San Michele 8
Villa, Jacuzzi and pool overlooking Arezzo : Tuscany
Nice little touches
- The views from the pool are absolutely spectacular, you really feel on top of the world.
- The owners have a small farm-holding close by, with goats, geese, ducks, chickens and more, a delight for children to visit
Good to know
- The high-speed railway between Florence and Rome passes through the plain below. Not particularly noticeable but worth knowing.
- Pets are welcome with prior notice and owner agreement.
This villa for 8 with a pool and Jacuzzi is on a hilltop shown in maps by Leonardo da Vinci, on an observation point from which he often studied the wide Chiana valley. The views are still spectacular and the house occupies a privileged position above the valley, from where the inhabitants have watched Arezzo grow throughout the centuries.
Today San Michele is an ideal place for family and friends to holiday together, with air-conditioned bedrooms, plenty of outdoor space for alfresco eating and gatherings, and a fabulous pool and Jacuzzi overlooking the valley. The owners live next door and are excellent cooks, available should you wish to have an evening off and enjoy some fabulous Tuscan food and wine. They can organise wonderful meals for you, or cookery courses where you can learn how to cook like a Tuscan.
The owners have taken meticulous care in the long restoration of a property that dates back to the 7th century and that suffered wartime bombing; they had originally set the house up to accommodate four separate families. Happily, interconnecting doors and a change of heart meant they were able to easily open the house up to one group - a large multigenerational family or friends who enjoy each others company but like a bit of personal space.
A short distance from the house, further down the hill, the owners also have a collection of farm animals that guests are welcome to visit - there are ponies, geese, goats, chickens, and more. This "mini zoo" is always very popular with children!
Accommodation
On the left at the end of the entrance drive, San Michele has a furnished portico the length of the house with four doors that access its ground floor. The door to the right leads into the main dining room with a table for 8 and a corner kitchen, while the two central doors access the sitting room, which has comfortable sofas, a corner fireplace, a galley kitchen and a nearby staircase to the upper floor.
A short corridor off this sitting room leads past a small utility room with a washing machine to the only ground floor bedroom suite - a double bedroom with independent access and an adjacent shower room. The last door off the portico opens to an additional kitchen/dining room, though here the table for 4 might well serve for an evening card game or a place to catch up on the journal. This room has a second laundry room and stairs leading up to another double bedroom suite with a view towards the pool and an ensuite shower room.
The remaining two double bedroom suites are accessed from the central staircase and on opposite sides of the landing. While that on the right consists of a spacious bedroom and rosy shower room, the suite on the left also has a large sitting/dining room furnished with a table for 6, an attractive hutch, the ubiquitous kitchen and a single sofa-bed equipped with a trundle bed. From this room there are stairs leading down to the back of the house and very near the entrance to the church, no doubt very handy for the priest of earlier days. All of the bedrooms and shower rooms in San Michele are beautifully finished with authentic materials befitting the style of the house and sparkle with the added light of small chandeliers. The handcrafted vintage beds are queen size and made up with linens from well-known artisans from Anghiari.
While the wide portico has a lovely view of the grounds and its gas barbecue and outdoor table and chairs make it a delightful place for dining al fresco, there are other options that make 'going out to dinner' an easy and very local affair. Taking the path down to the large panoramically placed pool with its adjacent Jacuzzi also brings you to the pool house whose covered terrace is furnished for outdoor meals, all made easier since the pool house has a handy kitchen as well as a WC and changing/shower facilities. The pool itself is part of the view from the glass-fronted dining hall in the owner's home, itself a venue for dinners, pizza evenings and cooking classes they can arrange for guests on request.
Features
Villa Details
- Air Conditioning
- Swimming Pool
- All ensuite
- Wifi
- Free Parking
- Private Pool
- Fireplace
- Heated Pool
- Jacuzzi
- Fenced Pool
- Barbecue
- Gated Property
Bedrooms and Bathrooms
- 4 Bedrooms With Ensuite Shower Rooms
- Hairdryer
Kitchen equipment
- Oven
- Coffee Maker (American And Italian)
- Kettle
- Microwave
- Barbecue (Portable Gas Bbq)
- Dishwasher
Amenities
- Baby Bed And High Chair
- Dvd Player
- Fans (On Request)
- Insect Screens
- Iron And Ironing Board
- Cd Player And Radio
- Pizza Oven Available For Owner-Done Dinners
- Air Conditioning In The Bedrooms
What's included
- Pool Towels Provided
- Air Conditioning Is Included
- Final Cleaning Included
Extras
- Wine Tasting And Dining Can Be Arranged At Winemakers Within Walking Distance
- Babysitting Available On Request
- Catering And Cooking Lessons On Request
- Extra Single Bed Available On Request
- Extra Cleaning On Request 12€ An Hour
- Pets Welcome With Prior Request
- Central Heating €80 Per Day On Request
- Heating Jacuzzi €80 Per Day On Request
- Cautionary Deposit Is €400 In Cash On Arrival
Outdoors
- Swimming Pool Dim: 16 X 8 M; Depth 1.20 - 3 M., Salt-Treated/Chlorine-Free Pool. Walk-In Steps, With Infinity Edge And Shallow Solarium & Jacuzzi Pool House Has Table And Chairs, A Small Kitchen, 1 Wc, And Changing Room With Double Showers.
- Sauna And Spa Facilities: Outdoor Jacuzzi
- Winery And Wine-Tasting On-Site
Nearby Activities
- Horse Riding 2Kms Away
- Restaurant 1.7Kms Away
- Read more about the area around San Michele
Photos
Reviews
FAQ about San Michele
1. What's the approach road like?
- The road leading up to Villa San Michele goes through a small hamlet and is steep and a little narrow, but is tarmacked, with only the last section turning to gravel
2. Can we get into Arezzo without a car?
- Possibly. There's a bus stop at the bottom of the hill, about 1.5km away (just under a mile). The walk back up is steep, so it's not for everybody.
Where is San Michele ?
Getting here
- Pisa Airport (PSA): 1hr 40 min
- Florence Airport (FLR): 1hr
- Perugia Airport PEG): 1hr
- Arezzo Railway Station 10 min
Around San Michele
When one decides come down from the hilltop, the obvious destination is the famous city whose medieval towers they have spotted from on high. One of the 12 most important Etruscan cities, Arezzo remained prominent in Roman times for its fine pottery and important throughout the Middle Ages thanks to powerful bishops and its artisans who excelled in goldsmithing and textiles.
Piero della Francesca captured part of the city's history in his famous frescoes, scenes of which are easily imagined in the city's beautiful Piazza Grande. Arezzo hosts both the Saracen Joust in late June and early September as well as monthly Antiquarian Fairs that fill the streets with fascinating pickings.
Yet there are other worthwhile places to visit nearby. A short drive brings you to the charm of the Cortona of 'Under the Tuscan Sun' fame, to the shores of Tuscany's 'inland sea' Lake Trasimeno, or even to the delight of bargains at nearby outlet shopping. Excellent access to major motorways and delightful country roads also place the ancient cities of Siena and Florence within easy reach, but what a pleasure to know that a quiet terrace and a hilltop view await your return.
Nearby Activities
- Bar, restaurants, small grocery in 2 km
- Supermarket, shops and trains in Arezzo 6 km
- Monte San Savino 20 km, Cortona & Montevarchi 33 km
- Valdichiana Outlet shopping, 1/2 hr
- Driving range nearby & golf course near Bettole, 25 km
- Siena, Florence and Lake Trasimeno 1 hr
- Perugia 85 km, Pisa airport 150 km
Local Towns and Places to Visit
San Michele
Sleeps: 8
From € 386 to 633 per day
From € 2,700 to € 3,800 per week
Approximately
$ 2,916 to $ 4,104 in USD
Calendar for San Michele
How to book
Is San Michele perfect for you?
For availability and pricing see the calendar above. To book online click on your desired arrival date, then on the departure date. The calendar will grey out dates for stay lengths that are not accepted - most villas book Sat to Sat but many also allow shorter stays or odd dates.
If you have any questions or would like help choosing, we visit our properties regularly and can help you select the best villa for your holidays.
We can hold dates for you for 48 hours while you make sure everything lines up, then you simply pay the deposit (30% of total) to secure your booking. The balance will then be due 10 weeks before you travel.
Easy cancellation
Simply add "XCover" to your booking for a full refund if you can't travel. For more details see our Booking Conditions and XCover. You can add XCover to your booking at any time until you have paid your balance, ask your agent. If you simply need to change your dates please let us know: we can often modify your booking rather than cancelling outright.
Worth knowing
Many local administrations now charge a “Tourist Tax” for people staying in rented accommodation and these vary from town to town. The charges are generally per person per night with a maximum number of nights, usually around 5 but sometimes 7, beyond which they will not charge. The charges range between 50 cents to 5 euro. Children are sometimes included, sometimes not and these charges should be collected by the property owners.
Not sure?
It can often be faster to contact us to ask for advice - we visit all the houses so can give you first hand advice based on your wishlist. Once you find a villa you like we can hold dates for you for around 48 hours while you check flights or make sure everybody is on board.
Any more questions?
Please ring us with any queries - there are a lot of answers in our FAQ page too. If you want to keep searching, have a look at our suggestions below!
CIN: IT051002B57233HQH9
Booking Notes
- Cautionary Deposit is €400 in cash on arrival
- Central Heating €80 per day
- Heating the Jacuzzi costs €80 per day
- Maid service can be requested at €12 an hour
