Renaissance villa at the gates of Florence

Description

A few kilometers from Florence, in a hilly and panoramic position, there is a magnificent villa in Renaissance style, built around 1920 on an older building, designed by the Florentine architect Enrico Dante Fantappiè. The villa, which belonged to the family of the famous philosopher Giovanni Papini, is easily accessible by traveling about 5 km along the municipal road to Pelago, after taking the provincial road Florence-Arezzo. A 600-meter-long cypress-lined driveway leads to the entrance of the property.
Surrounded by a romantic Italian-style garden, the villa is surrounded by tall trees and completely fenced, with a modern irrigation system powered by a water tank. The property extends over a 23-hectare estate, three of which are cultivated with olive trees with about three hundred plants, producing a precious oil, four hectares of arable land and the remaining land as a woodland for firewood production. Outside the fenced area there are two parking lots: one for owners and guests, the other for service vehicles and staff.
The property is accessible through three gates: the main one, located to the east, is electric and covered by a canopy, with two pedestrian entrances; the second gate, to the north, was originally supposed to lead to a stable (not yet realized); and the third, to the south, leads to the olive groves and countryside. In the center of the park, there is a rustic cottage with a bread and roast oven, grill, kitchen, and a stone courtyard, ideal for informal outdoor lunches and parties. At the rear of the villa, there is a paved courtyard, perfect for outdoor breakfasts, located in front of the kitchen's service exit, while next to it is the swimming pool.
A small terrace, embellished with a balustrade and the statue of Diana Huntress (both to be restored), offers a perfect setting for musical evenings. The villa has been completely restored and adapted to the latest regulations: all systems have been renewed, the roofs redone with copper gutters, and all openings equipped with double thermal glass and anti-break-in doors. On the ground floor, the windows have grilles decorated with the villa's logo, shaped like a butterfly. The bathrooms and heating system are made with advanced technologies, and the property is equipped with fire systems and wireless connection both indoors and outdoors. The walls are finished with encaustic and the ceilings decorated with stucco, while the bedroom floors are wooden and those of the covered terrace and tower are in terracotta.
The villa covers approximately 650 square meters spread over three floors, plus a panoramic tower arranged on five levels. On the ground floor, a large entrance hall gives access to a study-living room on the left, connected to a second living room with a fireplace and wooden coffered ceiling. On the right, there is the large dining room, connected to the pantry and the modern steel kitchen, fully equipped with a wine refrigerator, freezer, extractor hood, hob, oven, dishwasher, and a library corner for menu preparation. This is followed by a service bathroom and an indoor breakfast room that leads to the laundry room and cellar. Each room on the ground floor opens onto the garden thanks to large panoramic windows.
On the first floor, on the left, there are two bedrooms, each with a private bathroom and terrace, as well as a linen and cleaning closet. On the right, there is a bedroom with a bathroom and terrace, and the master suite, consisting of a spacious bedroom with three windows, a large covered terrace, a large bathroom, and a walk-in closet. Each room is equipped with a safe and offers a splendid view of the surrounding landscape.
The second floor houses, on the right, two bedrooms with a bathroom and a linen closet, while on the left, there is another bedroom with a bathroom and a library room that gives access to the tower. Here too, the rooms have large panoramic windows. The tower, arranged on five levels, includes a bedroom with a bathroom on the first floor, a service kitchen on the second floor, and on the third, a completely glazed living room, with a breathtaking 360-degree view ranging from the climatic station of Vallombrosa to the hills of Chianti, up to Florence and Arezzo.
The rooms are connected by a monumental staircase in sandstone with balustrade handrails, and all rooms are furnished with valuable antique furniture. The villa is only 5 km from the railway station, which offers connections to Florence airport, and about 10 km from the Florence South highway exit for those coming from the north, and Incisa for those coming from the south. Strategically located in the center of Italy, the villa allows easy access to major cities such as Arezzo, Siena, Rome, Milan, as well as renowned locations such as Forte dei Marmi, Argentario with its islands, and the Chianti region.
In addition to the natural beauty and historical and architectural charm of the surroundings, this area offers excellent food and wine, a renowned artisan tradition, and proximity to the fashion district "The Mall", making the villa not only in the heart of Tuscany, but at the heart of a unique and fascinating experience.