Sleeps 11
2 twin bedrooms, 2 double bedrooms, 1 bedroom with French double bed, 1 single bedroom/study, 4 bath / shower-rooms
Location: Siena and surroundings
This property rents Saturday to Saturday
Railway station, tennis, shops and restaurants within 3 km
Siena centre 2 km, shops less than a km away
Florence, Arezzo and Perugia each within an hour
Driving up along the quiet lane approaching Villa Ascarello, past vineyards and olive trees, it is hard to believe how very close this prestigious villa is to Siena, and yet, when you arrive, drive through the gateway flanked by two palm trees, and step out onto the broad terrace at the side of the villa, there is Siena across the valley - you can almost reach out and touch its evocative silhouettes! In an airy position on the edge of Chianti countryside and with possibly the best view of Siena, Villa Ascarello is a large, elegant villa in ample grounds, including a pretty, walled, rose garden. It has a wide terrace overlooking Siena, with a well and a private chapel. Built in the 16th Century, the villa has been carefully and totally renovated, and provides an high class accommodation.
Entrance hall, drawing room, large dining-kitchen with excellent equipment including a dish washer, study/single bedroom, shower room, separate WC and wash basin, boiler and laundry room, underground wine cellar. The gracious dining-room has glazed doors leading to a terrace where one can dine outside, overlooking the walled rose garden with lemon trees and a lemon house at the rear. A marble staircase leads to a sitting room on the first floor, off which are two twin bedrooms, two double bedrooms, and a bedroom with a small double bed. There are three bathrooms and a dressing room on this floor.
Villa Ascarello combines by-gone elegance with modern fist class equipment. As may be imagined in a villa of this nature, the rooms are beautifully proportioned, large and very light and airy. The furniture includes many antiques and there is an Art Nouveau atmosphere, enhanced by prestigious draperies and decorative granite flooring. Every room has a TV point and a telephone plug. The ground floor of the lemon house holds sun furniture for the swimming pool set in the olive grove below the house. The pool, in contrast to the house, is simple and unadorned; but it has a wonderful view of Siena, and serves its purpose for swimming, cooling off and having fun after a long day's sight seeing. A lane nearby leads onto the Chianti road, for exploring the castles and famous vineyards, while the main arterial roads from Siena, less than a km. away, allow easy access to Florence and San Gimignano, Arezzo and Assisi. You can drive to shops and restaurants nearby, and take a bus or even walk the 2km to the historic centre, with all Siena's wonderful museums, art treasures and fascinating streets and shops to explore.
We had a marvellous week and really loved the Villa. There was plenty of room and the kitchen was fitted out with everything we needed.
It was a great location and very child friendly. The owner cooked for us a number of times upon request and the food was excellent. All fresh ingredients from her garden.
I have no hesitation in recommending this villa to anyone else. It was perfect.