Valdera is a Luxury Italian villa for 12 with fenced swimming pool, full air-conditioning and all rooms en-suite close to Pisa, Tuscany.
A nearby restaurant makes this a wonderfully relaxing and elegant Villa holiday. Private chef also available.
Endless views over the Tuscan hills have inspired entire novels. On the edge of the hamlet of Iano the owner has created an oasis of calm and tranquillity, with views that go on for ever over the valley looking toward the Etruscan stronghold of Volterra.
With all bedrooms en-suite and air conditioning throughout this is an elegant and comfortable house; recently the owner has added two very large bedrooms on the ground floor, also both ensuite, bringing the total of beds up to 12, making this very popular house even more attractive. You can still rent the smaller version of the house in mid and low seasons.
The restaurant in the village is a 2 minute walk away, 160 metres, and there is a cafe/shop/grocery store that sells excellent ice creams in the village too.
Valdera is listed under the following categories:
Tucked back from the road leading up to the village, the stone facade of the villa, striking with its arched entry and crenellated roofline, only hints at its spacious interior. For once inside, the open plan layout and wide glass doors and windows connect living spaces to the amazing vistas to the rear of the house.
The entry hall flows into a living area with comfortable sofas and armchairs and an adjacent dining table for up to 12 in front of a large open fireplace. The line of arched windows that provide diners with a view is echoed in the glass door from a stylish marble-countered kitchen that accesses a walkway to the large rear terrace. Furnished with a dining table to seat the household and divans under a protective gazebo, the terrace has sweeping views of gently rolling hills and the swimming pool and olive grove in the grounds below.
There are two twin bedrooms on the ground floor, which can be made up as double bedrooms on request; both have ensuite shower rooms and doors leading to the side garden. The upper floor is reached via pietra serena stone staircase from the living area. On this level there are two double bedrooms, each with ensuite shower room - one with a furnished balcony, the other connected by stairs to the rooftop terrace. Each bedroom and shower room is unique in its decor, but all share a sense of elegance, comfort and attention to detail that leaves one feeling pampered. Downstairs there are ow a further 2 large double bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms.
A wide terracotta walkway and gravel path lead from the terrace down past green lawns to the pool area where sun beds and umbrellas sit on a wide stone patio facing the Era river valley. While guests at Valdera overlook the pool of the neighbouring property, no one directly looks on to the back terrace or pool area of Valdera.
The private swimming pool enjoys fabulous views of the Val d'Era, north of Volterra
Dining al fresco on the terrace that surrounds the living area of Valdera is a joy
To the front of a house a shaded pergola provides an outdoor living space.
The two lower-floor double bedrooms are very spacious indeed.
The kitchen is well-equipped for keen cooks - we've also had cookery lessons here.
Looking north toward the villa
The pool is a short walk away from the house.
The entrance is surrounded by flowers
The stairs lead up to two double bedrooms, the door in front of the stairs leads to two twin rooms. A further two doubles are on the lower floor.
The living room opens onto a terrace that surrounds two side of the villa
The views from the dining table are simply superb
The kitchen opens onto the living/dining area
The kitchen is spacious and light-filled
The terrace around the villa is equipped for relaxing and al-fresco eating
The lower ground floor double bedrooms have spacious terraces
Perfect for enjoying an afternoon tea
This is the second of the lower ground double bedrooms
both with spacious ensuite shower rooms
This is one of the upper floor double bedrooms
One of the upper floor doubles has a balcony with beautiful views
This is a ground floor shower
This double bedroom has a roof terrace accessed by private staircase
Shower room
The ground floor twins both have access to the gardens
The path to the pool is carefully graded
The swimming pool looks fabulous in the moonlight
Valdera from the pool
The views from the terrace are superb
A last photo of the villa in the moonlight
The village is tiny - it's what we might call a hamlet. But unlike some equally small places, it is lucky enough to have a shop and a restaurant. The little shop also makes coffee, has some cakes and some excellent icecreams. we've had good reports on the restaurant but I haven't eaten there myself. The walk from the villa is short and uphill, around 200 metres at the most.
There is a rocky outcrop close by that has been bolted for sport-climbing by local climbers. If you'd like to know more please ask - there is no guide book that I've been able to find but I have climbed there in the past.
Though the view gives one the sense of being immersed in the countryside, the village is only a stroll away, and a morning cappuccino, an evening pizza or a cheeky icecream are all within easy reach.
Being midway between historic San Gimignano and Volterra means a 15 min. drive brings you to either the Town of Towers or the City of Alabaster. In the former, famed medieval skyscrapers, open-air concerts seen from the steps of the church and Vernaccia wine are but some of the reasons for visiting the popular UNESCO World Heritage Site. High on its plateau, Volterra, one of the oldest cities in Italy, has less tourist density, but is no less fascinating for its three millenia of civilization, brought to life via its summer festivals and in the wonderful Etruscan collection in the Museo Guarnacci. Both Volterra and nearby San Miniato are noted for their truffles, so keep eyes on local menus.
Only slightly farther afield is Siena, home of one of the loveliest piazzas in Tuscany and Vinci, the birthplace of the genius of Leonardo. Even Florence, Pisa and the seaside are only an hour away, which makes Valdera rich in day trip possibilities. Don't be surprised, however, if the view from the terrace and sense of being well looked after cause you to consider staying closer to home.
From € 821 to 1,375 per day
From € 5,750 to € 8,250 per week
Approximately
$ 6,210 to $ 8,910 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.
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