Studio for max. 1 adult + 1 child
Scandicci, Central Italy, (Tuscany), Italy

Romantic country estate from the 15th century, with three recently (2013) renovated holiday apartments/house and a shared garden with a grill area on the sunny terrace

This picturesque country estate is nestled into the lush Tuscan landscape around San Martino alla Palma, to the west of the art city of Florence. The country estate is accessed along a private road, so you can enjoy a relaxing holiday here amidst green nature, far away from tourist noise.

The former barn on the country estate was converted into two separate holiday apartments, the detached wine cellar into a separate holiday house. All three were renovated in 2013 and provided with modern amenities for a comfortable stay.

The country estate is surrounded by a 35-hectare private site with olive groves and oak forests. You can observe many wild animals here: deer, stags, wild boar, birds of prey. Right in front of the main house with the apartments you can enjoy leisurely meals around the grill area under a blue Tuscan sky. Or you can withdraw to the sunny terrace with a good book. During the hot midday hours you can always find a shady spot under the parasols. It is recommended to arrive by car and plenty of parking spaces are available.

The owner lives next door in the main building on the country estate. He is always mindful of your privacy, but available to assist with any queries.

Despite the secluded location, the places of interest in the region are within easy access. The private track of the country estate leads to the roads towards San Maria di Marciola and San Martino alla Palma. The motorway to Florence is only about 6km away. Or you can use public transport, with trams from the Villa Constanza stop in Scandicci about 5.5km away taking you directly into the centre of Florence in about 25 minutes (Stazione S.Maria Nov, every 3-4 minutes). Right next to the stop you can always find a free parking space. It is about 80km to the sea via the Florence-Pisa-Livorno motorway, and the popular lake Lago di Bilancino is about 35km away. The nearest shops, colourful markets, a (pizza) bakery, cafes and restaurants are in San Martino alla Palma about 4km away.

Rustic and comfortably furnished studio apartment on the ground floor of the former barn

Rustic hilltop paradise, a stone's throw from Florence !
The 13th century farmhouse is set on a private hill surrounded by 35 hectares of olive groves, oak forests and an amazing variety of wildlife. There is a wide variety of birds, birds of prey, various types of deer (fallow, roe and red), wild boar, etc.The private country dirt-track road leading to the property is 800 mts long. The location is totally rural, with beautiful views, quiet and totally unspoilt. This is a protected area and no new buildings are allowed. There are no electric pylons and the whole surrounding area has all organic (biologish) productions.The property is close to all the main roads leading to all the places of interest, but they can't be seen or heard ! Public transport to the centre of Florence can be found at the bottom of the hill in Scandicci (5,5 km). The tram system is very efficient (every 3/4 mins). There is free parking close to the tram stop (Villa Costanza), which happens to be also the tram terminal. Tickets can be bought at the vendor machine (or at the local bar or tobacconist). The ticket must be stamped once you are on the tram (if found with non stamped ticket € 42.50 fine..!). It is a 25 minute journey to the city centre and main train station: "Stazione S.Maria Novella".

DIRECTIONS- on Google Maps : “PODERE VIGLIANO VECCHIO”( GPS : N43°44’47.0” - E 011°07’51.2”)

From MILAN / BOLOGNA / ROME on A1 motorway . Exit : “FIRENZE-SCANDICCI” >> after pay-toll follow signs to yr right for ‘Scandicci’ >> 100 mts. turn right again >> Scandicci >> straight to roundabout >> keep to your right, next roundabout, straight on and at third roundabout turn right>> on the Via Pisana road go towards ‘Lastra a Signa’ for 600 mts. >> after ‘Olmo’, at ‘La Pieve’ to your left, there is a ‘power station’ with electric pilons, immediately after this >> turn left into Via delle Fonti >> straight on >> cross a narrow bridge >> straight on >> the road narrows >> uphill, go straight (do not turn left towards S.Martino alla Palma ), >> carry on; steep downhill and steep uphill , at the top of the hill you will read a notice ‘Vigliano-Bricoli’, carry on until you meet a fork road >> take a left into Via di Roncigliano. After 20 yds turn left again onto a dirt track road., you will read Via di Valimorta and a wooden sign: Podere Vigliano Vecchio There is a first iron gate after 300 yds, ignore it. Carry on for another 500 yds and you will find another iron gate,stop.(parking, below right). Enter the courtyard (on foot)If you have to go to the ‘La Vista’ apt.,through a small iron gate to the right of the main iron gate, walk to the house on the far end to your right. If you have to go to the ‘La Stalla’ or ‘L’Acetaia’ apartments., enter green wooden gate (below parking). We will be there… expecting you…!! (dist.from exit: 4 miles-10 mins.drive) -

From LUCCA take ‘A11’ motorway, enter A1, go towards Rome and follow as above. - From PISA airp. enter : “FI-PI-LI” dual carriage road towards > FIRENZE > Exit : “GINESTRA FIORENTINA” >> when you enter the local road, on roundabout, 3rd turning to your right, go straight, ignore the cross road to your left which indicates Lastra a Signa. After 400/500 yds. the road takes a slight rise, turn left, there will be a small sign-post with Carcheri written on it. The road is quite narrow >>you will get to Inno (where there is a typical wood-oven for making bread and pizzas open also on Sundays) >> carry on >> You will see a signpost: ‘Vigliano-Bricoli’, go passed it. You will notice, on your right, that the road takes a sharp turn going uphill, follow it. After 15/20 yds turn left where it says Via Valimorta, then, you will get onto a country road. You will find a first gate, after 500 mts, you will find a second gate. (then follow as above…) . We will be there.. expecting you ! (it takes 45/60 minutes. Don’t go over 90 km/h, there are speed-cameras !).

From FIRENZE (Peretola) airport: Get onto roundabout >> follow signs for Scandicci, Ponte all’Indiano, >> go over a bridge across the Arno river, >> follow signs for FI-PI-LI, go towards Pisa (not Florence), take the first exit for Scandicci , (then follow directions as though you were coming from motorway A1 from Milan or Rome (15-20 mins.).

The studio apartment on the ground floor consists of a combined living room and bedroom, a fully-equipped kitchen and a bathroom.

The living room is furnished with a comfortable double sofa-bed (160 x 200cm). There is also a round dining table with four chairs. You go through a wide archway in the natural stone wall into the kitchen, equipped with a four-zone gas stove, fridge with freezer compartment, microwave, toaster and washing machine. The bathroom is fitted with a shower cubicle, a washbasin with a wall mirror, and a toilet. Plenty of bed linen and towels are provided and the wireless Internet connection is free.

N.B.: please note that we do not rent this apartment for more than 5 nights at a time.Sorry for the inconvenience.!

There is a small private terraced garden at the entrance of the apartment and a communal garden available to sit out. Garden furniture is provided The garden overlooks the nature reserve (and historical heritage buildings) with beautiful surrounding valleys with vineyards, olive groves and arable farming (mainly organically grown), and oak and pine forests

Once off the private dirt track, there is a narrow public road which leads up to S.Maria di Marciola, S.Martino alla Palma, which can be used for jogging, walking, or cycling. There is also another nature reserve near Poggio Valicaia a public park ideal for walking in the surrounding area.

SEA. The "FI-PI-LI" road leads you to the sea around 80/90km from the property. You get on this road at the "Ginestra Fiorentina" exit and in about 50 mins to an hour you will reach the coast. South of Livorno you will have rocky beaches (Calafuria), north, close to Viareggio there is sand. Otherwise you go south of Castiglioncello, close to Vada and Cecina and there again, more sandy beaches.

LAKE. If you want to stay close and on a lake, we have one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe called "Lago di Bilancino", around 35 km away from here. You get on the A1 (pay toll motorway) towards Bologna and you get off at "Barberino di Mugello". There is a lovely lake (used as well as drinking water reservoir for Florence). You can also rent rowing and sailing boats for the day (motorboats are not allowed). Fishing permits are also released by the local authorities.

FOOD & SHOPPING areas close by. At the bottom of the hill there is a EUROSPIN supermarket.. There is a large COOP supermarket before entering the small town of Lastra a Signa (6km). There is a local baker open also on Sundays at "Inno" (4km) a tiny village with only one shop..! They have home made pizza and a bit of everything. (but of course a little more expensive than any supermarket !). There is also a "Penny" supermarket in "Casellina" (5,5 km) at the bottom of the hill going towards Florence. There is a local permanent farmers market where they have local produce called "Consorzio di Legnaia".

RESTAURANTS : are within 4 to 7 km. From Pizzas at reasonable prices( in S.Martino alla Palma) to typical local genuine, good food fairly reasonable such as "Fiore" (S.Maria di Marciola) or "La Lanterna" (Pulica).

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