A stone's throw from the medieval town of San Miniato, this historic villa has been divided into four apartments but works well when rented as one whole villa for a group.
While guests are accommodated in four separate apartments, they can come together around tables in the large furnished outdoor areas, shaded under umbrellas.
Once a border tower, then a rich Florentine's family country getaway, this large villa 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.
San Miniato, the medieval village seen from the shared swimming pool, is one of many sites that will draw guests seeking a Tuscan experience.
Villa San Miniato is listed under the following categories:
The present owners have been both respectful and generous in transforming the estate into four comfortable apartments that can be taken together when reunions, classes or a growing guest list requires the whole estate.
A large panoramic pool, a restaurant that can offer catering or cooking classes, a large outdoor dining piazza and spacious grounds for visitors of all ages make this a delightful place to share with others.
Each floor of the large structure contains two apartments, and all are equipped with air-conditioning for the summer months and fireplaces for early Spring / late Autumn visitors. In some a large main room combines sitting and dining areas with a well-equipped kitchen, in others a separate living room gives a bit more room in which to relax.
In keeping with the original layout of the villa, all apartments feature a large master double bedroom and a smaller double, or in one case twin, bedroom. Most of the apartments have en-suite shower rooms and one, Ambra, has additional accommodation and shower rooms in a furnished attic.
On the lower ground floor there is a large dining room with attached professional kitchen, perfect for gathering everybody for a meal cooked by a professional chef. The room can also be hired by the day, but the kitchen is always off-limits to guests as it's professionally equipped.
The ground floor (or lower ground floor as the villa is built into the hill) has a professional kitchen and a large dining room, as well as a reception room that is rarely used. The dining room can be hired by the day for events and meals, but the kitchen is out of bounds and may only be used by professional chefs booked through the owner. Please ask your agent if you'd like to book the use of the common room, or you can do it directly though the owner when at the villa.
The pool is a short walk away through a copse of evergreen oaks. The distance is around 400 metres.
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.
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 € 1,009 to 1,489 per day
From € 7,066 to € 8,933 per week
Approximately
$ 7,631 to $ 9,648 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!