La Badiole

La Badiole is a meticulously restored villa set amidst farmland and the famous Rufina vineyards of Montepulciano in Tuscany close to Cortona and Lago Trasimeno.  This fabulous and stylish property can accommodate a total of twelve people in six double bedrooms all with ensuite bathrooms.  Sited in a hectare of landscaped gardens with spectacular views across the Val di Chiana to Montepulciano and Monte Amiata it provides the most exceptional Italian property in which to stay.

Gates to the driveway lead into the garden and courtyard with covered space for three cars and plenty of space for others.

There is an exceptionally large utility and storage room at the side of the courtyard.  Laundry facilities with a washing and drying machine are located here.

The main entrance to the property, which is sheltered by a large tile covered porch way, leads into a small hallway.  There is a cloakroom here with loo and basin.

The main internal reception and sitting area is to the right of the hallway.  A small library precedes a series of rooms with wide connecting archways that provide a spacious and comfortable area in which all guests can gather to relax, read or watch satellite TV.  There are French windows that lead outside to both sides of the villa and into the garden.

The dining room and kitchen are located to the left of the hallway.  The dining room with large table can comfortably seat all 12 guests.  There are French windows that lead outside to the external terrace that spreads along the length and one side of the villa.

The kitchen is superbly equipped with all modern appliances including a dish washer, double sink, six ring gas hob, electric oven, fridge, freezer with ice maker and cold water dispenser and wine fridge.

A door from the kitchen leads past one of the staircases and into a small study.  A computer and printer with access to broadband internet is available for guests to use.

There is a door from the study that leads into the downstairs bedroom with two single beds.  The ensuite bathroom has a shower, basin and loo.

There is a choice of stone staircases to the first floor where the other five bedrooms are located.  The master bedroom with double bed is accessed by the staircase nearest to the kitchen and study.  This bedroom is at the end of the house and has windows and views on two sides of the villa.  As with all the bedrooms on this floor there is air conditioning available, ceiling fans and all the windows have integral retractable mosquito nets.

The extremely large ensuite bathroom has a separate bath, a large shower, double basins, bidet and loo.

The same staircase also provides access to another bedroom with double bed.  The views from the bedroom here are to the back of the house over the swimming pool and vineyards beyond.

This bedroom also has a similarly large ensuite bathroom as the master bedroom with separate bath, a large shower, double basins, bidet and loo

There is access through a double interconnecting door from this latter bedroom to a further bedroom with two single beds.  The ensuite bathroom has a shower, double basins, bidet and loo.  This bedroom configuration makes it a sensible option for a family with children and parents who wish for both bedrooms to be close to each other.  Alternatively, the interconnecting door can be closed and locked and the bedroom can then be accessed by using the second staircase that lies near the dining and main reception rooms.

The remaining two double bedrooms are both accessed by the second staircase.  The first has two single beds and the ensuite bathroom has a shower, basin, bidet and loo.

The final bedroom with double bed is located at the other end of the house.  The ensuite bathroom has a shower, double basins, bidet and loo.

These views from the front and side windows of this bedroom which overlook the vineyards and farmland and the small holdings that surround the villa towards Montepulciano capture the great setting of the villa.

One of the great features of La Badiole is the extensive tile covered terrace that runs all along the front and one side of the villa.  This provides the perfect location for shaded al fresco meals with far reaching views over the landscaped garden and the surrounding vineyards and countryside towards Montepulciano and Monte Amiata.

At one end of the covered terrace is this delightful pizza oven and built in BBQ area.

On request traditional Italian pizzas can be prepared and cooked for you in the pizza oven

While around the corner at the end of the villa is a table tennis table.

Dominating the garden is the 14 meter infinity swimming pool that has solar panels to keep the temperature comfortably warm even during the Spring and Autumn.  An electric operated cover provides a degree of safety for small children.

This charming small pool house at one end of the pool has changing facilities and a solar heated shower.

On a terrace below the pool is a boule court for those who do not excel at table tennis and wish to issue a different challenge to the ping pong champions!

The standard of furnishings and other luxurious touches like, air conditioning in the bedrooms, mosquito nets on all windows, solar heated pool, satellite tv, broadband internet access and under floor central heating makes La Badiole a very special property and a really special place for your Italian dream holiday.

Moreover, the location of La Badiole in south eastern Tuscany and close to Umbria makes it an ideal spot from which to explore many of the sights that make this region so special.  This dramatic view of Montepulciano from the villa’s garden emphasises that you are in the middle of one of the most important wine districts of Tuscany.  The intoxicating thought is that Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made from the very grapes surrounding the villa!

Summary
Location
In south eastern Tuscany near Montepulciano and Cortona to the west of Lago Trasimeno.

Accommodation
Maximum Accommodation Numbers:  Total of 12.
Bedrooms:  6 double bedrooms.  3 with double bed.  3 with two single beds.
Bed Configuration.  If requested at the time of booking the beds in 2 of the bedrooms with single beds can be made into double beds.
Cots:  A fold up cot is available.
Bathrooms:  6 ensuite.  All have a shower, basins, bidet and loo.  2 bathrooms have a separate bath as well.
Cloakroom.  1 on the ground floor with basin and loo.
Kitchen:  6 ring gas hob, electric oven, double sink, dishwasher, fridge, freezer with ice maker and cold water dispenser, wine fridge, coffee machine.
Air Conditioning.  All of the bedrooms and the study have air conditioning.  The use of this luxurious but expensive facility will exceed the total figure for consumption of electricity (which is included in the rental price) and its use will incur an extra charge with payment made locally.
Central Heating:  There is under floor heating on the ground floor and radiators on the first floor.  The heating is programmed for certain temperatures which are unlikely to be experienced during the months of May – September and should not need adjusting.  If it is adjusted it will incur an extra charge with payment made locally.
Open Fires.  Yes.
Laundry Facilities:  There is a washing machine and spin dryer in the utility room.

Facilities & Supplementary Information
Swimming Pool:  Breadth 5.5 metres.  Length 14 metres.  Shallow End 1.10 metres.  Deep End 3 metres. Corner steps at one end.  Infinity edge.  Solar heated.  Electric safety cover.  Changing area with solar heated shower.  Exclusive use.  Open at beginning of May; closed at end of September.
House Cleaning.  3 hours of midweek and also final cleaning is included in the rental price.  Any extra cleaning is available on request in advance and payment made locally.
House Telephone:  Yes.  Charged at cost and payment made locally.
Mobile Phone Reception:  Fair.
Use of Computer & Internet:  There is a PC and printer with access to satellite broadband.
Satellite TV / DVD:  Yes.  There is a library of DVDs.
Radio/CD Player:  Yes.
BBQ:  Yes.
Approach Drive:  There is a 1 km gravel “cul-de-sac” road that leads from the asphalt surface public road to the entrance.  It is in very good condition and suitable for all types of car.
Parking:  There is covered space for 3 cars and plenty of space for other cars to park on the premises.
Animals / Pets on or near Premises: There are none on the actual premise, but the property is surrounded by small farm holdings and there are farm animals in the vicinity.
Linen & Towels:  Linen and towels are provided and these will be changed for clean ones at the end of each week.
Towels for Swimming Pool Use:  Yes.
House Book:  A comprehensive house book is provided.
Assistance:  The key holder lives close-by and is on call to help for those unusual events and circumstances that cannot be resolved by reading the house book.
Welcome Pack:  A small selection of food basics, including wine, will be provided.
First Evening Meal.  This can be provided on request, payment made locally.
Pizza Cooking.  On request somebody can operate the oven and make pizzas, payment made locally.
Fans.  All the upstairs bedrooms have ceiling fans.
Mosquito Nets / Screens:  All the windows and French windows have integral retractable mosquito nets.
Toys/Games.  A selection of toys, board and outdoor games are available.
High Chair:  A high chair for a child is available.
Hairdryers:  In all the bedrooms.
Table Tennis Table.
3 Mountain Bikes
Boule Court.

Rental Facts
Currency for Payment:  GBP sterling.
Weekly Rental Price:  Detailed prices are available on request from Italian Encounters.
Price Grading:  Higher.  Please see Properties Home Page for the definition of this grading.
Rental Basis:  Self-catering.
Rental Periods:  Available during the months from May to September inclusive for a minimum of 7 nights with changeover on Saturday.
Rental Restrictions:  Pets only allowed with prior permission.  An extra cleaning charge of 30 euros will apply with payment made locally.
Included in the Rental Price.  The rental price includes:

• All taxes, the consumption of gas and water (for normal general usage), the use and laundry of bed linen & towels, 3 hours midweek cleaning and final cleaning and use of the internet and satellite TV.
• The consumption of electricity up to a weekly total of 330 kw.  This will provide quite sufficient for the normal usage of all electric items, but the use of the air conditioning will cause this consumption figure to be exceeded.

Extra Costs:  There will be an extra charge for the use of any of the following facilities:

• Electricity consumption of over 330 kw per week will be charged at Euro 0.40 per kw. (This implies the use of air conditioning)
• Telephone.
• Central heating.

Breakage/Security Charge:  None.  All breakages should be reported to the key holder immediately and payment in Euros made to the caretaker/keyholder before departure.  If appropriate an invoice for damages and any extra costs will be raised for subsequent payment within 7 days.

Distances
Approx Driving Time in hour / minutes from Local Airports:  2.30 from Pisa.  2.15 from Rome, Pescara, Bologna, Ancona & Forli.  1.15 from Florence.  45 minutes from Perugia.
Approx Distance in kms to Nearest Town or Village with Shops:  1.5 to Petrignano.  15 to Castiglione del Lago.  25 to Montepulciano.
Approx Distance in kms to Closest Restaurant:  1 to “Gullivers” in Petrignano, who also provide take away pizzas.  There are many others within a 20 minutes drive.
Approx Distance in kms to Nearest Motorway Exit:  20 to Val di Chiana exit of A1.
Approx Distance in kms to Major Local Towns:  25 to Montepulciano.  25 to Cortona.  40 to Siena.  40 to Arezzo.  40 to Pienza.  45 to Perugia.  60 to Assisi.

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