You enter through a covered portico (porch, with outdoor table for eight to ten). Inside, three large arches divide the eat-in kitchen (with antique farmhouse table), the dining room with a table for eight to twelve, and the sunny living room with large open fireplace. On the other side of the kitchen are a bathroom with shower; a study with large antique wooden table/desk and a comfortable daybed; a TV room with access to the garden and pool area; and a laundry room with plenty of storage space.

A stone staircase leads upstairs to the high-ceilinged, airy, sitting room; four bedrooms (two bedrooms, each with a king-size bed, and two bedrooms, each with a queen-size bed); two baths (one with shower, and one very large bathroom with shower and separate jacuzzi tub); and a large walk-in closet.

The house has plenty of space to be 'together' as a family or group of friends - whether at the pool, playing bocce, cooking delicious meals and enjoying them indoors or out, or chatting in the living room. The lay-out also allows for private spaces when you want some time alone - whether working (or dozing) in the study, having a quiet read in the upstairs sitting room, or finding a peaceful spot under the trees.

The attached guesthouse, approximately 430 square feet, has a separate entrance, two bedrooms (each with a queen-size bed), a small bath with shower, and a kitchen-sitting room.

The appliances are new. The kitchens are fully equipped and suitable for gourmet cooking. All mattresses, couches, and armchairs are new, comfortable, and of high quality. The bathrooms have modern fixtures. All windows and doors have mosquito screens. Otherwise, the house has been decorated and furnished in traditional Tuscan country-style, with characteristic colors, fabrics, and carefully chosen antique pieces for an authentic and comfortable Tuscan experience.

Although easily accessible and not remote (it is five kilometers from the A1 motorway exit), no other houses are visible from the house or grounds. A 400-meter (approximately 4000 feet) private, gravel road leads to the house, so the house is well back from the road behind a large field. The house sits on more than 1.75 acres (7000 square meters) of well-manicured private garden and lawns, offering several areas for dining al fresco, entertaining, or relaxing with a book and a glass of wine.

The grounds have been professionally landscaped with lawns, roses, lavender, flowers and shrubs of all sorts, pots of oleander and aromatic flowers set around mature fruit trees (plums, apricots, pears, apples, nuts, and figs), cypress, and shade trees. The garden includes a productive 50 square meter organic vegetable and herb garden with lettuces, heirloom tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and more. Adorable tiny geckoes sun themselves on the stones.

The covered front portico, with table and chairs for 10, is our guests' (and our) favorite place for breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening - watching the morning light or the sunset with the hills in the distance.

A wisteria-covered loggia, with traditional outdoor pizza / bread oven, dining table and chairs, is located on the side of the house near the pool, together with a charcoal and wood barbeque for outdoor cooking. The loggia is a perfect, shady spot for lunch! And making your own pizzas is a lot of fun.

The 6 by 12 meter (approximately 18 feet by 36 feet) swimming pool, with outdoor shower, gets full sun throughout the day. A stand of trees makes a shady spot at one end of the pool, next to the full size bocce ball court - for your evening bocce games. At the other end of the pool, a rustic pergola covered with jasmine and wisteria offers another space for outdoor dining or dozing.

The house is great for a group of friends to relax and catch up; for hosting an extended family or two; for celebrating a milestone birthday, a special anniversary, or a family event; or just as a place to experience Tuscany at its best.

The property is perfectly located for exploring southern Tuscany and Umbria, either by main road or country roads. The house is just over the 'border' dividing the provinces of Arezzo and Siena, giving you the two prettiest valleys in Tuscany - the Val di Chiana and the Val d’Orcia (a UNESCO world heritage site). Charming towns, history, art, beautiful scenery, great restaurants, wine, and artisan foods are found in every direction.

Siena is 35 kilometers away, Arezzo 20 kilometers, Cortona 15 kilometers. Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, the Colli Aretini and Colli Senesi wine roads (and wineries), the hot water mineral spas south of Siena, Etruscan archaeological sites, and many other places of interest, including events, festivals, local markets, and the designer outlets are easily reached for day trips. We provide a detailed House Book that offers suggestions and advice on restaurants, shopping, places to visit, things to do, and much more.

Please email with any questions, and check our website. We love the house and the area - and hope you will too.

For a stay in Florence of two weeks or more, see our Florence house: vrbo # 276409

Keywords: Country House, villa, pool, privacy, child-friendly, gourmet kitchen