Le Volte

What a delicious villa! It’s no surprise that Le Volte, set in a hamlet in the heart of Chianti’s hills, gets a very high ranking from previous guests. Inside, it is distinctively furnished, with a smattering of antiques, oriental rugs and cosy armchairs. Immediately outside, you have a delightful courtyard – a lovely place for breakfasts. While a brief walk away lies an immaculately landscaped piece of heaven: an exclusive terraced garden with private, magical infinity pool, pool house and no fewer than three furnished terraces looking out over a perfect slice of Tuscan olive groves, vineyards and wooded hills. The three bedrooms and plentiful bathrooms will suit groups of up to six friends or family. You are well-located here for exploring this famous wine-making region – Gaiole, Radda and Castellina are short drives away – and Siena, San Gimignano and Florence are easily accessible for day trips. But you will want to spend a lot of time being a sun lizard on the terraces around your lovely pool. The sunsets from the pool area are wonderful. Ground Floor Kitchen-Diner Well-equipped kitchen area, plus table and chairs, sideboard, stairs to first floor, door to terrace, main entrance. Bathroom 1 Shower, sink, WC. First Floor Study Writing desk and chair, armchair, cabinet, stairs to second floor. Lounge Sofa, two armchairs, coffee table, sideboard. Second Floor Bedroom 1 Double bed (cannot be converted to twins), wardrobe, chest of drawers, armchair, side table, three chairs. En-suite Bathroom Shower, sink, WC. Bedroom 2 Double bed (cannot be converted to twins), wardrobe, chest of drawers, side table, three chairs. Bedroom 3 Double bed (can be converted to twins), wardrobe, settle. Bathroom 3 Shower, sink, WC. Bathroom 4 Shower, sink, WC. Pool House Lounge-Kitchen-Diner Sofa, two chairs, display unit, dining table and chairs, well-equipped kitchenette, two sets of double doors to terrace. Gym Well-equipped. Bathroom Shower, sink, WC. Our Thoughts There’s no doubt this is a special place into which a lot of care has been poured. Everything has been well made and where else will you find, a well-equipped gym with yoga mats (in the pool house), huge, adjustable sun shades (on the terraces), and a saltwater infinity pool with gorgeous rural views? This area has some fabulous local trattorias, including in your nearest small town, Lecchi, but al-fresco dinner on the terrace outside your exclusive pool house will be hard to beat. Notes Three bedrooms. Five bathrooms, one en-suite. Please request at booking if you need Bedroom 3 to be made up as a twin room – and note that the ceiling of this room is low in parts. Use of the bedrooms’ air-conditioning will be additionally charged for. There is no oven in the villa. A maid service is provided once a week at the pool house and at the villa, plus the final clean. The owner occasionally stays in the residence above Le Volte, which is accessed from the courtyard. A selection of alcoholic drinks are on display in the lounge area. Guests are allowed to help themselves to these. The staircase at Le Volte is steep and may not be suitable for senior citizens or children. Guests must walk 60 meters through the hamlet to access the pool, though the pool itself is completely private. Parking - available on site Air conditioning is available in the bedrooms. Pool The saltwater infinity pool, which has internal steps to enter the water, is situated in a layered private garden about 60 metres from the villa. It has three terraces: one, above the pool, has sunloungers and two parasols; another to the side has an open-air shower, large sun shade, dining table and chairs. Both connect to the pool house. The third terrace, also furnished with chairs, is on the roof of the pool house. Pool size: 8m x 4m, 1.2m deep. Open from May to September, weather permitting.