Near Arezzo, Tuscany
Property 5360
10 Guests
5 Bedrooms
6 Bathrooms
650 square meters indoor
6,500 Square Meters outdoor
Villa San Polo is a stunning Renaissance villa of the late 1500's, located in a peaceful residential neighborhood in one of the loveliest positions outside Arezzo. The owners, themselves builders and restorers of important, period homes, purchased the property and divided it into three substantial properties, retaining the principal apartment of reception rooms and piano nobile, plus the formal gardens, for themselves. An extensive renovation spanning four years was required after decades of abandonment left chaos and destruction. The recent restoration demonstrated an exceptional attention to detail and authenticity, returning the Villa to it's former glory, and even enhancing earlier renovations with the most important 21st century amenities.
Arezzo is one of the most overlooked towns in Tuscany even though it is as worthy as a center for a Tuscan vacation as Siena. Of roughly equivalent size and arguably of equal historical importance, Arezzo offers a wide range of interesting restaurants, chic boutiques and arguably the best antique shopping in Tuscany. The museums and art are of seminal importance, and the Piazza Grande, while not quite Siena's Campo, is certainly a stunning architectural achievement. This delightful and beautiful city was the setting for Roberto Begnini's memorable 'La Vita e Bella' and the charm and romance of that film's early scenes seem true even in real life of today.
Villa San Polo is set in a tranquil residential enclave a seven minute drive by local road straight into the heart of Arezzo. In ten minutes you can be parked and walking to the train for Florence, a recommended alternative to driving. The portion of the property offered as a villa vacation is the most important part, comprising private gated entrance, drive and gardens as well as a completely private two-story home. Everything about the approach, the meandering drive past olive groves and vineyards, the stunning Romanesque church, the cypress trees -- tells you you are on old, aristocratic land. A stone arch, dating from the original construction of the Villa, announces the formal entrance. The winding uphill approach, cool and green, includes inviting places to sit and enjoy the splendid view. A covered parking area is discreetly tucked under the trees.
Villa San Polo is preceded by a long and formal garden, protected by local regulation from substantial adaptation because of its historic importance. The grounds are enclosed by cypresses, shrubs and stone walls, providing privacy and creating an intimate atmosphere completely in keeping with the size and character of the house. The grounds are well organized and highly functional, with furnished spaces for lounging by the pool, on the terrace near the house, at the vine covered al fresco dining room or in the open cafe style pavilion. The idea is that the garden is to be enjoyed by being lived in, and while accomplishing this, they also provide a stunning accompaniment to the villa itself. Laid out with boxwood parterres, the garden is very welcoming, displaying enormous potted hydrangea, oleander plus 200 thriving rose bushes to great effect. A fountain, complete with a goldfish-filled pool, provides another point of interest. Cotta basins set along the paths overflow with annuals, adding more color to the lush Italian garden. The heated pool (14 x 6 meters) surrounded with a stone terrace is ample for a cooling dip on a hot afternoon. A raised terrace of stone includes a rustic stone table for four with a nice view to the west, overlooking the neighbors' pool, to Chianti in the distance. For dinner al fresco, a glass table with stone base and handsome modern iron chairs is set under the cooling shade of a wisteria-laden pergola. Heavy with bloom both in April and May as well as September, this makes an idyllic setting for a long, relaxed meal. The east wall of the garden is covered with a vigorous jasmine vine that blooms May through September, filling the air with its intoxicating perfume.
The elegant facade of the Villa, painted with the familiar orange/yellow of the Pitti Palace in Florence, is marked with tall narrow double doors, all made of cypress wood, the stone lintels beautifully accented with grey paint. The flow of life at Villa San Polo is easy, the double doors open to marry the interior and exterior spaces on a breeze filled evening. Or the doors closed and the curtains drawn to offer cool relief on a hot afternoon. Regardless, the elegance of the architecture is perfectly matched with the elegance of the interior. This Renaissance villa enjoys particularly lofty rooms with four meter high ceilings, plenty of light and air spilling in from tall windows overlooking the garden and pool. Extensive decorative frescoes and stenciling throughout the house were all researched and designed by a leading scholar of this particular decorative art. The house sits at 350 meters; with its thick walls and careful design you are comfortable throughout the summer and perhaps will not need the recently added air conditioning units in the bedrooms.
Villa San Polo has the features of a much larger, independent villa, but the ideal layout -- with all the bedrooms offering postcard-worthy views of the pool, gardens and countryside, make for nearly equivalent accommodation. Children are welcome as well, and teenagers and young adults will have all the people-watching and shopping they could want in Arezzo. Villa San Polo makes villa style accessible to families and smaller groups who want to immerse themselves in authentic Tuscan living.
Price information available upon request.
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© February 2012 by Homebase Abroad, Ltd. All rights reserved.