Once a border tower, then a rich Florentine's family country getaway, the large villa of which Celeste is a part has been lovingly restored. The military memories are still there in the enormously thick lower walls, while the elegance of its later life is apparent as you drive up to it.
Celeste is one of the four generous apartments created out of the large villa. San Miniato, the medieval village seen from the shared swimming pool, is one of many sites that will draw guests seeking a Tuscan experience.
Celeste is listed under the following categories:
A few steps lead from the entry hall at the back of the villa to the front door of Celeste and the stone stairway up to the first floor accommodation. The brick-faced sitting room at the top of the stairs has a leather sofa set to face the corner open fireplace, a welcome feature for guests coming in the late Autumn or early Spring.
An arched doorway connects the sitting room to an attractive eat-in kitchen with a dining table for 6, a painted hutch and appliances set behind walnut cabinetry and under a marble counter top. A hallway off the kitchen leads to two double bedrooms, each with its own shower room.
One of the bedrooms is very spacious and furnished with a painted bedroom suite, while the other is smaller with a French double bed that allows a couple not quite as much stretching room. All rooms feature traditional beamed ceilings and terracotta tiling, but are air-conditioned and attuned to modern comforts.
There are a couple of restaurants within 2km from Villa San Miniato. The first is Ristorante Bar Genovini, 1.4km away so about a 20min walk. In the opposite direction you''ll find Papaveri e Papere about 1.8km away, while the actual town of San Miniato is around 3.5km away. Part of the walk to San Miniato is on a path but part is on the road, so not ideal at night.
The pool is a short walk away through a copse of evergreen oaks. The distance is around 400 metres.
Very likely a first outing will be to the charming medieval town you can spot from the estate pool. Once famous for its position on the Via Francigena, the ancient road to Rome, scenic San Miniato now draws pilgrims in search of the prized white truffle. Being halfway between Pisa and Florence may have put you in harm's way in the Middle Ages, but it is a definite plus for the modern adventurer and visitors can hop aboard a nearby train or drive to the heart of these Tuscan cities quite worthy of the many pages in their guidebooks.
Other day trips include ventures to the skyscrapers of the Middle Ages in San Gimignano, the beautiful shell-shaped Piazza del Campo in Siena or the beaches of the Versilia sea coast. Lucca and Pistoia are also within easy reach.
Yet staying at Ambra in Villa San Miniato means having wonderful staff on hand to help set up local wine tasting, truffle hunting or canoeing on a nearby lake. At this property you won't be at a loss for something to do, though don't be surprised if a poolside sunbed and a gentle breeze in the olive trees persuade you to put off that doing to another day.
From € 219 to 311 per day
From € 1,534 to € 1,867 per week
Approximately
$ 1,657 to $ 2,016 in USD
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!