Impeccable 8 bedroom villa in
Barberino Val d Elsa that sleeps 16. The house stands in Barberino Val d Elsa, a hilltop village in the very heart of the Chianti area, half way between Florence and Siena. The Elsa valley is one of the most popular regions between Florence and Siena. The historic village center of Barberino is surrounded by sturdy medieval walls; one enters the little town via two large portals, one to the North, coming from Florence and one to the South, leading to Siena (see picture left). The two gateways are linked by the high-street: It is along this high-street that you will find the Palazzino - a property belonging to the Principe Corsini family.
The facade looks onto the main street of the village, which is very quiet as it has been closed to traffic. The back of the house opens towards the wide landscape. The village of Barberino has two bars, a bank, a small shop, an excellent butcher, a restaurant, a wine bar, a hairdresser, a chemistry and a post office. A good supermarket is just outside the village, in the village of Tavarnelle, 2 km north. Here you will find a wider range of shops as well as a market once a week.
A small jewel of Renaissance architecture it was built in the traditional alberese stone with architectural features typical of the Tuscan understated elegance. Please notice the finely carved cornices around the main door and the windows as well as the elegant curve of the arches in the courtyard. No famous architect was at work here, this house is an example of the spontaneous sense of style and proportion which the Tuscans developed early on.
The main entrance to the house - a large wooden double door with a Renaissance stone cornice - leads into a courtyard filled with flowers which again opens onto a large terrace (100 sqm) with a pergola for meals outside. From there a few steps lead to the garden, the pool and the open countryside. The pool is located at the lower end of the garden, about 40 steps down from the terrace. The view and the sunsets to be seen from here, as well as from all windows looking out to the back of the house, are magnificent - the famous Chianti hills with vineyards and olive groves and the towers of San Gimignano in the backdrop.
Il Palazzino used to be lived in by the owners before they moved to the family s Palazzo in Florence and therefore lives up to the standard of an elegant private mansion with all the modern conveniences to which we have become accustomed. Family antiques, books, terracotta flooring, exposed beams and Mediterranean colourings create an elegant and welcoming atmosphere. The house is spacious and even a larger group will find that it is possible to be together in the living and dining areas, or to seek some privacy in one of the many corners both inside and outdoors.
The second floor of the house is located in the rooms where the estate s Vin Santo - the Tuscan dessert wine which is aged in small barrels in the attic for three to five years used to be stored. The space has been adapted in a clever way and the original features give the rooms a special and welcoming atmosphere, reminding one of the children s quarters in elegant mansions of old. There is a large living room with a fireplace and comfortable sofas and chairs from which you will reach the three bedrooms. Views from the windows are magnificent. All six bathrooms of the house have bathtubs with hand-held showers, some with shower curtains.
Maid service and cook are available every day except Saturdays and Sundays at an extra cost. The lady in charge, Dina is a wonderful cook and has worked for the family for 20 years.
The Chianti area
Distances: Florence, Siena and San Gimignano can be reached in approx. half an hour. Volterra, Arezzo and Lucca will take about one hour.
Sightseeing in the vicinity: the romantic church of Sant Appiano, Greve s market on Saturdays, the important Basilica de Impruneta, the hilltop town of Colle Val d Elsa, the fortified village of Monteriggioni and the romanesque abbey S. Galgano.
Visiting wine and olive oil producing estates: the cellars of the family estate Le Corti in San Casciano are open to the public and the guests are welcome to make a visit. Most estates sell their wine directly, watch out for the signs vendita diretta . We will provide a list with estates where it is possible to visit the cellars and learn more about how the wine and olive oil are made.
Restaurants: many good restaurants in Chianti can make eating out a way of discovering the area. Simple local trattorias which have existed for years as well as more sophisticated restaurants specialised in refined cuisine stand door to door: we have prepared a list of the places we prefer which you will find in the house.
Craftmanship: the closeby town of Impruneta is famous for its large terracotta pots which originally were used for the lemon trees and to store olive oil. You might also want to look up the nearby town Montelupo which produced pottery for Florence in the Renaissance. The same patterns are still hand-painted today. The town Colle Val d Elsa on the way to Siena is famous for its crystal glass production. In Florence itself you will find a multitude of craftsmen working with silver, leather, wood, glass, pottery, paper and metal. You only have to walk around the small streets on the southern bank of the Arno river to discover them.
Walking and riding: the hills around Barberino offer wonderful treks. Good guidebooks and maps have been published recently in English as well as Italian which are on sale at most newsagents in Chianti.
IL PALAZZINO 10 270 sqm ( 10 pers. ) View Availability
If Il Palazzino is rented for up to 10 people, the second floor is closed up (not available). Furthermore the quantity of house cleaning during the week will be reduced.
IL PALAZZINO 16 350 sqm ( 16 pers. ) View Availability
Location
In the historical centre of Barberino Val d Elsa, half way between Florence and Siena.
Floor Area
350 m2.
Rooms
Ground floor:
1 courtyard with medieval well, very large terrace (about 100 m2), pool about 40 steps down from the terrace.
First floor:
1 living room with fireplace and terrace, 1 smaller living room with fireplace, 1 study, 1 dining room, 2 double bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, 2 twin bedrooms, 2 single bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (4 bathrooms in all on the first floor), 1 country kitchen, 1 laundry.
Second floor:
1 double bedroom, 1 twin bedroom, 1 children s bedroom with 3-4 mattrasses (children love it!/the mattrasses have a normal length but no bedframe), 2 bathrooms, 1 livingroom with fireplace, 1 breakfast kitchen.
Facilities
Fireplaces, TV (regional channels), CD-stereo, telephone, dishwasher, washing machine, fridge with built-in freezer, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, toaster, electric water kettle, electric coffee machine, BBQ, courtyard, terrace equipped with tables and chairs for al fresco dining, garden, pool, screens in all bedroom windows, portable fans in all bedrooms.
Parking for approx. 3 cars 100 m from the house, furthermore there is a public parking area about 150 m from the house.
Special Features
A small jewel of Renaissance architecture with garden in the centre of a medieval village. Splendid starting point for trips to the tuscan towns known for their art as well as to explore the Chianti area.
Touring Ideas
Tavarnelle 2 km
S. Gimignano 20 km
Florence 30 km
Siena 35 km
Livorno (coast) 100 km
Sports
Swimming
Tennis court 2 km
Riding stable 2 km
Golf course 35 km
Rent Includes
Bed, bath and kitchen linens, water, electricity, gas, maid service (3 hours house cleaning 3 times per week), final cleaning all included in the price. Should you have rented Il Palazzino for more than 1 week, the house will be cleaned on Saturdays and the linen will be changed.
Rent Does Not Include
Security deposit, heating, wood for fireplace, telephone.
Ideal For
Large families and friends.
Telephone
Yes.
Guests can also use their personal laptop, which however needs to be programmed to connect to an Italian provider.
Reservations from Saturday to Saturday only.
Availability only during the above mentioned dates.
Pool size: 9 x 4.5 m (prefabricated partially built-in) / opening dates: mid of May - end of September.
Baby bed with linen and high chair available. Baby bed can be booked for children up to their 4th birthday.
Pets not allowed.
Extra services available only on request (domestic help, cook for dinners during your stay, first shopping), to be specified when booking and to be paid in euros on the premises at the end of each working day:
Extra domestic help (house cleaning, washing and ironing): EUR 15 per hour.
Cook for dinner during the week: EUR 30 - 40 per adult, EUR 20 per child (up to 12 years of age). Dinners must be booked ahead prior the arrival and are offered from Monday to Friday, menues can be discussed upon arrival. A dinner prepared by the cook (who lays the table) with first course (pasta dish), second course and a dessert. The fee is not inclusive of wine and water.
First shopping: EUR 150 (expenses for a few basics and shopping time included). The shopping list includes: 2 kg of bread, butter, jam, honey, eggs, milk, 1 packet Earl Grey tea, 1 packet coffee, natural yoghurt, orange juice, fruit of the season, 2 kg pasta (noodles), tomato sauce, 1 piece fresh parmesan cheese, salad and tomatoes, 1 litre extra vergin olive oil, mineral water, beer, red wine, dishwasher detergent.
Security deposit, heating, wood for fireplace, telephone to be paid in euros on the premises:
Security deposit: EUR 500.
Heating (if required): metered.
Please be aware that central heating is very expensive in Italy. The average cost in winter varies from EUR 60 to 80 per day according to the outdoor temperature and the amount of time the heating is turned on.
Wood for fireplace: EUR 20 per basket.
Telephone: metered.
Baby bed: EUR 15 per week.
Bed, bath and kitchen linens, water, electricity, gas, maid service (3 hours house cleaning 3 times per week), final cleaning all included in the price. Should you have rented Il Palazzino for more than 1 week, the house will be cleaned on Saturdays and the linen will be changed.
Please note that all prices are subject to change, all rates will be confirmed by the reservations department at time of booking.
Swimming Pool
Changover 
Available 
Booked
