Apartments in Tuscany, Farmhouses Rental in Valdorcia

Once the steward's house, la Casa del Fattore enjoys a prime location beneath the castle. Immersed in roses and hydrangeas and shaded by grapevines, the house is just ten minute's walk from the main square where guests may find markets, bar, newstand and other conveniences. The house is full of light, its pale terracotta tiled floors and traditional whitewashed walls adding to its warmth and luminosity. Antique ceramics decorate the walls and cheerful floral patterns adorn the furniture, adding multidimensional color schemes to the already colorful natural surroundings. Enjoy an afternoon swim in the 6 x 10 meter pool and dine alfresco beneath the shade of an ancient chestnut tree on the furnished private stone terrace. Casa del Fattore is located on the first floor above ground, accessible via a stone stairway that was part of the original farmhouse structure. The house comprises a spacious living room and dining room, each with its own authentic stone fireplace. The modern kitchen is fully equipped with dishwasher and washing machine. Two double bedrooms and two twin bedrooms are located down the hall, as are two bathrooms, one with bathtub and the other with shower. The magnificent, gigantic yellow bedroom features a large window that opens onto the garden, greeting guests with the fragrance of roses each morning. CD stereo and telephone are available for guests' use.

Casa dell’Ambasciatore is a charming house standing on its own on the edge of the hamlet, surrounded by a garden and wide stretching views onto open fields and the Monte Amiata in the background. The entrance over the terrace with pergola and dining table leads straight into the large living room with a large fireplace and open plan kitchen. The room is generously furnished with two large sofas and a dining table. French windows lead onto the terrace to one side and into the garden to the other side of the room. A few steps lead down to the two bedrooms and bathrooms. These rooms can be turned into doubles or twins. Both bedrooms have french windows into the garden. Ground floor: 1 large living and dining room with open plan kitchen 2 double / twin bedrooms 2 bathrooms, one with shower, the other with a tub Garden: Table and chairs for al fresco dining Pool shared with the other tenants

The crowning jewel of this charming rental is its garden. Walled in for privacy at the back of the house and furnished for outdoor meals in the summer months, this unique garden was designed by prominent British landscape architect Jonathan Radford in 2001. The stone terrace off the kitchen is furnished for meals alfresco while enjoying the magnificent scenery. The interior of Casa di Pietro was designed by Daria Cervini, an art historian with a specialty in gardens, and also a daughter of the owners. The furniture, which consists of local antiques and even family heirlooms found in the attic, is sparse, creating a harmonious open-plan design throughout the home. The floors are handmade pale terracotta tiles, and the magnificent cathedral ceilings have the original wood beams intact. The ground floor features a living room with an original stone fireplace and CD stereo; the fully equipped kitchen features both a dishwasher and washing machine. The ground floor living room opens onto an elegant little piazza at the front of the house. The first floor above ground has one double room and a twin room. All bedrooms have private en-suite bathrooms. There is a telephone in the house for your convenience. First grocery delivery and high chair/crib for newborns available upon request.

Casa di Lilli is a small 2 storeyed house located next to the romanitc chapel of Vivo d'Orcia. It was fully restored in 2004 and turned into a charming retreat for two.You enter the house through french windows which lead into the only room on the ground floor - the living dining kitchen. This room has a comfortable sofa, a proper dining table and a kitchen surface covered with a solid slab of the local travertine. On the first floor lies the bedroom and en-suite bathroom (with bathtub). French windows lead onto a small balcony with steps down into the walled-in orchard of the estate. The house is equipped with tables and chairs for dining outside. The pool of the estate is 3 minutes on foot from the house.

The sprawling estate surrounding the castle of Vivo D'Orcia takes its name from the majestic Val D'Orcia region in which it is found. This beautiful valley is a nature preserve located in the southernmost part of Tuscany, nearly 1000 meters above sea level in the shadows of Mount Amiata with magnificent views 360 degrees around. Shimmering olive groves, stone paths dotted with cypress trees, endless vineyards and centuries-old chestnut trees surround the immediate vicinity, and the nearby villages of Colle Sant'Angelo and Abbadia di San Salvatore can be seen from the property's altitude. The Val D'Orcia has an advantageous location an hour's drive from the medieval town of Siena and two hours from Florence's Renaissance treasures. The famed villages of Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza and Monticchiello are all nearby. Also located a quick drive away are the therapeutic hot springs of Bagno Vignoni, San Casciano dei Bagni and others first discovered during the Roman empire. Even the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the walled village of Lucca and the Tuscan seacoast are all a day trip away from your Tuscan farmhouse in the heart of this peaceful valley. The Borgo il Vivo estate dates back to the 11th century. It flourished as an agricultural center after 1534, when Pope Marcello II procured the estate and transformed it from its humble beginnings. Today, the estate is still owned and managed by the family of Pope Marcello II. Count Marcello Cervini and his wife Amarilli host a myriad of guests at Borgo il Vivo during the summer months and will attend to your every need. They will suggest a quality restaurant in a neighboring town, or better yet, arrange for a private chef to prepare you regional specialties in the comfort of your own rental upon request, utilizing fresh truffles and wild game found in the surrounding forest and customizing the feast to your personal wishes. After unwinding with a glass of local wine on the private stone terrace gazing out over the valley, you'll understand immediately why locals claim "Borgo il Vivo is not a place - it's a way of life."