Villa Il Santo

Villa Il Santo is an eight-bedroom house on a Chianti hilltop near Barberino Val d’Elsa, first built around the year 1000 and newly restored, with a heated infinity pool over the valley, a pool terrace facing the vineyards toward San Gimignano, terraced gardens of roses, jasmine and olive trees, and an arrival dinner, a wine tasting and housekeeping in the rate. Sixteen guests, eight en-suite bathrooms.

Eight en-suite bedrooms sleep sixteen. We’d put it forward for three or four families who want the view to San Gimignano, the hilltop sunsets and Florence and Siena each within forty minutes, or for a wedding or a luxury retreat, which it’s offered for. Of the luxury villas in Tuscany we place, it’s a house first built a thousand years ago and fitted out for now.

THE HOUSE

A long, careful restoration has run through the previous owners and the present ones, using the original terracotta for the floors and reclaimed wood for the ceilings. Around them the palette is neutral and earthy, soft furnishings in fresh tones. Several living rooms run across two floors, among them a large lounge on the first floor, there’s a feature fireplace, and the dining room seats all sixteen. Smeg appliances fit out a new kitchen. There’s a Sonos sound system with Spotify, surround speakers through the house, a full movie set-up and smart TV, Wi-Fi throughout, air-conditioning and heating.

THE BEDROOMS

All eight bedrooms have their own bathrooms. The house supplies 300-thread sheets, Frette towels and bathrobes with slippers, Santa Maria Novella toiletries and Dyson hairdryers, and the towels are changed daily. No bed sizes are listed, nor which rooms sit on which floor, so we confirm the layout when we quote.

THE POOL AND THE GARDEN

Outside, the garden is laid out on terraced levels, planted with roses and jasmine and big pots of olive trees, with spaces for eating outside, aperitifs, sunbathing and Pilates in the morning. From the heated infinity pool you look over the valley, with sun loungers, pool towels and an outdoor shower nearby. At the back of the garden, reached easily from the main kitchen, an outdoor kitchen has a barbecue, a Fontana pizza oven and room for another table.

THE SERVICES

The stay opens with an arrival dinner and an arrival breakfast, and a wine tasting, housekeeping, a midweek change of laundry and fresh flowers are included. Your pantry is started too: a case of twelve Tuscan wines, mineral water, coffee, tea, milk and sugar, olive oil from the area, fruit in season, limoncello, Aperol and mixers. Pool heating, air-conditioning, electricity and heating are in the rate. A chef, a bartender, a chauffeur, airport transfers and extra housekeeping are arranged at a cost, as are yoga, Pilates, massage, a personal trainer, cookery and pizza classes, truffle hunts, further wine tours, photography, a ceramics workshop, jewellery-making with a local silversmith and a balloon flight.

THE RULES

Check-in is from 4 pm and check-out by 10 am. Children are welcome, the villa is non-smoking, pets come only with prior approval and a non-refundable pet deposit, and events are discussed case by case. Half the rent secures the booking and the balance is due 60 days before arrival; bookings are final, so travel insurance is a good idea.

THE LOCATION

Barberino Val d’Elsa, a village with a market, food shops and restaurants, is five to seven minutes away and the big supermarket about ten. San Gimignano is 25 minutes, Siena 35, Florence 35 to 40 and Pisa 80; Tenuta Torciano, Fattoria Casa Sola and Antinori’s Chianti Classico estate are between 14 and 20 minutes by car. If you’re weighing a house like this against a borgo or a coastal tenuta, our guide to choosing your Tuscan estate sets the three side by side.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is a chef included?
The arrival dinner and arrival breakfast are included; after that a chef is booked at a cost, as is a bartender.

Can we hold a wedding here?
It’s offered for weddings and retreats; events are agreed case by case, and our page on wedding villas in Italy looks at the day and the days around it.

Is the pool heated?
Yes, and the heating is in the rate.

What is the minimum stay?
The villa is priced by the week and the partner states no minimum, so we quote seven nights and confirm anything shorter.

To check dates or request a quote for Villa Il Santo, write to [email protected].