The following information has been added
by the owner of this property:
Lucignano is a wonderful medieval village located in the heart of Tuscany among Arezzo, Cortona and Siena.
Lucignano lies in the heart of Valdichiana that's a geographic area formed by the bed of the river Chiana. Valdichiana is one of the largest between the Apennine valleys, and its Tuscan stretch extends from Arezzo to Chiusi. In the past, after the Chiana had gradually turned into a marsh, the Medici, and subsequently the Lorenas, had it drained.
The valley, fertile, orderly and very pleasant to cross, is criss-crossed by a dense network of roads; the two main communications routes, the Autostrada del Sole motorway and the Rome-Milan railway line, are complemented by the Umbria - Casentino State roads and the east branch of the Cassia connecting all the towns to each other.
From its strategic position over the valleys of the Esse and the Foenna, Lucignano dominates the road between Siena and Arezzo, and it has an unusual medieval town layout with concentric annular roads.
Lucignano is known as the pearl of Tuscany Valdichiana's valley; the surrounding landscape, with its shades and radiance, long associated with artistic splendor, emits a sense of harmony between man and nature.
We strongly advise, both in summer and in winter, a visit to the Spa located in Rapolano Terme village: the large hot and cold pools, the Turkish bath, the Jacuzzis and various treatments really can't be missed by anyone who wants to relax and tone up in these long-established hot springs that offer so much well-being and all only within 20 minutes drive away.
LUCIGNANO'S SIGHTSEEING
The Medici Fortress
Not far from the town, on the hill opposite the one occupied by Lucignano, are the ruins of the never completed fortress built by order of Cosimo I and credited to Bernardo Puccini. It was originally designed by Gian Battista Belluzzi.
Conceived as part of a defence system in Valdichiana ideated by the Medici, who wanted to use Lucignano as an outpost, building work slowed down and changes were made, until work stopped in 1557. Two different bastions facing Siena and joined together by a crenelated wall are what remains of this military building that, although equipped to house a garrison, was never attacked.
Collegiate Church
The travertine steps of the Collegiate Church are clearly a part of the amazing ellipsoidal design of Lucignano's urban layout. ]t was a creation of Orazio Porta, who ideated this Latin cross layout with a sacristy, bell tower and rectory. The church was built between 1592 and 1621 on the site where the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel and another building with a tower, destroyed by lightning in 1556, had previous stood.
Church of San Francesco
This is where, in 1289, Lucignano formally paid homage to Siena. The church, shaped like an Egyptian cross, with a single nave, has some really magnificent stone altars dating from the XVI th and XVII th centuries, an organ conserved in an original XVIth century wooden chest, frescoes of scenes from the Stories of Saint Francis painted by Bartolo di Fredi and Taddeo di Bartolo, as well as the wonderful Triumph of Death above the first altar on the right wall of the nave. Do not neglect the polyptych by Luca di Tommè.
Church of the SS. Annunziata or Misericordia
The church used to be the oratory of the Company of the SS. Annunziata or Battenti neri, thus named because of the black capes the members wore. It has a rectangular layout and a single nave with a raised presbytery. The inlaid-wood altar dated 1583 and the many XVl th-century paintings of the Tuscan school are very beautiful. The glazed terracotta statues of the Della Robbia school in the high chapel are quite remarkable.
Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Querce
It is about one kilometre outside Lucignano, near the Medici Fortress. It was built in 1564 and might have been designed by Giorgio Vasari, following a miraculous event that took place in 1467.According to the legend, a small Maestà placed below an oak saved a young nobleman from Siena, who had turned in prayer to Our Lady, from his pursuers. This legend is interwoven with the one about the Font of Milk, a well inside the church the water of which is held to have miraculous and therapeutic properties. It used to be given to animals and women as a cure against sterility and lack of milk.
Palazzo Pretorio and the Town Museum
The interesting things about this building are the façade with the coats of arms of the governors who succeeded each other in the course of time, the mechanical clock dating from 1630 on one side and the ribbed bell tower with the public bell, symbol of civilian authority.
The building dates from the end of the XIII th century. It is occupied by some of the municipal offices and, in the rooms that used to be the prison and court, the Town Museum is housed. Among the most prestigious works of art, the reliquary known as the 'Tree of Lucignano' and several paintings by Pietro di Giovanni d'Ambrogio, Bartolo di Fredi, Niccolò di Segna and Luca Signorelli stand out.
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Ground floor: living room with 26-inch TV, formal dining area, homey family kitchen (fully equipped), ground floor sitting room with fireplace , a large double bedroom (with access to the garden) and bathroom with shower.
Fist floor: 1 king suite with showered bath and 2 sinks, 1 queen bedroom with antiques and a showered bath across the hall, 1king bedroom with en suite bathroom with 2 sinks, first floor sitting room with fireplace and TV, outside staircase to the garden.
Second floor: on the tower a large bedroom with 2 single beds .
From the ground-floor portico you enter a hall which leads to a downstairs large bedroom with ensuite bathroom with shower.
Another hallway door takes you through to the large, fully-equipped kitchen, with table & chairs and an attractive brick-arched alcove, housing the sink and marble worktops.
Adjoining the kitchen is a very spacious "double" dayroom, divided open-plan into dining and sitting areas. Sofas, armchairs and coffee table are grouped round the large working fireplace. Other features include an upright piano; TV- SAT and ceiling fan; french doors open, from here, to the lawn terrace with its rose-pergola, perfect for "al fresco" dining.
Internal stairs proceed to the upper floor and open into another comfortably furnished living-room, whose focal-point is the fireplace. External stone stairs with their own portico, lead up to the independent entrance to this room from outside.
From this central dayroom you access two double bedrooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom with shower. Further down the corridor is another very spacious double bedroom, with large ensuite bathroom with double basins, bathtub and hand-held shower.
The final bedroom is located at the top of a fairly steep "ladder-style" staircase, with banister-rails on either side and an upper gate to close it off. The room has twin beds, which can also be put together, as well as Sat.TV. However, for safety reasons, we do not recommend this bedroom be used by small children. Laundry facilities are housed in a separate room at ground-floor level accessible from the outside porch.
Notes on price:
Rates include: the use of the Villa with water, electricity, and gas - Bed-linen and Towels (1 change week) - The use of the Swimming Pool and equipments - Swimming Pool maintenance - Lawn maintenance - English speaking assistance by the owner - Park ang garden use - Car parking.
Rates Exclude: final cleaning (130 Euro) - Central heating (only for cold seasons 490 Euro/week or 70 Euro/day) - Security deposit (a 500 Euro security deposit has to be paid locally to the owner or his/her representative; it will be returned on departure less phone calls and breakages).
Term and condition: the rentals running from Saturday to Saturday during high and medium seasons - Check in from 3 p.m., Check out within 10 a.m.
Booking
It is possible booking your holiday upon availability request via e-mail at and our booking staff will give you immediate reply.
Once we'll confirmed the availability a 30% of the total amount will be requested as booking reservation; after we'll send you a booking confirmation via e-mail or via fax (only on request).
The settlement will have to be transfered within 30 days before the arrival date.
We accept payments with Bank Transfer or online (PayPal system).
Accommodation
HEG773
Type
Description
Bedrooms:
Bedroom 1 - Large room & its own bathroom at groundfloor,access on the garden
Bedroom 2 - King Suite on the first floor (bathroom "ensuite").
Bedroom 3 - King Suite on the first floor (bathroom "ensuite").
Bedroom 4 - Double bedroom on the first floor (Queen bed) & its own bathroom.
Bedroom 5 - Large bedroom with 2 single beds on the second floor (top)
Fireplace, sofas, armchairs, pouf
audio tape player, cd, DVD, radio, satellite or cable, stereo system, tv, video player
Cleaning/towels/linen/maid Service:
Linen and towels provided (once a week)
Sleeping capacity:
5 Bedroom villa that sleeps up to 10 people
Notes on accommodation: Large pool, big garden, central heating, linen and towels provided (once a week), extra cleanig available on request, many lounges and chairs at pool side, sevarel tables for outside dining, barbeque area, private parking.
Ammenities/Facilities provided
cable tv
private pool (sole use of)
barbecue
air conditioning
tumble dryer
washing machine
microwave
dishwasher
video
fridge/freezer
cd player
television
satellite
internet access
freeview
central heating
radio
telephone
dvd player
oven
hob/stove
Etc.
Travel
The villa is a 30-minute drive from Montepulciano, Pienza and Cortona. 45 to Siena and one hour to Florence
The closest airport is Florence (about 1 ½ hours). Rome and Pisa airport are about 2 hours by car.
Distances
Cortona: 22 km
Arezzo: 30 km
Siena: 38 km
San Gimignano : 58 km
Perugia & Assisi: 65 km
Florence: 80 km
Roma: 195 km
Further details
Wheelchairs good access only for the ground floor. Small pets admitted only and after according request. Final cleaning €130 . In winter the heating cost is €490 /week or €70/day. Summertime start day on Saturday - minimum stay 1 week. Low seasons minimum 4 days and flexible start day. A 500 € security deposit has to be paid locally to the owner or his/her representative; it will be returned on departure less phone calls and breakages.
Booking notes
Payment Options: swift money transfer or payment on line. A 30% of the rental fee is request at time of booking, the balance will have to be transfered within 30 days before the arrival date.
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations from the booking date to 60° day before the arrival : penality of 30 % on the total rental amount.
Cancellations from 59° to 30° day before the arrival date: penality of 50% of the total rental amount.
Cancellations from 29° day to the arrival : penalty of 100% of the total renatl amount
Changeover day
Changeover day is Saturday
Accessibility
Outside
From its entrance gates, the property's gravel drive and bordered by Cypress trees, leads up to an informal gravelled parking area, out of sight of the house. The surrounding lawns lie at a raised level, reached by some stone steps. Here the grass is dotted with native shade-giving trees, such as acacias, oak, olive and fig trees. Lavender, thyme, rosemary, broom and oleander bushes decorate the flowerbeds, lemon trees and colourful geraniums fill the big terracotta pots.
Growing in profusion over some areas of wall and round the front porches are climbing ivy, scented jasmin and rambling roses. Two separate pergolas support abundant rose blossom and perfumed wisteria. These are just some of the beautiful natural attractions the well-tended grounds offer for garden lovers.
An elaborate pool and garden area with many lounges and chairs at poolside.
Tables & chairs for outside dining.
The large, luxurious swimming pool is set away from the house at a sunken level in a secluded part of the grounds. The pool is 8 by 18 meters and is lighted at night and the pool house has 3 showers and 2 toilets.
Elegant wrought-iron gates open on to semi-circular stone steps, which invite you down to the tiled pool-surround. Lawns extend all round this, enclosed by shrubs, Cypress trees and palms. To one side is a wooden gazebo, housing the barbeque, which overlooks a vineyard, perfect for poolside parties (electricity is available at the barbecue area
