holiday. An independent suite for 2 is just beyond this luminous room, with a double and ensuite bathroom.
Back in the main house, a short hallway leads to the kitchen, consisting of two rooms separated by a wide arched opening. Though its marble counters and wooden cabinets give it a country look, there is no end to the modern appliances useful in preparing meals for a hungry crowd. A door off the kitchen means it is a short walk to bring dishes to the pergola furnished for meals al fresco.
Upstairs there are three bedrooms, one double and two twin/doubles, each with an ensuite shower room. The bedrooms are all spacious, bright and furnished with charming country antiques and the shower rooms have modern fixtures and roomy showers. Also on this floor is a games room, with a round wooden card table and a side buffet featuring brochures on local sites and activities.
The annex consists of two apartments, each with its own fully-equipped kitchen, living/dining area and two bedrooms with ensuite shower rooms. With the apartment entrances on different sides of the building and individual outdoor eating areas, these accommodations provide a large group with greater options for small family units or guests who appreciate fewer stairs or a bit more privacy.
A cypress-lined drive leads to the villa
The large living room has french doors leading out to the garden.
The pool can be fenced on request
The views from this pool are fabulous
The outdoor spaces are well furnished
Outdoor eating is a pleasure around Scaparzi, with various places set up to take advantage of the different times of day
The villa living room focuses on a large stone fireplace
Dining room
Many bedrooms can be set up as double or twins
The Bathrooms match the colour of the bedrooms
And the bedrooms match the colour of the bathrooms : )
All bathrooms are well-equipped
There are 4 bedrooms in this annex
Each of the two apartments in the annex has its own kitchen
Each of the two apartments in the annex has its own kitchen
Spacious double bedrooms
Spacious double bedrooms
The whole villa is wrapped by vineyards, and shaded by umbrella pines
Each of the two apartments in the annex has its own kitchen
Each of the two apartments in the annex has its own kitchen
Many bedrooms can be set up as double or twins
Many bedrooms can be set up as double or twins
Outdoor eating is a pleasure around Scaparzi, with various places set up to take advantage of the different times of day
Outdoor eating is a pleasure around Scaparzi, with various places set up to take advantage of the different times of day
The cypress-lined driveway is gated, giving the estate privacy
The vineyards produce excellent wine
Shaded spots in the garden
Furnished outdoor spaces around the pool
The evenings are wonderful here.
Relaxing hammock in the garden
Outdoor eating is a pleasure around Scaparzi, with various places set up to take advantage of the different times of day
This is a great barbecue and pizza oven combined!
Lavender
grapes in September
Wonderful views!
Nick, the owner, has a lovely little Fiat Cinquecento!
Though nearby Mensano offers a nice restaurant and village life on a small scale, it would be hard to ignore the lure of the two larger villages seen on the horizons – Casole d’Elsa and Radicondoli. Both bustle along in their inimitable Tuscan fashion, with residents and visitors meeting in piazzas and meandering side streets and caught up in colourful summer festivals – Casole’s Palio horse race in early July and Radicondoli’s Music and Arts festival in August. Not much further afield are towns which wear their centuries with grace: Volterra, of ancient Etruscan origins, sits high on its steep hill and is famous for its Roman ruins, Etruscan museum and alabaster workshops, whereas San Gimignano, the UNESCO-acclaimed town famed for its 14 medieval towers, draws visitors to its well-preserved ancient streets, outdoor concerts, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano, one of Tuscany’s few white wines.
Scaparzi, like the nearby Chianti region, sits between two ancient cities, Florence and [Siena](](/guide/italy/tuscany/siena); once fierce rivals, both are must-visit destinations prized for their walkable, well-preserved historic centres. Thanks to its position on the ancient pilgrim’s path to Rome, Siena saw its golden days in the Middle Ages and it may seem that the city layout has changed little since then with life radiating out from one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy.
Florence, straddling the Arno river, is a jewel box of Renaissance power and artistry. Though a guidebook is handy as you navigate its museums, a meander through its non-grid cobbled streets quite often results in joyous discovery. And at the end of the day after the rewards of venturing, returning to Scaparzi’s spacious comforts and meditative views is in itself a pleasure.
For availability and pricing see the calendar above. If you have any questions or would like help choosing, we visit our properties regularly and can help you choose and book the best villa for your holidays.
We can hold dates for you for 48 hours while you make sure everything lines up, then you simply pay the deposit (30% of total) to secure your booking. The balance will then be due 10 weeks before you travel. You can also add "XCover" to your booking for a full refund if you can't travel.
For more details see our Booking Conditions and XCover. You can add XCover to your booking at any time until you have paid your balance, simply ask your agent.
Many local administrations now charge a “Tourist Tax” for people staying in rented accommodation and these vary from town to town. The charges are generally per person per night with a maximum number of nights, usually around 5 but sometimes 7, beyond which they will not charge. The charges range between 50 cents to 3 euro. Children are sometimes included, sometimes not and these charges should be collected by the property owners.
It can often be faster to contact us to ask for advice - we visit all the houses so can give you first hand advice based on your wishlist. Once you find a villa you like we can hold dates for you for up to 48 hours while you check flights or make sure everybody is on board.
Please ring us with any queries - there are a lot of answers in our FAQ page too. If you want to keep searching, have a look at our suggestions below!