Part of the Schifanoia Estate, this villa is one of the seven properties, once owned by the Medici Family back in 1350 and surrounds a 1000 years old Convento called Bosco ai Frati, where Renaissance Masters like Donatello, Michelozzo, and Fra Angelico left marks of their spectacular talent.
In brief
First impression Can I move in please? Families will love enjoying the time spent in this magical land
Food & drink One-to-one with the friendly, helpful owners, organic ingredients produced within the estate. You should not miss the fresh honey, the olive oil, the pasta made with ancient seeds..
Staff The breakfast is too good to spoil it with lunch.
Bed & bath Old-school comfort.
The crowd Cultured, design-aware globetrotters.
In a nutshell Chic design, in-depth local knowledge and a charming off-the-radar Italian country side in one neat package.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of this restored villa on a magical land in Tuscany 35 minute drive North from Florence – the owners drew an interesting concept of “La Dolce Vita”
Set the scene
With its size and beauty, Schifanoia Estate represented one of the Medici’s most relevant properties in Tuscany together with Il Castello del Trebbio and Il Castello di Cafaggiuolo, which are now Unesco World Heritage sites.
What’s the setting?
Tenuta Schifanoia is a 1500 acres estate stretching across two valleys surrounding the Convent of Bosco ai Frati in San Piero a Sieve, Tuscany. The Estate is just a 30 minutes drive from Florence.
The Estate stretches along the Anguidola river and includes a total of twelve Case Coloniche from the 1700s distributed across the hills all overseeing the Schifanoia valley. The property is surrounded by ancient and majestic oak woods providing an unparalleled level of privacy.
The Schifanoia Estate is today also an organic farm and a certified white truffle hunting ground. The farm produces wheat, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, and spelt. All our products are grown without the use of any pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or irrigation.
RELATED Villa Stay: Your perfect week in Tuscany
What can you expect from the bedrooms?
The first floor is home to five spacious bedrooms; each one with glorious countryside views and air-conditioning. Three of these bedrooms come with en-suite bathrooms; the remaining two benefit from a Jack and Jill bathroom — a full-sized bathroom that is sandwiched and accessible by both bedrooms. Additionally, the first floor is also home to a smaller (nevertheless, very cosy) living room with an open fireplace where you can tune out when they like. Accommodation at Colonica Tuori is completed by a double bedroom and en-suite bathroom on the lower ground floor accessed via the courtyard. This bedroom is not air-conditioned but has private access to the gardens and a furnished terrace, where you can enjoy a little “me” time with a cup of coffee or tea.
How about the food and drink?
Breakfast is the only meal served here – but what a breakfast. It’s eaten perched comfortably in the dining room, where 12 guests can seat all together. The honey is made by the farmer and estate caretaker of this place on the Barberino area, but pretty much everything on the table is either homemade or locally sourced – and it changes seasonally too.
Anything to say about the service?
The service is: helpful, friendly, full of good advice on restaurants and things to do, but also aware of personal space. There’s room service but and there are also restaurants in the surrounding streets – including, just minutes aways, La Torre Osteria.
RELATED Family and Friends Reunions: Our favorite Large Villas for rent in Tuscany
Who comes here?
The fun thing is that many of the international travellers love to stay South of Florence and have no idea how beautiful this area is. We’re also guessing that there’s a small niche of people who love Mugello already but have never found the right place to stay there – or who have actually never stayed there, only passed through, because there was never anywhere worth staying.
From Our Visit in October 2022 – Haute Retreats Credits
How does it fit into the neighbourhood?
The vibrant 4-acre gardens surrounding the villa blend with the surrounding area, planted with centuries-old oaks and chestnut trees, Mediterranean flowers and aromatic shrubs. Where the villa’s fenced grounds end, acres of the estate’s sunflowers begin, painting in yellow the Schifanoia valley. No stay in Mugello is complete without a visit to Barberino di Mugello, Dicomano, Firenzuola and Scarperia. Further afield, Florence is only 30 minutes by car, while Siena, Pienza, Chianti, Lucca and Pisa are all conveniently reachable in under two hours’ drive.
Anything we missed?
Did we mention this is a luxe villa? There is a nice large swimming pool, space space and views over the rolling hills of Tuscany.. There is a pizza oven, very antique, perfect for a pizza class or a family pizza dinner. Our concierge team who are even better than hotel concierges, because they’re in tune with what most of their guests like and enjoy. They will plan all the many activities this estate can offer.
Anything you’d change?
Not really. Perhaps some horses. Horse back riding is ideal in this area.
Is it worth it – why?
Definitely worth it, because this is quite simply one of the classiest and well kept villas located in Italy in the last few years. High-season prices are creeping up however, so try to come outside of July and August for the best value and to enjoy the scenery.
Book NOW: https://hauteretreats.com/luxury-rentals/tuori/
Rate: Starting from USD 1250 per night
Not to miss is a visit at the Convento Bosco dei Frati and admire the Crocifisso of Donatello (ca 1400)
The Medici Family came from these lands. With the bull of Pope Martin V, in 1427, after about 80 years of abandonment, the Franciscan friars returned to the convent.Thus began the period of excellence of the Bosco to the Friars, for at least two centuries. The patronage of the Medici family brought important works of art to the church and to the convent. These are altarpieces, paintings and priceless volumes engraved as an endowment for a large library. From 1427 to 1438, renovations and structural restorations were carried out by the renowned architect Michelozzo.
But the most important work present at the Bosco ai Frati is undoubtedly the wooden crucifix attributed to Donatello. the sculpture presents a dramatic and raw realism. The limbs of Christ appear fleshless and emaciated obvious signs of suffering and death. The body of Christ appears heavily abandoned on the lignum crucis.
