Villa Fratini

Description

This historic and beautifully renovated villa is ideally located for day trips to Florence and Siena. Villa Fratini is surrounded by its own private gardens and picturesque Tuscan countryside but, conveniently, is just five minutes to the nearest motorway junction. The vibrant town of Terranuova Bracciolini is a short drive away, offering all the local amenities you may need during your holiday. There are two nature reserves in the Arezzo province and the beautiful River Arno is just minutes away.

Villa Fratini sleeps up to twelve guests and provides the most exquisite accommodation for large family groups or friends gathering together for a holiday or celebration. A dwelling of some sort has existed on this site since before the ancient Romans, and it has a rich history through the centuries. A discerning architect started its renovation in the 1980s, culminating in the romantic holiday home enjoyed today.

The large covered entrance is a peaceful place to sit, and features a pizza oven for al fresco cooking. Once inside, the ground floor is mostly open-plan but divided into sections thanks to the original vaulted ceiling and arches. Elegant furniture and large windows provide a welcoming living and dining space, and the large kitchen features professional-quality equipment. An attractive al fresco dining terrace and veranda leads away from the kitchen, creating a space for all twelve guests to come together and dine outdoors, morning, noon and night. From here, you can explore the delightful garden, which boasts a huge number of plants, trees and fruits, including an olive grove, cypresses and figs. Your private pool is flanked by sun loungers and a terrace for soaking up the Italian sun and snoozing through the afternoon.

You'll find five bedrooms on the first floor, including three double rooms – two en-suite – and two twin rooms. All feature air conditioning and tasteful, colour-coordinated decor. The ancient lookout tower, adjoining the villa, is home to an additional twin bedroom and bathroom, making it ideal for those seeking their own space. The views from here are spectacular.

#### Features
Villa Interior

Ground Floor (170m2)
-Large loggia including comfortable seating and pizza oven
-Entrance hall leads to spacious living and dining room, divided into four sociable areas including old fireplace
-Fabulous kitchen equipped with professional-standard oven, hob, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, freezer, coffee maker and toaster. Leads out to dining terrace
- Pantry with second fridge
-Guest bathroom and shower
-Laundry room with washing machine and dryer
- Storage room with fridge

First Floor (155m2)

-Small living room with television and open fireplace
-Bedroom 1 with double bed and en-suite shower room
-Bedroom 2 with double bed and en-suite bathroom and shower over bathtub
-Bedroom 3 with double bed and adjacent bathroom including double sink and shower
-Bedroom 4 & 5 with twin beds (can be made into double) sharing ans adjacent bathroom with shower
-Small study room with PC and printer

The Tower

-Medieval tower renovated and furnished, with twin bedroom and bathroom

Outside Grounds

-Large verandah and dining terrace with barbecue
-Two hectares of lawns and gardens, featuring up to 200 plant varieties, an olive grove and fruit trees
-Private pool (8m x 4m, open approximately mid Mid May - Mid October)

Facilities

-Wi-Fi (villa and garden)
- Smart TV
- DVD player
- CD player
- Bose music speaker - portable
- Computer and printer
-Air conditioning in all bedrooms, kitchen and living room
- 2 x fireplaces
-Hairdryers in all bathrooms
- Windows screens in all bedrooms and kitchen
-Electric gates and private parking
-Pizza oven
- Barbecue
- Bose music sound system
- Table tennis

#### Location
Villa Fratini lies in the heart of Tuscany and the beautiful Valdarno valley. This special area is brimming with nature reserves, wonderful towns and cities and the River Arno runs through mile after mile of stunning scenery. You're just a few minutes outside of the small town of Terranuova Bracciolini and despite being surrounded by peaceful countryside, a motorway junction for the A1 is just five minutes away. You also have a bus stop just outside the villa gates.

Terranuova Bracciolini is small medieval Florentine town, complete with old piazza, historic centre and fourteenth century churches. You'll also find mouth-watering eateries serving local dishes, including the irresistible variety of cakes, typical in the Arezzo area. Look out for baldino or gatto to complete the perfect meal.

With the incredible city of Florence just under one hour's drive north of Villa Fratini, and Arezzo about thirty minutes south, you're wonderfully situated for visiting the principal cities in this eastern part of Tuscany. Home to the iconic Duomo of Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore and world-famous Renaissance art, you may need more than one day trip to Florence, as simply wandering the old streets is a delight in itself.
Arezzo sits on top of a hill, overlooking four valleys, and has history dating back to the Stone Age. Today, it's a vibrant place to visit with cultural landmarks including a Roman Amphitheatre, Medicean Fortress and Church of San Francesco. If your legs grow tired of sightseeing, head to Piazza Grande for a cooling drink, whilst watching the Italian world go by.

If you want to explore the countryside near Villa Fratini, the River Arno runs past Terranuova Bracciolini and up to Florence. You can enjoy the peace on a walking or cycling trail alongside the river, try paddle boarding or take a boat trip for a view of Florence from the water. The Balze Natural Protected Area (11km) extends up to Regello and is a unique landscape of eroded ravines, stone pillars and cliffs. It's so spectacular, that Michelangelo features it in more than one of his paintings, including the Mona Lisa.