Galileo
Property # 8432

Location: 3 km south of Florence, on a hilltop in the countryside.

This accommodation offers both rural peace and quiet but also proximity to Florence. It is a small guesthouse set in an exceptional location: next to a prominent Renaissance villa and in one of the best residential neighbourhoods of the area. South of Florence, the town is surrounded by gentle hills and cultivated fields. This quarter outside the town carries the proud name 'Poggio Imperiale' - Imperial Hill. And this is where Amerigo Vespucci, the famous Florentine navigator spent his youth, before he set sail to find the New World and give it his name. An avenue of lime trees leads to this elegant 15th century villa which sits majestically atop a hill. This elevated position allows for a beautiful view of the landscape and a pleasant, soft breeze even on hot summer days.

A side entrance with electronic gates leads to the property. The visitor then enters a large, gravel forecourt. The guesthouse is at the far end of the courtyard, at the panoramic sunny side of the property, about 40 m from the main villa. The apartment is housed in the former wood store, which has been recently fully renovated and turned into tastefully furnished holiday accommodation

The apartment is on one level and can be accessed through a glass door. The visitor passes through an entrance hall and into a bright and airy living room. This offers a sofa suite (sofa-bed), a dining area with wooden table to seat 4 and a kitchenette in the corner. The room has many windows with frosted glass and a long glass front with wonderful views of the countryside. There is a bedroom with double bed, cupboard and antique chest and a smart bathroom with shower. Although the large windows in the three rooms almost cover the length of the building there is still plenty of privacy. The olive grove is just below the guesthouse and the greenery grows almost up to the windows

Clear lines, simple shapes and sturdy materials give the house its pleasant atmosphere – the interior has been furnished and fitted with skilled craftsmanship which appears simple from the outside – an understatement often seen in Italy. The rooms are decorated in warm colors – pale yellow walls, natural shades of terracotta on the floor, wooden beams on the ceiling. The furniture is solidly built and of a timeless style – the fabrics of good quality. Arches decorate many of the walls and windows.

The two doors leading outside are particularly clever: one glass door in the kitchen area opens directly onto a narrow path which leads to a small pool with lawn, just a few steps away. The oval pool faces south and is shared with the occupants of a further guesthouse on the property.

Another door leads up steps to the private roof-top terrace. From here you enjoy the outstanding view of the valley below, of cypresses, the villa in the background and the famous Certosa of Florence – the large, Medieval monastery. Wooden garden furniture invites one to lie back and relax: the shady roof covers a long table with chairs and there are also two sun-loungers, a small marble basin and a garden hose to freshen up in-between. An attractive wall offers plenty of privacy.

You will get a good night's sleep here! You live in an olive grove, far away from the bustle of the city with its humming motorbikes and honking cars. While the quiet location is far from every disturbance, it is only 3 km to the city - a distance which you could also cover by foot. There is a bus stop approximately 500 m away, and buses go to the centre regularly. The hospitable family of the house provides bikes for free upon their guests' request for biking to the bus stop or conveniently exploring the city (two bikes). The villa's location at the southern edge of Florence is an ideal starting point for going on excursions to the Chianti region, to Siena or to the coast, as the feeder roads to the superstrada motorway Firenze-Siena and to the autostrada highway are close by (1.5 km) and can be reached quickly without having to pass through the city centre. All necessary shops and several restaurants are only 1 km away. The accommodation is - compared to the usual prices in Florence - very reasonably priced and exceptional too for its quiet location and excellent facilities. A noble address in Florence!

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Listing Type: Recently renovated barn
Living room / kitchen: 1
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2 + 2

Pool View
Garden View
Deck or Patio
Dishwasher
Washer/Dryer
CD Player
Cable TV
BBQ
Ceiling Fans
Another Rental
Additional Outdoor Shower
Air-conditioning
Large panoramic terrasse
Parking
Pool
Ping pong table
Bicicles

Touring Ideas:
Florence 3 km
Siena 65 km

Sport:
Swimming
Sight seeing