Valdambra 201
Badia Agnano between Arezzo and Siena
Renovated farmhouse with a pool - perfect for a group of friends or family
Valdambra, the large farmhouse that now offers small families or a large multi-generational one a great place to holiday in Tuscany, in earlier centuries was quite likely home to those who fed the clerics of the mighty St. Mary's Abbey atop nearby Badia Agnano. In spaces that once would have held hay and the animals it fed, the current owners, in a 10-year restoration project, remained faithful to original layouts and created three generous apartments that now allow guests to stretch limbs and step away from the stresses of modern life. Each with an individual outdoor eating area, all apartments have easy access to the spacious pool area whose sun loungers, umbrellas, tables and night lighting make it a popular spot day and night. The surrounding hectares, once cultivated in grain, are now planted with olive and walnut trees, some strung with hammocks to make the most of a shaded afternoon snooze.
The two apartments in the farmhouse itself are both on the ground floor, whereas that in the former haybarn takes advantage of the building's natural height to stretch to two floors. All apartments are spacious for the number of guests they serve and furnished attractively and with good quality appliances and fixtures. The owner, who lives with her family on the top floor of the farmhouse, is an excellent resource. And at this property there are many 'extra' possibilities - horse stables you can walk to, cooking lessons and meals done by a lovely Italian, tours and transport to corners you've yet to discover, outlet shopping, and bike rentals for those who would tour Tuscany in a slower lane. You can even arrange for an intimate wedding that will remain in the hearts of guests long after the rice has fallen.
Nice little touches
- The 3 individual accommodations gives a group of friends or family members the sense of being together while still allowing them some privacy.
- The owner lives on the premises and is very helpful in organizing excursions and extras.
- The wide valley in which Pagliaio is located is excellent for exploration by bike or horseback.
Good to know
- Though indoor WiFi is better by windows, it even reaches the pool area.
- The twin bedroom is considerable smaller than the double bedroom and ideal for children.
Accommodation
There are two apartments on the ground floor of the main farmhouse.
One has two entrances - one facing the pool and leading into the large kitchen/dining area and another from the side into the sitting room. The kitchen has attractive cupboards, a glass-topped table seating 8 in small armchairs and is likely the easiest place for all members of the group to eat together. Off the dining area is a small twin bedroom with a wardrobe that utilizes a WC off the sitting area. The sitting room, an extension of the dining area, has two sofas that can be used as single beds and an extra small sofa. Two steps up off this room is a roomy double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Just next door entrance to another apartment is through the arched entryway directly into a generous sitting room with sofa, armchairs, a wood stove and an extra double sofa bed. Up a couple of steps to the right is a double bedroom with wrought iron bedstead, desk, wardrobe and ensuite shower room and an independent access to the side garden down a short jasmine-covered staircase. Also off the sitting room is access to a 2nd shower room and a large eat-in kitchen with view to the pool.
The third living space sits across the drive from the main house and is entered through arched glass doors into a sitting room with two bright sofas, which can double as two single beds. A short corridor leads past a shower room into an eat-in kitchen with a glass topped table for 4 with wicker chairs. Up the wrought iron & glass staircase with natural wood steps is an additional shower room and two spacious double bedrooms where light filters through the original brickwork of haybarn windows.
Features
Villa Type
- Private pool
- Multi-gen villa
- Pets welcome
- Family villas
Villa Details
- Private pool
- Wifi internet
- Central heating (extra)
- Small dogs permitted on prior request
Bedrooms and Bathrooms
- 4 double bedrooms
- 1 twin bedroom
- 1 ensuite bathroom with bathtub
- 1 ensuite bathroom with shower
- 4 additional bathrooms with showers
- 4 single living room sofa beds available
- 3 hair dryers (1 per house)
- Insect screen on bedroom windows
Kitchen equipment
- Oven
- Dishwasher
- Toaster
- Italian coffee maker
- Kettle
- Microwave available on request
Amenities
- Satellite tv
- Dvd player
- Cd player/radio
- Woodstoves (2)
- Portable fans available on request
- Baby bed and high chair available on request
- Washing machine in the shared laundry room
- Iron and ironing board in the shared laundry room
Outdoors
- Swimming pool - dim: 7x15 m, depth: 1.20-2.20 m, with diving board
- Furnished dining patios and garden areas
- Webber bbq available
- Ping pong table in the garden
- Hammocks strung in the garden
Nearby
- Tennis court in nearby bucine 7 km
- Horse stables in walking distance
- Bike rentals can be arranged
What's included
- Final cleaning included
- Pool towels provided
Extras on request
- Heating: extra on consumption
- 1 portable a/c unit available on request
- Arrival groceries available on request
- Catering available on request
- Cooking lessons available on request
- Extra cleaning available on request
- Transport and tours can be organized
Where is Valdambra?
Getting here
- Florence airport 1 hr
- Pisa airport 1 hr 45 mins
- Rome fiumicino airport 3 hrs
- Fast train from montevarchi 16 km. with connections to florence, rome and milan
- Restaurants, bars and shops in badia agnano 1.5 km and pieva a presciano 3 km.
- Supermarkets in ambra and bucine 7 km
- Arezzo 25 km, and siena 35 km
- Florence 60 km.
Around Valdambra
Once the territory of powerful feudal lords, the fertile valley of the Ambra River lies central to the Florence, Siena and Arezzo triangle; not surprisingly, throughout the Middle Ages it was land to be fought over and frequently traded hands - until the formidable Medici family did away with its influence and relegated it to the role of Florentine breadbasket.
For this the modern tourist can be thankful; the protected land and buildings seen today are not that removed from the Tuscan countryside seen in ancient frescos. There are many good restaurants and lively festivals in the charming towns and villages nearby, and with the famous tips of the triangle - Siena, Arezzo, Florence - all within easy driving distance, Valdambra is easily one of the most comfortable and well placed holiday spots you could find.
How to book
Is Valdambra perfect for you?
You can check availability and pricing here:
Check calendar
this will go to our sister site, invitationto.com - where you can place a hold on the dates you're interested in.
Ask us for more details - all our agents visit our villas and know the areas. You can ring us or fill in our wishlist form
Not sure?
It can often be faster to contact us to ask for advice - we visit all the houses so can give you first hand advice based on your wishlist. Once you find a villa you like we can hold dates for you for up to 48 hours while you check flights or make sure everybody is on board.
Found it? Everybody on board?
When you want to secure your booking you can login and pay the deposit (30% of total) via our secure servers or ring us directly. The balance will then be due 10 weeks before you travel. You can select the currency you want to pay in when booking - that rate is then guaranteed.
For more details see our Booking Conditions.
Any more questions?
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