Posted February 26th, 2010 by Dan Wrightson. Filed under Latest news
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More families are pooling resources and holidaying together this year, according to Invitation to Tuscany (020-8444-9500; www.invitationtotuscany.com).
The villa and farmhouse specialist has noticed an increase in bookings from groups of family and friends. The most sought-after accommodation is clusters of individual cottages and apartments on one site, enabling everyone to have fun together but providing more privacy and independence for individual families than sharing one large house.
Taking over a whole estate of smaller houses generally works out much cheaper than renting one huge villa – and to make it even more attractive the company is offering a 5% reduction on all such bookings in 2010.
A total of 15 people can stay in three recently-restored old houses on a renowned 450-acre Chianti wine estate close to Siena. Set on a hillside amid some of Tuscany’s loveliest countryside, the bright and spacious houses sleep four, five and six and are arranged around an old courtyard enjoying wonderful views and shared use of a large swimming pool. The vineyard is in the tiny village of Lornano where there is an excellent restaurant and a 9th-century church. Guests can also visit the ancient winery to sample and buy the Chianti Classico, regarded as one of the finest in Tuscany. Where all three houses are booked together, weekly rental is from £1,995 until May 7, rising to £4,564 from June 26-August 27.
Another option for groups is a collection of gorgeous old farm cottages and farmhouse apartments just outside the picturesque medieval hill village of Casole d’Elsa, half an hour from Siena. Together sleeping 16 people, they comprise a cute little stone cottage, a wonderful old barn conversion, the ground floor of the farmhouse with a beautiful brick-vaulted ceiling, and the first floor with a furnished outdoor loggia. There is a large swimming pool, duck pond, fitness equipment under a shady pergola and children’s swings – all within a gentle framework of vineyards and olive groves and with views across to the towers of San Gimignano. When all four properties are booked together they cost from £2,633 per week, rising to £3,804. Prices are for accommodation only.
