Villa Zaffirano is a magnificent Tuscan country house, located in arguably the most picturesque setting of Italy – the Val d’Orcia area of Tuscany.  The setting is ripe with the astonishing rolling hills and the wine country that Tuscany is so well known for.  Set on a wonderfully private piece of land, this area was the exact setting for the Oscar winning movie The English Patient and the breathtaking panoramic countryside scenes from the Gladiator.

Here you are in an area rich with the best that Tuscany has to offer as you are set in a superbly strategic location.  This is some of the best driving and sightseeing country around. You have amazing areas all through the Val d’Orcia (Pienza, world-famous for its town and cheeses, Montalcino & Montepulciano, arguably Italy’s most important wine territory) all between a 15 and 30 minutes drive.  The drive through Acquapendente & Pitigliano are some of the most beautiful in Italy, period.  Siena is certainly a day trip,  San Quirico d’Orcia, a beautiful little nook of a town is only 15 minutes away, Lake Bolsena is near, even Orvieto is only an hour away.  Arezzo & Cortona are only an hour and 15 mins away and Perugia, 90 minutes.  Here, you are in sightseeing heaven.

This is also Golfer’s and Spa enthusiast’s dream location.  You have the luxury of Italy’s two premier Spa’s no more than 30 kilometres away as is the Val di Chiana Golf Club (9 holes).  The Lamborghini Panicale Golf Club (9 holes) is 50 minutes and the 18-hole Perugia Golf Club just a little bit over an hourish.  Simply stated, this is THE perfect rental property.

The property is located down an immensely private driveway.  There is a semi-private driveway, about a 5 min. drive worth, located off of the main state road.  The private driveway leading to this house is up about .02 kilometres into the large hillside where the property resides. This is an extremely cosy, stone Tuscany rental home with great stone-brick floors, offering everything a renter requires.  It is a great family home and there is a parking area directly in front of the house with enough space for 3-4 cars and an even larger space about 100 yards away, at the end of the private driveway, if more parking space is needed.

This 2 story house offers 5 bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities, and amazing views abound.  There is the blue bedroom, which boasts twin beds, an en-suite bathroom, and a small terrace which wraps around to the parking area and to the external dining area.   The yellow bedroom is a double with a raised bed (on a loft which is waist level high).  The green bedroom is a double and offers a ceiling fan.  The fourth is the red, master bedroom with a baldachin bed, a large stone fireplace, small terrace, and en-suite facilities.  The 5^th bedroom is a dark pink, double bedroom with twin beds and an en-suite bathroom with shower.  The entrance foyer boasts a ½ bathroom and there is a cosy living room with a large fireplace, colourful lounge/couch chairs, satellite T.V., DVD player, stereo, and an exit out onto the super-panoramic terrace which boasts patio chairs and a dining table for 12.  Next to the living room sits the dining room with large, rectangular table for 10 and an exit out onto the terrace.

The cosy, country kitchen enjoys a washing machine, a large refrigerator/freezer with distilled water dispenser.  There is a 5-range stovetop, a microwave, slicer, and U.S. coffee maker. The external dining terrace is covered with grape vines overhead and boasts an external barbeque.  A small slope or down 30 steps leads to the great pool deck, with comfortable lounge chairs and an infinity pool with super-amazing views.  There is an external shower and the entire area is surrounded by nature, apple and fig trees.  The pool deck is situated about 200 feet from the house.

Facilities

• Heated swimming pool (12 meters long x 6 meters wide)
• IPod Attachments for your IPod
• Laundry room with Washer & Dryer
• Wireless Internet
• Safe
• Maid Service (morning room cleaning, bed making, weekly bed and bath linen changing and final cleaning)
• Electricity, firewood supply for fireplaces & barbecue, garden, and pool maintenance
• Bathrobes & Slippers
• Bottled water on arrival
• Satellite TV, VCR, DVD, CD player
• Vegetable and flower garden
• 3 acres automatically watered lawn, orchard and vine groves
• The external lights are on a timer (they automatically turn on at night and off in the morning)
• Fresh flowers in bedrooms upon arrival
• Hairdryer in each bathroom; cots, cradles, high chairs, wheelchair, can be easily provided
• Crib & Highchair can be included, as well as a baby stroller and baby monitor walkie-talkies upon request

Extra services
Swimming pool heating

History

This property was purchased in the last decade of the 20^th Century and underwent a total renovation.  Owned by a renowned interior designer, the villa is a beautiful stone-brick building and the vast majority of the furniture and amenities are conceptualized, designed, and manufactured by the owners themselves.  In fact, most of the home decor and furnishings – from the handmade soaps and olive oils, to the embroidered towels and bathrobes, to the dining table – can be purchased from an interior design catalogue.