Description
In the Chianti hills, half an hour from Florence and in a very panoramic position, former 13th-century convent with swimming pool for sale. The property (over 700 sqm, 9 bedrooms) was renovated by the current owners in the 1990s and is now rented out to guests with good results. The 7,300-sqm park surrounding the building houses a 12 × 6 m swimming pool with views over the Chianti hills, while an olive grove (180 trees) is located on the northern side of the property.
Facilities are available in the nearby town (5km; 10') or a just little further in San Casciano in Val di Pesa (8km; 15') while the beautiful city of Florence is just over half an hour’s drive from the property. Most of Tuscany’s art cities can be reached in less than an hour and a half (San Gi-mignano, Siena, Pisa, Montalcino, Pienza...).
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS
The convent (527 sqm – 5,670 sqft, 9 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms) was built in 1237 and documentary evidence exists in the archives of the notary Palmerio di Corbizio (containing priceless documents dated 1237 and 1238). The current owners then renovated the structure in the 1990s, using it as accommodation and preserving the building’s original charm.
Upon entering the building, the ground floor contains the reception halls (living room, kitchen and dining room), which are arranged around a characteristic central cloister, the old cellars, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. A staircase reaches the upper floor and halfway up the ramp gives access to a bedroom with private bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. The first floor opens to a large living room connected to a second kitchen and a side reading room. The sleeping area on the floor consists of a large master bedroom with private bathroom and walk-in wardrobe, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a shared walk-in wardrobe.
From the living room a staircase leads up to the turret where an elegant bedroom with a 360-degrees panoramic view of the surrounding countryside has been created.
Right in front of the convent is a two-story agricultural storage (143 sqm – 1,539 sqft) in need of renovation. Behind the building, in a secluded and barely visible position, there is a warehouse (79 sqm – 850 sqft) currently used as a shelter for tools and vehicles. There is also the possibility of converting the building (or using the existing volume anyway) into a guesthouse.
EXTERIORS
The convent is surrounded by 2.6 hectares (6.4 acres) of land and located on a hilltop offering uninterrupted views of the Chianti hills and vineyards. Surrounding the building is a well-manicured park of 7,300 sqm with hedges, paved paths and shading trees. The garden terrace on the southern side of the villa is the perfect place to relax in the summer, perhaps by organizing outdoor dinners or aperitifs. This space is also perfect for ceremonies and events, thanks to the beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside.
Not far from the villa, surrounded by trees and hedges, is the 12 × 6 m swimming pool with Roman steps and chlorine filtration system. The grass sunbathing area surrounding the pool is equipped with umbrellas and gazebos and is perfect for aperitifs and breakfast by the pool.
The north-western side of the property is instead covered by an olive grove (1.3 ha) with 180 trees in full production: annual production, in good years, can reach 180/190 kg of oil per year.
The remaining surface (about 3,800 sqm) is registered as arable land and mixed woodland.
CLOSEST CITIES AND TOWNS
Town with services (5km; 10’), San Casciano in Val di Pesa (8km; 15’), Castellina in Chianti (23km; 30’), San Gimignano (28km; 30’), Florence (30km; 35’), Monteriggioni (32km; 35’), Bagno a Ripoli (34km; 40’), Casole d’Elsa (39km; 45’), Gaiole in Chianti (42km; 55’), Siena (48km; 50’), Volterra (50km; 1h), Pisa (82km; 1h 10’), Montalcino (85km; 1h 25’), Pienza (98km; 1h 40’), Lucca (101km; 1h 20’), Grosseto (117km; 1h 35’), Cortona (118km; 1h 35’)
CLOSEST AIRPORTS
Firenze A. Vespucci (40km; 35’), Pisa G. Galilei (79km, 1h), Grosseto C. Baccarini (117km; 1h 35’), Bologna G. Marconi (122km; 1h 25’), Perugia San Francesco (162km; 1h 25’), Genova C. Colombo (251km; 2h 55’), Roma Ciampino (302km; 3h 5’), Roma Fiumicino (316km; 3h 10’)
