This wonderful conversion of a typical Tuscan farmhouse sits on a ridge looking across to the famous towers of San Gimignano, surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills. Gently restored by a Swiss conductor who for over a generation has embraced the joys of music, wine making, and generous hospitality, it is also available as an excellent place for friends and extended families to gather.
The private pool on a large terrace enjoys the same amazing views as the house itself, and is an excellent spot to relax and drink in the medieval silhouette, golden light and some of the excellent locally produced red wines, or perhaps San Gimignano's typical white, the Vernaccia. There are places indoors and out for everyone to dine together and spacious living areas to sit and recount the day's adventures, but with two independent floors in the main house there is also room for privacy. The house has a piano and other instruments in a room beyond the living room, set up for musicians who would like to delight the travelling companions or simply practice while away from home.
The art cities and main areas of Tuscany are all within easy reach, with Siena, the Chianti hills, Florence and the amazing landscapes of the Val d'Orcia all close by, not to mention the lesser known delights of Volterra and the Metal Hills.
Torrevista is listed under the following categories:
Entrance to the upper floor is via the stone steps from the poolside terrace. In keeping with Tuscan priorities, one of the first rooms encountered is a spacious country kitchen with travertine counters, a large dining table and a traditional fireplace. On a corridor off the kitchen are three roomy bedrooms, all furnished with country antiques and bright fabrics. One of the two twin bedrooms has its own shower and sink, and the large double bedroom has a sink. There is a shower room near the double bedroom and a bathroom, equipped with a washing machine and separate WC off the entrance landing. Beyond the bedrooms are two living areas that spread the width of the house. The first has a cosy sofa and chairs gathered around the Sat. TV on one side of the room; on the other side is a dining area whose windows have the best interior view of the evocative city across the valley. The second living area, a few steps lower through the double arched entry, has comfortable seating near an open fireplace and an upright piano, tuned and ready for a visiting musician.
Two sets of French doors access the lower floor from the garden, one leading directly into a twin bedroom that connects to a second twin bedroom via curtained glass doors set in a brick arch. A door from the second bedroom leads to a large shower room with sweeping brick arches overhead. This floor also has an eat-in kitchen with doors up to the back garden, making it very handy for preparing those al fresco meals.
The final section of the approach road is a well-maintained gravel road - it's wide and easy to drive on.
Torrevista is around 10km from San Gimignano - you'll have a beautiful view of the towers from the swimming pool and the house.
Yes, it's very well placed, with wineries surrounding it in all directions, particularly in Chianti which is very close indeed and dotted with fabulous wineries.
As the furnished pergola on the terrace suggests, outdoor dining seems natural on a summer's evening, and whether the nearby barbecue is put to use or the caretaker's home-cooking requested, guests can easily treat themselves to Tuscan ingredients that harmonise with the owner's own-produced red wine.
Torrevista is an excellent base for day touring. San Gimignano is a UNESCO site for good reason and draws many to stroll their shops or sit on the cathedral steps under a starry sky for an evening of music. Keen walkers will also have plenty to do - our favourite walk in the area is up to Castelvecchio, a medieval village close to San Gimignano abandoned in the fifteenth-century and now a delight to explore in the holm-oak forests.
Also in easy reach are Colle Val d'Elsa, whose crystal manufacturing dates back to the middle ages, Volterra, whose Etruscan ancestors and alabaster production go back even earlier and, of course, Siena, Chianti and Florence, once former rivals and now many-starred in any guide book and less than an hour away.
From € 400 to 711 per day
From € 2,800 to € 4,267 per week
Approximately
$ 3,024 to $ 4,608 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!