Near Siena, Tuscany
Property 5355
14 Guests
7-9 Bedrooms
5.5-6.5 Bathrooms
1,000 square meters indoor
25 Hectares outdoor
Il Giuncheto began as a 12th century monastery and like many homes in Italy was abandoned for many years. A long restoration rescued it from total ruin, turning it into a complete estate with all the amenities of a 21st century resort; pool, tennis court, private gym with sauna, soccer field, bocce court and billiards. A group of adults or several generations can enjoy long days out of doors with a range of pursuits to choose from. This is among the many distinguishing features of this property, as it provides a central base for touring and more than ample amusements for days at home.
Set on a promontory, Il Giuncheto enjoys an absolutely panoramic view of Siena directly to the north, the space between filled with low-lying Crete; bare, sensual, brown-grey hills of clay. To the west you see the Colline Mettalifere; to the east, the Apennines as they snake south. It is a captivating setting for a long and leisurely vacation enjoying the many pleasures of Tuscany -- a complex, interesting history, plenty of bright sun and abundant fresh food to accompany plenty of good wine.
To be only 15 minutes away from Siena is a real treat, placing Il Giuncheto vacationers at the epicenter of a Tuscany holiday. All of Chianti can be explored easily; the famous villages of San Gimignano and Monteriggioni are easily reached on stunning country roads. Val d'Orcia is just to the south, adding the towns of Montepulciano, Pienza, San Quirico d'Orcia and Bagno Vignoni to the itinerary. Florence is less than an hour and a half by car; Volterra is a longer drive, but very worthwhile. The same can be said for a day exploring the Maremma and Argentario along the Tuscan coast. Transportation can be arranged for day trips a bit further afield, and longer excursions can be balanced with a day enjoying the myriad diversions at Il Giuncheto itself.
Il Giuncheto lies just outside the small village of Ville di Corsano, with a couple of restaurants, a bar and a post office. A new spa (opened in October 2003) is a mere 3 kms away. Within seven minutes, you arrive at an airstrip for private planes and with service directly to Milan (Linate) and Vienna. From Ville di Corsano, a partially paved private drive brings you 800 meters through woods and olive groves to the house. The soccer field and Har-tru surfaced tennis court lie side by side. The long stone 'limonaia' includes a spacious gym (Nautilus-style weight machine, treadmill, stairmaster and stationary bicycle) with hardwood floors, mirror, sound system and ping-pong table. There is a bathroom plus shower and sauna. A professional massage table is a permanent fixture and a masseuse can be arranged to come to the house. Three large glass doors open to an olive grove and the countryside beyond.
Immediately surrounding the house is a skirt of lawn and stone-paved terrace. Enormous cotta pots, originally used to store oil and food, are now filled with geraniums, hydrangea and other flowering shrubs. Roses have been planted in deep beds leading to the house. A low hedge of oleander helps define the edge of the garden. Teak table and chairs for six create an al fresco dining room along the east side of the building. As you approach the south side, the lawn is wider and follows a stone path past beds of roses and down several steps to the pool (15 x 7 meters), set with umbrellas, sun beds and a hammock. The view from here is especially captivating - like that of a low-flying bird - taking in the shifting light, pockets of houses tucked between fields and raw Crete; an endless variety of texture and color. A spreading pergola along the west side provides cover for a teak dining table for 14 and small kitchen (large gas grill, small fridge, sink) with ample counter space for preparing lunch. Portable CD/Tape player. Stairs take you to a full bath (open shower with hot and cold water, no curtain) below. Behind the pergola is the bocce court.
For the villa itself, the owners chose to follow the architectural concepts of Lorenzo de Medici, placing doors opposite doors so you are constantly drawn through the space by a captivating view beyond. They kept the warm honey-colored stone, added handmade tile floors and restored the beamed ceilings. To amplify light and the view, they dispensed with the traditional window and shutter scheme, preferring full-pane windows. Il Giuncheto forms a square, keeping intact the original central courtyard and ensuring all the bedrooms face out to the stunning landscape.
Price information available upon request.
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