Villa Giotto is in a prime position for exploring all that Tuscany has to offer. It is situated on the top of a hill and offers stunning 360-degree views. You can see the sunrise at the front and side of the villa, enjoy the sun in the garden all day and then watch the sunset on the villa's rear terrace (glass of wine optional). Inside the villa, you can see the amazing views through the three large patio doors in the living room/kitchen area, as well as the large patio doors in the bedrooms.
Collevicchi, the old Borgo that the villa is part of, has been rebuilt in a traditional Tuscan style but equipped with modern facilities. There are just 10 individual properties in the Borgo, consisting of 6 apartments and 4 semi-detached villas; our villa is one of the semi-detached villas. Entry to the Borgo is via a private road that serves the Borgo, the Agriturismo Santa Vittoria, and one other private villa. Remotely controlled gates allow access to Borgo Collevicchi, and there is plenty of parking available within the fully landscaped grounds.
The villa has two well-appointed double bedrooms: Bedroom 1 features a queen-size bed with a new top-quality memory foam mattress and sprung base, a double wardrobe, a small low cupboard, a dressing table with a chair and mirror and large patio doors that open onto the front garden.
If needed, guests can connect the two twin beds in the second bedroom to create a queen-size double bed. The room also includes a double wardrobe, a dressing table with a chair and mirror, and two sets of large patio doors. One set of patio doors opens onto the front garden, while the second set opens onto the side garden, creating a very light and airy room.
The large open-plan lounge has fabulous views over the gardens and hills beyond.
The cost of your stay includes freshly laundered bed sheets, towels, and bath towels.
A new Mitsubishi air conditioning system (fitted in 2023) ensures that the bedrooms and lounge are very comfortable in the hot summer months, while also providing additional heating in the winter.
A modern on-demand gas boiler provides the villa's hot water and central heating for the winter months.
There are two well-equipped tiled bathrooms, both of which feature a shower, large washbasin, vanity unit with two large drawers, toilet, bidet, and heated towel rail.
The fully equipped kitchen features an oven, gas hob, extractor hood, dishwasher, fridge, and freezer. In the utility room, there is a top-loading washing machine, cleaning equipment, a vacuum cleaner, an ironing board, and an iron. Guests can also find storage for sunbeds, with four provided for their use.
Outside, to the rear of the property, there is a large (55 square metres) pergola covering the south-facing terrace (the terrace also has an open area for sunbathing). To the side of the property is a smaller covered terrace where scenic breakfasts can be enjoyed. All three sides of the private gardens offer breath-taking views, with the remainder of the large garden consisting of paths and lawned areas.
The large salt-water swimming pool is approximately 20 metres away from the villa (30 seconds walk from the front garden) and is open from May 1st to September 30 (the opening is usually dependent on the weather, if it is unusually cold, the opening may be delayed until the 2nd week in May). The pool also offers spectacular panoramic views from its terrace.
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the villa and around the pool area, although due to the infrastructure of the Italian internet system, it is more for social media and catching up with emails than for playing games, etc.
The nearest restaurant is the Agriturismo Santa Vittoria, which is a 150-metre stroll from the Borgo's electric gates. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on most days. Guests at the villa can book a table at their restaurant (early booking is recommended as the restaurant is extremely popular with the locals as well) and enjoy their delicious local specialties (most of the ingredients are produced or raised on their farm or land), as well as their selection of fabulous local wines.
The restaurant at the Hotel Molino DEra is a short drive away (around 3–4 minutes from the Borgo's gates). There is a wide selection of food available, and they also offer a takeout service for pizza.
Just 15 minutes drive away (on one road) is the famous Etruscan city of Volterra (said to be the inspiration for the Twilight films and series), which has many excellent restaurants to choose from and plenty of shops for retail therapy (details of our favourite restaurants are provided in our welcome pack).
The nearest supermarket is just a 10-minute drive away (towards Volterra). This supermarket is well-stocked and can provide for most of your needs. There is also a much larger supermarket located just past Volterra.
Due to Villa Giotto being positioned in the centre of Tuscany, most attractions are within easy reach. The fabulous cities of Siena and Pisa are within an hour's drive, while Florence and Lucca are slightly over an hour away. The very popular San Gimignano is around 20 minutes drive away, and the nearest coast (Cecina) is around 40 minutes drive.
The world-famous Theatre of Silence, where Andrea Bocelli performs an open-air concert once a year, is open to the public every day (except when he is performing) and is around a 15-minute drive away.
The nearest golf course is the fantastic Castelfalfi, which is around a 20-minute drive away. There is an 18-hole mountain course and a 9-hole lake course; both are great.
There are also some nice golf courses closer to Pisa; one is called the Cosmopolitan Golf & Country Club, and the other is Golf ClubTerrenia - We have enjoyed playing both of these courses.
There are many vineyards nearby that are open to the public for wine tastings and tours, and most have food available too. Details of our favourite tours, excursions, and places to visit are provided in our information pack.
