This beautiful villa nestles in the heart of Chianti, in a secluded valley surrounded by the soft silhouettes of the hills, covered with vineyards which break up woods and fields with their symmetric geometry, lying in a wonderful unspoilt countryside, which both enchants and relaxes you, in an atmosphere which carefully mixes elegance and rural charm. The villas has a long and interesting history: its origins go back to the XIIth century and through the centuries it has been the residence of bishops and cardinals and has even been a monastery. It's a private residence now, and in recent times has been restored with great care, maintaining and bringing out its ancient characteristics, enriched with every possible convenience and comfort for guests. The furnishings are precious and of excellent taste: the many antique pieces rub shoulders with family momentoes and the love of Africa comes through here and there through the use of ethnic materials. The bedrooms have all been decorated in different ways, some of them have four-poster beds, others have frescoes, and the bathrooms are sumptuous and original: here you can breath in the typical atmosphere of a gentleman's country house, where comfort reigns. There are living areas on all the floors, and besides the dining-room and the dungeon bar on the ground floor and the large living-room with grand piano on the first floor, there is a comfortable TV room on the upper floor with playstation and Wii, DVD and stereo, some machines for sport, a sauna and a shower with turkish bath, and an area where you can do massages. The garden is full of aromatic herbs which perfume the air, and the view is enchanting in every direction: there are many areas furnished for relaxing and dining outside. A stone staircase surrounded by lavendar bushes leads up the area where lies the splendid, panoramic, marble swimming-pool (18x8m) and the large sunbathing area, along with an outdoor jacuzzi tub and the dressing-rooms. Children of every age are particularly welcome and can enjoy a large range of entertainment (in the garden they will find an external trampoline and grass badminton court). The villa is rented complete with the entire staff (cook, maid and 2 gardeners) and on request they can organize many services for guests, including interesting cooking courses. Although the villa lies in an area that is secluded and quiet, just ten minutes walk from here is a typical tuscan restaurant, known for its good cooking and for its ambience.