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Villa La Gigliola - Tuscany

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Accommodates 14 — 7 Bedrooms — 7 Baths

Gigliola is pronounced “jeel-YOH-lah”. What we like about Gigliola, above all else, is its location, just 3 kilometers outside the lovely hilltown of Montespertoli, about 30 minutes southwest of Florence. It’s pushed off just a tiny bit from Chianti Classico, which means fewer crowds and a more authentic atmosphere, but without losing anything in the way of convenience to places like Siena, Lucca, Pisa, Montecatini, the coast, etc., etc.

Gigliola is a true villa dating from the 17th century. The estate produces wine and olive oil of excellent quality. You enter the property along a row of cypresses through which you can see the estate tennis court and from which you emerge into a gracious open space in which the villa itself lies. The villa forms the nucleus of a compound of structures including farm buildings, the estate office, and one quite independent and separate structure housing several holiday rental apartments which do not in any way intrude on the villa. Thus, Gigliola is not isolated. There is a certain amount of farm activity which goes on in the immediate vicinity. If you want total separateness and isolation, Gigliola is not for you. If, on the other hand, you think you might enjoy the experience of living on an actual working estate, Gigliola should be high on your list.

Rooms are to grand scale and furnishings tasteful if faded. On the ground floor, you will find three living rooms, a big quite rustic dining room, old-fashioned kitchen, plus a twin bedroom with en-suite bath (shower over tub). We ourselves have slept in this room and know it to be particularly spacious and comfortable (and, in low season, well-heated). Two of the living rooms give out onto a lovely terrace for outdoor dining and lounging in fine weather.

Upstairs is another sitting room with billiard table plus 6 additional bedrooms, each with its own bath. Four bedrooms are matrimonials; two are twins. The quality of the mattresses varies; most are good, and the owner is gradually bringing everything up to standard.

Down the way and enjoying beautiful views over the surrounding countryside is a lovely swimming pool for the exclusive use of the villa. This pool overlooks a second pool used by guests of the farmhouse apartments. Again, if you don’t want to hear any voices other than your own by the pool, you need to consider another alternative. But the pool, in itself, is totally private and lovely.

One of the most attractive features of Gigliola is its owner who is one of the most simpatica people we know in Italy. She will do her absolute best to see to it that you enjoy your stay. She has a new English-speaking assistant who will be particularly helpful, if only for the language. Phone, dishwasher, washing machine, satellite TV. Adjacent to the estate office, guests may avail themselves of a computer with high-speed internet access. Housekeeping services are extra at Gigliola, to be paid directly to the service providers. The owner has a number of available housekeepers. We encourage you to take a minimum of 4 hours per morning. In addition, you can employ the services of an excellent chef who is the retired owner of a local restaurant. These services can and should all be arranged in advance.

For those of you looking for elegant yet informal accommodations in a lovely, authentic setting, Gigliola should be at the top of your list.

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