Tuscany villas to rent - Villa San Giovanni, formal gardens and a private pool southeast of Siena, Italy.
Tuscany is also famous for its hot springs, belonging to a geothermal system that encircles Monte Amiata, the most spectacular being Saturnia in the south west. Steaming water collects in a number of white limestone basins - a rare natural spectacle and great fun to bathe in. Swimming is possible both in the natural basins and in smart thermal baths. Saturnia offers a wide range of comforts and even a sauna. Close to the property is Bagno Vignoni which has been popular since Etruscan times. St Catherine of Siena is said to have appreciated its therapeutic qualities, as is Lorenzo the Magnificent, whose family built the splendid arcaded pool - a kind of flooded, bubbling piazza, famously used by Tarkovsky for some of the more surreal passages of his film Nostalgia.
Not far from this antique piazza is a hotel with a lovely open air swimming pool, fed from hot springs. This is also available to external guests. Bagni San Filippo may be the world's smallest thermal spa - a telephone booth, a few old houses, an outdoor spring in the middle of the woods with glistening limestone formations and one small hotel with a public pool. The Montepulciano thermal springs can also be enjoyed in an indoor thermal swimming pool. Have yourself thoroughly pampered.
You will find a very good restaurant near to the villa, and a bar and grocers 1km away. There is excellent walking nearby and there is an immense amount to do within a few hours' drive, with a host of fascinating mediaeval villages, hill towns and cities nearby. San Quirico d`Orcia is 14km away, Monticchiello 15km, Montalcino 17km, Bagno Vignoni 20km, Pienza 20km, Montepulciano 24km, Bagno San Filippo 30km, Chianciano 30km, Chiusi 35km, Siena 40km, Arezzo 45km, Orvieto 75km, Perugia 90km, Assisi 100km, Viterbo 105km, Florence 110km, Saturnia 130km and Rome 210km.
Low season: 3 January 2009 - 11 April 2009, 18 April 2009 - 2 May 2009, 26 September 2009 - 19 December 2009. Mid season: 2 May 2009 - 30 May 2009, 29 August 2009 - 26 September 2009. High season: 11 April 2009 - 18 April 2009, 30 May 2009 - 29 August 2009, 19 December 2008 - 2 January 2010. Reservations run from Saturday to Saturday only. Weekly rental in low season is €4990, in mid season is €5890 and in high season is €6390. Note the special spring offer of a €500 discount during the period 1-29 May, and a year round discount of €200 per week for groups of up to 13 (1 double bedroom will be closed). The 12x6m pool is open from 1 May to 30 September. There is a cot with bars and a high chair available free of charge. Guests with children should note that the fence of the garden is quite low. Pets are not allowed. Your price includes bed, bath and kitchen linen, water, electricity, gas, fire wood for fireplaces, household help 4 hours per day (5 days per week), final cleaning, pool cleaning service and garden maintenance. A security deposit of €500 should be paid on arrival. Heating (if required) is metered. Winter heating equates to around €1500 per week!
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