Imagine living in a palace facing a picturesque village square on one side and an endless tableau of Tuscan hills on the other. This imposing 17th-century palazzo, built over the ruins of an ancient castle, comes with an inner courtyard and a five acre park complete with a variety of seating areas and a beautifully positioned pool set 200 yards away.
Having two nearby restaurants, one in a separate wing of the palace, and a coffee shop across the square means not skipping a meal when you just don't feel like cooking. When you don't feel like driving, dawn-to-dusk bus service, 200 yards away, leads to Siena in 25 minutes.
Inside, the layout and décor reflect the villa's illustrious past. Furnishings from each era are set against family heirlooms. A cannon and medieval armaments line the main hall. The staircase, adorned with portraits of Italy's most noted artists, leads to rooms brimming with frescoes, paintings and gorgeous views.
Living space arcs across four different rooms of varying sizes. The main dining area comfortably seats all and an equally capacious medieval refectory doubles as a charming gathering spot. Bathrooms, either en suite or adjacent, are present for each bedroom. The bedrooms, many added over time, come in a variety of styles and shapes. Many overlook the park and the hills of Siena. Nine are on the second floor and have screened windows with the exception of one with a French balcony.
This balconied bedroom and five others are air conditioned. The kitchen, while adequate, is dated and small. However, the ground floor restaurant, closed Wednesdays, serves dinner until 11 pm. Upon reservation, guests may choose to dine on a private section of the outdoor terrace or to have set menu meals delivered to the villa. Rooms facing the park sit above the restaurant's terrace.
The reception office, adjacent to the main entrance, is open from 8 am to 8 pm weekdays. Guests are welcome to stop by and check their email.
Eight hours of maid service per week are mandatory and payable locally. Additional service may be ordered. The owners and their dog live in a separate building attached to the villa.
Accessed from an inner courtyard and exclusively for guest use is a secret spa. Ancient brick archways and vaulted ceilings hidden on a level beneath the villa reveal three deliciously sensual rooms offering a Turkish steam bath, a color and aromatherapy hot tub, a pair of exquistely tiled, couples showers, a massage table and a relaxing set of chaise lounges. Access to the spa is from 10 am to 10 pm.
Outside your doors, tiny Sovicille dates back to the 7th century. It offers a grocery store, a café, two restaurants and a local tourist office with info on the many festivals of nearby villages. Buses to Siena run every half hour in the mornings and almost hourly until 8 pm. Sovicille borders the Montagnola Senese, an area of lush forest known for having more hamlets and fortified villages than any other part of Tuscany. It is filled with hiking and walking trails that lead to numerous castles, sanctuaries and hermitages. Giallo marble used in the cathedrals of Siena, Florence and Orvieto is quarried here.