The Cottage

Kitchen

Bathroom 1

View from the Olive Grove

Prices Currency Conversion

Rental periods
12 January - 15 March 2008	550 euros
15 - 29 March 2008	750 euros
29 March - 28 June 2008	650 euros
28 June - 20 September 2008	750 euros
20 September - 20 December 2008	550 euros
20 December 2008 - 10 January 2009	750 euros

Notes on prices
The prices shown are for the rental of the cottage for 1 week in Euros. Prices include local taxes and electricity, water and gas (excluding gas central heating which will be charged at cost according to consumption based on the gas meter), use of bed linen, towels and final cleaning. Please enquire about discounts for long winter lets.

Changeover day
Available all year for a minimum stay of one week starting and ending on a Saturday but this can be negotiable, so please ask. We would ask guests to leave by 11am and arrive after 3pm (for cleaning) but you are welcome to leave luggage at any time.

Accommodation

Notes on accommodation
The cottage was entirely renovated in 2006 respecting the classic Tuscan architecture yet, at the same time, is light and modern in feel.
We will provide a complimentary welcome package which will include local wine, milk, bread, water, some coffee, tea, packet of croissants or similar, olive oil and in season, if available, home grown vegetables.
Please - no smoking in the Cottage but you are welcome to smoke in the garden.
Takeaway meals, including local wine, can be provided and delivered to you in the Cottage, if one day you don't feel like shopping and cooking or going out to a restaurant.

Amenities/Facilities provided

Accessibility
The cottage is all on ground level and is thus easily accessible for guests with mobility problems. If you wish, you can park right outside the cottage. The land immediately around the cottage is level, however, on two sides of the cottage there is a terraced garden with steps going up. To reach the cottage, you have to drive 500m along a well-maintained unmade road from the main road (SS 146). The SS 146 goes directly to Chiusi (ca 30km) where you can join the A1 Florence - Rome motorway.

Outside
On three sides of the cottage there is a gravelled patio area with table, chairs, loungers and gazebo for sitting/dining outside. From the terraced garden you can walk to the olive grove & vineyard where you are welcome to wander freely or take time to stop, stare & enjoy the typical Tuscan views, incl a view of the cypress tree-lined Strada Panoramica leading to the mediaeval hill town of Monticchiello.

We (Luigi Italian & Lis British) have lived in the area for some years & live in the neighbouring farmhouse. We are therefore on site & available if you have any problems or queries. German, Spanish & French are also spoken, if needed.

Historic Pienza with its numerous restaurants, bars, banks, Post Office, hairdresser, shops selling local produce & small supermarkets is an easy 4 min drive (3km) along the main road. The nearest open-air swimming pool is at San Albino (ca 13km) or you can take a dip in the thermal springs at Bagno Vignoni (16km) or Bagni San Filippo (ca 25km).

Coast/Beach
The Tuscan coast is one hour away or, alternatively, in less than 45 minutes, you can reach Lago Trasimeno in Umbria with its islands, beaches and availability of water-sports.

Thermal springs are nearby at Bagno Vignoni (ca 16km) and Bagni San Filippo (ca 25km). The nearest outdoor swimming pool is at San Albino (ca 13km) and an olympic size swimming pool is located in Chianciano Terme (ca 17km).

Golf
There is a 9 hole golf course at the Val Di Chiana Golf Club at Foiano (ca 25km).

Skiing
In winter you can ski on Monte Amiata, one of the highest mountains in Tuscany at 1738 metres (ca 43km).
For something different, depending on the time of year, you can drive to the top of Monte Amiata and go for a walk above the snow line and then drive down to Bagno Vignoni or Bagni San Filippo to take a dip in the thermal springs.

Special interest holidays
On request, if you wish to chill out, we can arrange a variety of on-site complementary therapy treatments, including Indian head massage, aromatherapy, reflexology and Chinese face massage (DaoyinTao).
Or if one day, you would like to gain an insight into Italian cooking, do let us know, as you are welcome to spend an afternoon in the kitchen with us.

Travel
Nearest airport is Florence (ca 90 kms) from which there are connections to most major European cities, incl. a flight to London Gatwick operated by Meridiana.
Pisa & both Rome airports (Ciampino / Fiumicino) are easily reachable (respectively ca 160 & 170 / 190km). Ryanair operates a flight from Stansted to Perugia (ca 85 kms). You do need a car to get around the area, altho' if you feel like having a break from driving, you can travel quite easily by bus to both Siena & Florence.

Distances
Pienza 3km. Montepulciano 9km. Florence ca 90km. Siena ca 55km. Bagno Vignoni ca 16km. Montalcino ca 30km. Arezzo ca 55km. Perugia ca 85km. Chianciano Terme ca 17km. Chiusi 35km. San Albino 13km.

Further details
Val D'Orcia is regarded as an area of oustanding beauty & is the only area of the Tuscan countryside to have received World Heritage Site designation. The landscape will possibly be familiar as it has been depicted by artists since the Renaissance, by modern photographers -many views appear on postcards as classic images of Tuscany- and by modern film directors. Aswell as boasting countryside of stunning beauty, the area includes numerous historic hill towns, eg Pienza -World Heritage Site in its own right- and described as a jewel of the Renaissance; Montalcino -centre of the world-renowned Brunello di Montalcino wine-making industry; Radicofani & its fortress high on a muffin-shaped mountain (& restaurant with brilliant pasta!); Castiglione D'Orcia; San Quirico D'Orcia; all of which feature in 'The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany', not forgetting the thermal springs & Abbey of Sant' Antimo etc. Many other historic towns are easily reachable eg Montepulciano, Chiusi with its Etruscan remains, Siena, Cortona, Arezzo, Perugia, Assissi, Orvieto & the Abbey Monte Oliveto Maggiore at Buonconvento.
However, if you fancy a break from sightseeing, you can book a treatment at a nearby spa - San Albino, Chianciano Terme, Bagno Vignoni or there are numerous activities in which you could become involved, eg painting lessons, Italian lessons, cookery lesssons, horse-trekking, hot-air ballooning. There are weekly local markets in nearby Pienza, Montepulciano & Chianciano Terme where you can buy fresh fruit & veg, aswell as clothes, shoes, etc. or you can visit the big Siena market on a Wednesday. Also, all year around, but especially in the summer months, there are lots of festivals, fairs & events, sometimes with a mediaeval flavour & we can provide you with details.
Various ideas are detailed in our house-book for the use of our guests and in which we also provide itineraries for sightseeing & recommendations to ensure that you get the most from your stay here.

Booking notes
Please e mail or phone regarding bookings. A deposit of 50% of the total rent due is payable to secure the reservation, payable into our bank account. The balance is payable on arrival. Should you have to cancel more than 8 weeks prior to your date of arrival, we will refund the deposit paid less bank charges. Should you have to cancel within 8 weeks of date of arrival, we will refund the deposit less bank charges only if we can find another party to take your place.

Guest comments
Thank you for making us so welcome here in Podere San Francesco. Coming back from our numerous searches for local and "famous" wines felt like we were coming home after a hard day's work. The Cottage is lovely. Our time spent with the two of you was delightful. We truly enjoyed your company. We will remember our stay here for many years with fondness and smiles. Alicja, Agnes, Dorothy and Jeff, Winnipeg, Canada.
Nothing could have prepared us for the beauty of the area...The friendship and openness of Lis and Luigi fit so well into this region as they give as freely as the countryside. They have made our time here perfect. They are as great a treasure to be found anywhere in Tuscany. Nikki & Alistair, Staffs., UK.
Thank you for making our stay in Tuscany so memorable. The cottage is beautiful - it way exceeded our expectations. And thank you for being such great hosts, for directing us to so many interesting places and for the wonderful dinner. Antonio, Nora, Giorgia and Benny, Italy

This advertiser joined Owners Direct in February 2007,
and has advertised this property with us since February 2007.

Property Ref IT1206
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