Arezzo villa Rental Property Information
About the Experience
Imagine yourself at this villa in Tuscany: lounging under cameo-pink vaulted ceilings; enjoying a feast in a formal dining hall under an antique chandelier; or drifting off to sleep in a room filled with ancient furniture and delicious trompe l'oeil. The life of a 15th century noble awaits you in this Tuscany villa with a pool near Arezzo, which is where the movie "Life is Beautiful," starring Roberto Benigni, was filmed. Right on the eastern corner of the triangle formed by Siena, Florence, and Arezzo, this elegant Tuscany vacation rental is both well located for day trips-- and an experience in itself!
Location
This country villa is located in Borgo a Giovi, a Tuscan neighborhood on the outskirts of the village of Giovi near the river Arno. For easy transportation, the train line Stia-Pratovecchio stops in Giovi, about 500 meters from the villa, and only 300 meters from the villa there is a bus stop. You can also take a nice walk into the village, where there is a delicious restaurant. Both Giovi and the River Arno are within walking distance at about 500 meters away. Nearby Arezzo, the setting for Roberto Benigni's Life is Beautiful, is a city characterized by an array of architectural styles, from Etruscan ruins to the Roman amphitheatre and the Medici Fortress. The first weekend of each month features a popular antique fair, while annually the town hosts a festival called Joust of the Saracens, where all of the citizens dress in medieval attire to watch knights charge at a target (representing the Saracen king). Arezzo also has a train station, convenient for accessing other cities in Tuscany. Further than Arezzo but still close by, you can visit a convent in La Verna and a monastery in Camaldoli. The location of this holiday home is also well situated to day trips throughout Tuscany, including nearby Cortona and Lake Trasimeno, as well as Florence and Siena.
Rome: 180 km (80 min. by train)
Lake Trasimeno: 77 km
Florence: 70 km (30 minutes by train)
Siena: 70 km
Camaldoli: 38 km
Cortona: 37 km
Arezzo (train station): 7 km
Ponte alla Chiassa (shops): 800 meters
Giovi: 800 meters
Exterior Description
This is an old country manor house which has recently been restored. It is interesting because each of the three stories is from a different century, from the 1500's to the 1900's. The villa is surrounded by two courtyards, a vineyard, and a long cypress path which leads to the main entrance. There is also an above-ground pool (8m x 5m) and a private garden (a second garden is designated for the owners) with a pergola, lawn, and porch connected to the kitchen. An internal courtyard has a table and chairs in front of the entrance hall. On the property there is also a chapel from the 18th century. A road runs along the front of the property, so the entrance is in the back.
Interior Description
(600 m2)
Ground Floor: The entrance hall has a barrel-vaulted ceiling and a door leading into the internal courtyard. Inside the villa you will find a living room with cameo-pink walls, paintings, a stone fireplace, armchairs, and a sofa bed suitable for one person (160cm x 200 cm). A huge kitchen/dining room has furniture dating from the 15th century: a dining table made of stone, a fireplace, and copper jugs lining the wall. There is also a sofa and a fireplace. A second cozy kitchen has an oven, stove, dishwasher, washing machine, and other kitchen equipment. The ground floor also contains the one bedroom, which has vaulted ceilings, a chest of drawers, a writing desk, an armchair, and a 160 cm queen-size bed. There is one bathroom with a sink, toilet, and shower.
Mid-Floor: Ten steps up from the ground floor there is a small mid-level area. This contains a store-room and a bathroom with a sink, WC, bidet, and bathtub with handheld showerhead.
First Floor: Upstairs there is one large dining room with a table covered in red brocade, a chandelier, two empire-style sofas, a bookcase, and a grand piano. There is also a second, smaller living room in pale blue that has a fireplace, a round table, and various seats. There are also four bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor: The first bedroom has a 160 cm queen-size bed, a writing desk, wardrobe, and armchairs. The second room, which is decorated with trompe l'oeil from the 18th century, has an 85 cm single bed and a writing desk. The bathroom next to these two rooms has a cast-iron bathtub, built-in wardrobe, sink, and toilet. The third bedroom has curtains and walls decorated with images of a lion, and the furniture is in neo-gothic style. The 160 cm queen-size bed sits in a wooden frame, and there is also a chest of drawers, writing desk, and a wooden wardrobe. The fourth bedroom is in pink, with two 80 cm narrow single beds, a chest of drawers, table, and closet. The second bathroom has a toilet, sink, bidet, and shower.
Features
Available Amenities: Swimming pool (8m x 5m), satellite TV, VCR, DVD player, stereo/CD player, screens on all windows, washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, oven, toaster, fireplace, ADSL wireless Internet access, maid service Saturday morning.
Arrive and Relax: This apartment comes with a welcome basket full of coffee, biscuits, butter, jam, pasta, olive oil, bread, water, milk, and wine.
Extra Services: The following are listed as an aid for trip planning; the services and prices are approximate and cannot be guaranteed by Rentvillas. All extra services are payable locally in cash.
# Telephone: metered according to use
# Heating: according to consumption
# Maid service: 12 Euros/hour
# Cook service: 15 Euros/hour
# Linen change: 15 Euros/bed
# Airport transfer: 100 Euros
# Driver service: 20 Euros/hour
# Babysitting: 15 Euros/hour
Nearby Attractions: Tennis (2 km), swimming pool (2 km), horseback riding (10 km), golf (25 km), beach at Maremma (180 km), park by the Arno (500 meters), vineyards, Arezzo (Etruscan ruins, Roman amphitheatre, Medici Fortress, antique fair, Joust of the Saracens, train station), convent in La Verna, monastery in Camaldoli, Cortona, Lake Trasimeno, Florence, Siena.
Please Note:
# A main road passes in front of the house, so the primary entrance is now around the back.
# A car is recommended.
