Villa Calcinaia 17th Century Farmhouse
Accommodates 8 Guests
4 Bedrooms • 3 Queen Beds • 2 Single Beds • 4 Bathrooms
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Nestled into the Tuscan hills, Villa Calcinaia (named after the hills it resides in) is a beautifully renovated 17th century farmhouse that has been lovingly restored to capture the current essence of the serene and succulent that Tuscany is famous for. Tightly tucked between the organic olive groves and the Chianti vineyards, our Villa can be your home away from home.
Nestled among five acres of lush lawns and olive groves, Villa Calcinaia is the perfect destination for those planning to explore the artistic beauty of Florence, less than 10 miles away. Calcinaia’s interior evokes the charm of its country surroundings. Smaller groups can also rent the nearby Villa Cipressi (which sleeps 4).
Inside, you’ll be enveloped by warm, relaxing tones and surrounded by antique lighting fixtures, terra-cotta floors, and Tuscan wood beam ceilings. Each of the four bedrooms has an individual color scheme and romantic bed draped with curtains and covers with a private bathroom. There is a well-equipped kitchen with a traditional Tuscan wood-burning stove and two sitting areas—one with sofas, one with plasma TV and a small kitchenette.
The English-speaking owners reside in this 17th-century villa’s other wing (with its own separate entrance) and remain on site for all enquiries. Relax and dine al fresco in Calcinaia’s private loggia and then cool off in the large outdoor infinity pool (shared with the guests of Villa Cipressi). A quaint “equipped” town is less than a mile away with supermarket and mall. An old store is just around the corner down the road. Horseback riding, golfing, and fishing are all within easy reach. The train is only a 5-minute drive away. Florence beckons from the hills, and you can see the Duomo as you move down the road when skies are clear.
THE AMENITIES:
- Accommodates 8 Guests
- Air Conditioning
- Private parking
- BBQ
- Plasma Satellite TV
- Wi-Fi Internet
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Safe
- The garden
- Olive grove
- Sun terrace
- Swimming Pool
THE SPACE:
A large villa of 180 sm. in a very old renovated farmhouse has 4 bedrooms and 4 baths. In addition we have a huge kitchen for having dinner/lunch and for having cooking lessons. We have the possibility to have a professional chef for these as well. This huge apt is located in an olive tree garden of 20,000 sm, 2 Hectars.
There is an infinity pool with dimension of 12×6 mts shared with other few guests.
A Little History
From Humble Beginnings
Situated in the open countryside just outside Florence, Villa Calcinaia is a cozy hideaway tha has been completely and lovingly restored into a beautiful and comfortable holiday home featuring Tuscan antiques and ceramics. This lovely stone house is part of a large estate, which includes the 17th century villa.
The Altoviti family is one of the oldest noble families in Florence. The origins of the family are mysterious & controversial among scholars. In excavations on Mount Fiesole, a Roman inscription refers to “Furio Camillo Altovia”. Other evidence is based on a specific emblem with a wolf, traced to Corbizzo Lombard, who in 1192 lived in Borgo Santi Apostoli and had seven children, including one called Altovia: possibly referring to the same family and reinforced by the Emperor Frederick II accompanied by the wolf. The arms of the Altoviti wolf is silver & black and represents a legendary wolf that would have saved the head of the family, tearing his enemies to pieces. There are also connections to Squarcialupi and Passerini genealogy & family history.
In Florence, the Altoviti family belonged to palace #14, of 18 Borgo Santi Apostoli, which has a bust of Cosimo II de ‘Medici on the facade and goes back to the period after the reconciliation between the two families. In Chianti, the Altoviti had the patronage of the church of San Pietro a Cintoia (Greve in Chianti).
With the takeover of Cosimo I, the wealthy banker Bindo Altoviti was openly hostile and therefore suffered the confiscation of property and exile in Rome. Bindo patroned many renowned artists such as Raphael and Cellini, who portrayed him in their works. Giorgio Vasari signed him to the table Allegory of the Conception to the Holy Apostles