Sleeps 11
Villa: 2 double bedrooms, 1 twin/doublebedroom, 1 single bedroom. 1 ensuite bathroom and 2 shower rooms, 1 of which ensuite, 1 extra WC.
Cottage: 1 double bedroom, 1 twin/double bedroom, 2 ensuite shower rooms
Location: Southern Tuscany
Saturday to Saturday in High Season. Short stays permitted in Mid and Low seasons, with a minimum of 4 nights over Easter, Christmas and New Year, and a minimum of 3 nights at all other times.
With sweeping views of the valley below, this villa, beautifully refashioned from watchtower and farmhouse origins, along with its gracious guest cottage provide spacious accommodations for a large family gathering or a group of friends. Its position in the Chiana valley puts ancient spas, medieval market towns and cities perched on towering ridges a short drive away.
The villa sits high on an ancient agricultural estate that has been in the family of its present owners since the 18th century and villa guests will no doubt catch sight of time-honored farming activities that are part of the Tuscan landscape and heritage. It is perhaps in keeping with the family’s historic lineage that the race of cattle they breed are the beautiful white Chianina. Known in Etruscan and Roman times for their strength in ploughing the fields, these cattle are now a feted presence in Tuscan festival processions and prized in restaurants as the source of the famed ‘Fiorentina’ T-bone steak.
Hospitality on the estate is also of borne of generous tradition, with fresh flowers, a Tuscan breakfast basket and seasonal garden vegetables all part of the welcome to help visitors feel at home. Add to these touches the silver-green of olive groves and the vines of Sangiovese and Merlot grapes ripening nearby and this Tuscan farm estate is the perfect place to be.
To the right of the path leading to the main villa is Villa Frescollina's guest cottage with two doors, each leading one the two ensuite bedrooms that share a kitchenette and further access to a dining pergola overlooking an olive grove and a wooded hillside. The larger of the two bedrooms, a double with an ensuite shower room, has a soaring beamed ceiling, French doors to the side garden and filtered light through the brickwork on the back wall. It has an arched door to the flagstone patio furnished with a table for 6 and a door to the adjoining kitchenette that also opens to the patio. The second bedroom, a twin which can be set up as a double on request, has an ensuite shower room and access to the kitchenette. While not equipped to turn out a multi-course dinner, with small fridge and two burner stove, the kitchenette does mean breakfasts and light meals can be done without a trip to the farmhouse.
The main farmhouse, which accommodates 7 guests, can be entered on two levels. Wide double doors on the ground floor extension lead into a very spacious living room whose many seating areas are positioned around two stalwart brick columns. This room leads through a wide arched opening to the eat-in country kitchen with marble-topped counters and a table for 8 that would be ideal for breakfasts, meal preparation or the venue of a cooking class. Doors lead from the kitchen to a covered patio furnished for outdoor dining. Also on this level is an extra WC and the laundry room. All sleeping accommodations are on the upper floor, reached by interior or exterior stairways. Down corridors off of a central sitting room with an open fireplace there is a twin/double bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, a double bedroom with ensuite shower room and a further double and a single bedroom that share a shower room. As throughout the house the bedrooms feature a lovely blend of country antiques, quality soft furnishings and contemporary Italian styling, while bathrooms all have quality fittings and traditional tiling.
In addition to around the two outdoor dining pergolas, guests are just as likely to gather on the gentle hilltop beyond the cottage on which the panoramic swimming pool is located. With sunbeds on the paved surround and a brick loggia nearby to offer a changing room and a place out of the bright sun. this is a magnet for guests of all ages. Another draw may be the annex across from the cottage, whose covered ping pong table could see many a family tournament.
Though the estate is surrounded in greenery, there are neighbouring shops and restaurants just five minutes away. Not much further are the enchanting medieval hill towns of San Casciano dei Bagni and Cetona, which eschew the grid in favour of meandering streets towards an imposing fortress or ancient bell tower. An additional reason for visiting San Casciano is one of Italy's best-known spas, the Fonteverde, whose healing springs have drawn people for centuries. The lively market town of Sarteano nearby throws itself into celebrating its own heritage in a mid-August Saracen Joust and proudly displays the famous Etruscan-age painting 'The Tomb of the Infernal Chariot' it its Civic Museum.
But all is not ancient history in this area; there are summer concerts in the gardens of La Foce, home of author Iris Origo, outlet shopping in nearby Chiusi, and wine tasting in Montepulciano, whose 'Vino Nobile' draws connoisseurs to this Renaissance town atop a towering limestone ridge. Day trips to Arezzo and Orvieto are also quite doable, with the former offering monthly antiquarian fairs and the frescoes of Piero della Francesca and the latter, perched upon a butte of volcanic tufo, known for its magnificent cathedral as well as an engineering masterpiece, the well of San Patrizio, that provided water to a city that sought safety in altitude. After a day of wandering, however, how pleasant to know that a refreshing pool and panoramic dining table await your return.
Please note there is a tourist tax of €1 p/p (age over 14 years old) for the first 15 nights. The tourist tax will be collected on site
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San Casciano dei Bagni, Southern Tuscany, Tuscany
With long panoramas from its pool and dining loggia, this spacious first-floor apartment is a charming spot for a family or couples on holiday together.... read more
€800 to €1,800 EUR
Check DatesI thought I did leave a review but happy to confirm again:-
Frescollina was a great place to stay. The views from the swimming pool are unbelievable and the villa itself was just so perfect. There were only 5 of us but it would comfortably suit 8 people or maybe more. The living rooms are spacious and the bedrooms very comfortable. A particular good point from our experience was the local butcher in San Casciano. The owner took us to the butcher's on the first day to show us where it was and we went back when we were planning a barbecue. We had the most amazing T-bone steaks. All in all we bought 2 T-bones, 3 chicken breasts sliced into 6 large pieces, local sausages and 4 strips of pancetta (plus sauces and marinades). It came to about 43 Euros, so really reasonable and the standard of meat was top class. The local restaurants are also good, but as we had the villa we thought we would make the most of it and spent at least 3 or 4 nights cooking and eating in the outside al fresco area, which was peaceful and ideal.
I would highly recommend Frescollina for a super relaxing Tuscan break. Bear in mind, you must have a car.
