Il Fortino Colle di Val d´Elsa, Tuscany, Italy

This unique, 14th Century tower-house, set in pretty private gardens, complete with vines and looking out over the beautiful Tuscan countryside, sleeps 4 people. If you are looking for a romantic retreat, with masses of character, in the heart of the Chianti region, then this is the place for you.

Laid out over three floors, this charming house has everything you need for a relaxing break, any time of year. A working fireplace in the living room will chase away any winter chills, whilst the shaded loggias will keep you cool in the summer.

The spacious living room, on the raised ground floor, has a comfortable sofa and armchair. A traditional brick arch leads from the living room to the dining room with its painted wooden ceilings and book cases. The wooden dining table seats 6. The newly renovated kitchen, with rustic tiling and wooden cupboards, is just off the dining room and is fully equipped with a cooker hob, oven, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, freezer and coffee machine.

The master bedroom with a simple double bed and en suite bathroom is in the tower above the living area.

Downstairs, on the lower ground floor, you will find a full-size pool table, which leads out on to the loggia. Adjoining this, separated by a screen, is the second bedroom, with 2 single beds and another en suite bathroom.

The loggia is the ultimate in outdoor living space, furnished with a dining table seating 6 people, plus comfortable sofas for relaxing and admiring the views. There is also a TV and further tables and chairs giving guests plenty of space to relax. For those in search of a more private area, there is a second, smaller loggia with four armchairs where you can read in peace or enjoy a cup of coffee looking out over the gardens. For sunbathing or an al fresco nap, there are 4 sun loungers just below the main loggia.

In the garden you will also find a special BBQ area and even a pizza oven, so you can cook like a local.

Sleeping
Bedroom 1: This pretty bedroom has a double bed, antique wooden cupboards and traditional Florentine chairs, plus an en suite bathroom.
Bedroom 2: With two single beds, lots of books to read and its own en suite bathroom.

Bathrooms
Bathroom 1: En suite with the upstairs bedroom this classic style bathroom has a glass shower, basin, bidet and WC.
Bathroom 2: En suite with the second bedroom this shower room is tiled with traditional Tuscan stone tiles. It has a shower, basin and WC.

Additional
• No wifi • DVD player • Book library • Outside dining area • Pizza oven • Washing machine & laundry facilities • Smoke detector • Waste disposal • Hair dryer • Free parking available – a car is recommended for your stay • Extra child friendly •

Please note that there are some added charges that the guests will need to pay on site.
1. A tourist tax of €1.5/Person/day for up to 3 days (Children below 12 years of age are exempt).
2. Heating, if necessary and based on consumption, is also to be paid at €4.50/mc.
3. Electricity has to be paid based on consumption at €0.35 kw/h.
4. Guests should pay a refundable security deposit of €200 on arrival.

Location
The house is in the heart of the Chianti hills, a 15 minute drive from the walled village of Monteriggioni, famous for its medieval fortifications. From here you have easy access to Florence (1 hour 5 mins) and Siena (22 mins). The charming hill town of San Gimignano with its many medieval towers is definitely worth a visit (40 mins) and there are endless possibilities for visiting vineyards, fantastic local restaurants and markets.

To escape into nature there are many nature reserves in the area, including the nearby Parco Fluviale Alta Val D’Elsa (23 mins), which has some easy hiking trails and the stunning Diborrato waterfall, where you can swim in one of the river pools. For something more relaxing, visit the natural spa, the Terme di Petriolo (45 mins) for therapeutic mud treatments and thermal waters.

If you are interested in wine, you can tour one of the many vineyards that surround Monteriggioni, where they make the famous local wine, Chianti Colle Senesi, and delicious extra virgin olive oil. Follow that up with lunch in one of the many excellent restaurants in the village.

If you are inspired to cook at home and try out the pizza oven or BBQ, Monteriggioni’s weekly market, for local produce, takes place every Thursday and market day in Siena is Wednesday. You can find all other provisions in nearby Siena.

The closest international airports are Florence (51 mins) and Pisa (1hr 25 mins)


Payable at the booking: bed linen, towels, final cleaning: 200 Euro