Tuscany house rentals - A lovely 15th century holiday house (sleeps 6) in a village south-east of Siena. Well-equipped with central heating, ceiling fans and a private swimming pool, it gives wonderful views over the Tuscan countryside.
Bordering the garden of Villa San Giovanni stands the small villa La Capannina. The private entrance of the house leads onto a terrace furnished with a table, chairs and a large umbrella. Here there is a little private swimming pool, maintained by a gardener. Going down four steps you reach an open space with sunbeds and deckchairs and a 14th century well enclosed with a grating. There is a bathroom with shower and changing room serving the swimming pool. Everywhere there are beautiful views of the valley.
This beautifully renovated barn (please, note that it is available only for weekly rentals) sleeps 6 over its three bedrooms (two double and one twin). There are three bathrooms, and the house covers 120m², with 100sqm of gardens and pool. There is a large living room, a fully equipped kitchen, fireplace, satellite TV, dishwasher, washing machine, freezer, ceiling fans in all bedrooms, terrace and barbecue. The nearest grocery shop is 1km away. There is good hiking nearby and tennis 8km from the house.
Entering the house from the terrace you find yourself in a broad room, divided into several areas: a sitting room with a large 16th century fireplace, a dining area and a kitchen equipped with fridge, dishwasher, washing machine and a little oven.
An iron and travertine stair leads you to the first floor, where two double-bedded rooms and one twin-bedded room is located, sharing two bathrooms with showers. All the bedrooms are equipped with ceiling fans. The house is also provided with independent central heating. All bed linen and towels are included. Parking is 60 metres from the house, but you can bring your car up to load and unload suitcases and shopping bags.
Low season: Jan 03 2009 - Apr 11 2009, Apr 18 2009 - May 02 2009, Sep 26 2009 - Dec 19 2009. Mid season: May 02 2009 - May 30 2009, Aug 29 2009 - Sep 26 2009. High season: May 30 2009 - Aug 29 2009, Dec 19 2009 - Jan 02 2010.
A week's rental of this marvellous Tuscan holiday home in low season is EURO €2150, in mid €2400 and in high is €2550, with reservations from Saturday to Saturday each week. The 6 x 3m pool is open from 1 May to 30 September. Bed, bath and kitchen linen, water, electricity, gas, firewood for fireplace, heating, final cleaning, pool cleaning service and garden maintenance are all included in the price. A child's cot with bars and high chair is available free of charge; pets are not allowed. A security deposit of €250 should be paid on arrival.
San Giovanni is a small village with approximately 300 inhabitants. La Capannina is in the upper part of the village - the Borghetto, near the ancient castle, dating back to the 12th century, and now the seat of the municipal authorities. The territory of San Giovanni includes the hamlets of Montisi, Lucignano d'Asso, Monterongriffoli, Vergelle and Pieve a Salti. San Giovanni was originally an Etruscan settlement, then an area contested by both the Bishops of Arezzo and Siena, and was sacked by the Ghibellines in 1315.
The castle hosts the famous White Truffle Market each November. Among the agricultural products of the area, the white truffle is prized throughout Italy, as are the excellent wines, oil, savoury cheeses and honey. In this upper part of the village there is also a restaurant. The Romanesque church of San Giovanni Battista is near to the castle, while in the lower part of the village lies the most important church in the area, the beautiful San Pietro in Villore, built in the 11th and 12th centuries, and surrounded by cypresses. The picturesque village of Montisi nearby, has its Chiesa dell'Annunziata and the historic grain tower. Here, every year, on the Sunday nearest 5 August (the Festival of the Madonna delle Nevi, the patron saint of Montisi) a jousting contest - the Giostra di Simone - takes place.
The lower part of San Giovanni d'Asso has a baker and butcher, a supermarket and cafe/bar. There are public tennis courts 8km away at Torrenieri; the famous abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is 7km away; the thermal spa town of San Quirico D'Orcia is 14km away; Montalcino 17km and Pienza 20km. The beautiful mediaeval city of Siena lies some 40km away, and Florence and San Gimignano are within a day's drive. There is no public transport in San Giovanni, and it is essential you have a car. The nearest airports are approximately two and a half hours' drive, at Rome, Florence and Pisa.
