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Just half an hour west of Florence is the small town of Empoli. You'll have to look hard to find it mentioned in any guidebook, and the reason for that mystifies us because this is some of the prettiest countryside in northern Tuscany. It's also a great starting place for any day trip, be it to Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Siena or San Gimignano (all within an hour's drive at most), or to the enchanting small towns nearby, such as Vinci, where the great Leonardo was born. Spend a week here and you will feel as if you're the Mona Lisa herself, complacently posing against a background of rolling hills carpeted in a rainbow of greens. By the end of your stay you are likely to understand what the lady's enigmatic smile was really about after all.
On a rise overlooking a 360-degree panorama of vineyards, olive groves, cypress stands and wheat fields, this rambling home is typical of those built by the local gentry in the mid-19th century. The property sits beside its own private and newly paved access road, easily reached yet far enough from the superstrada to avoid the noise of modern-day Italy. On the rear is a large formal garden with seating areas and a patio for outdoor dining. Stone steps lead down into what the Italians call il parco - private grounds shaded by centuries-old trees and laced with footpaths that are perfect for a quiet afternoon stroll. A swimming pool was recently added to the park, for the enjoyment of villa guests only.
Although the villa is relatively recent by Italian standards, it incorporates features from a pre-existing older structure such as arched brick ceilings and terra cotta floors. It has lots of large windows which let in the sunshine downstairs and afford one picture-perfect view after another upstairs. From the gated front yard, you enter into a large foyer off of which is a dining room. Next to this are a living room with double sleep sofa, arm chairs, fireplace, stereo/CD player and satellite TV, a smaller sitting room with doors leading onto the garden, and a large bathroom with double sinks and an extra-large shower. Those wishing to try their hand at Tuscan cooking will be thrilled with the spacious kitchen, which has an oven and range, grill, pizza oven, dishwasher, full fridge, freezer, American coffee maker, toaster, table for eight and washing machine. Doors lead out onto the covered patio which also has a table for eight.
The sleeping quarters are upstairs, with each room opening onto a broad central hall. The three double rooms have beamed eave ceilings, parquet floors, good reading lights, and views onto the garden and surrounding hillsides. There are also two bathrooms (one with shower and one with half-tub) and a room with two twin beds for children. All the bedrooms have window screens, all three bathrooms have towel warmers, and the linens are top-quality embroidered ones. On the third floor is a bonus room: the former belvedere, with windows all around overlooking Leonardo Da Vinci's hills.
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Special Offer Valid only for In Italy Online guests!
Book any week between April 5 and May 10 and pay only 1650 Euro/week!
| Weekly Rates for 2008 (for the villa) |
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| Jan. 5-March 29 Sept. 27-Dec. 20 |
1864.00 EURO |
| March 29-April 5 May 10-June 28 Aug. 30-Sept. 27 Dec. 20-Jan. 3, 2009 |
2180.00 EURO |
| June 28-Aug. 30 | 2600.00 EURO |
Prices include: taxes, services, one set of linens, and utilities except heating.
Not included: 130 Euro for mandatory final cleaning, autonomous heating, which costs 80 Euro/week.
Additional cleaning costs 130 Euro; extra linens cost 5 Euro/person; pool towels cost 5 Euro/towel.
For groups of more than nine people, Villa Empoli also offers three apartments and one studio in the annex. Other guests in this part of the property do not have access to the garden and grounds, which are for the exclusive use of villa guests.
A baby crib is available at no extra charge.
Cellphone rental costs 5 EURO/day plus 55 EURO for the phone card.
Check-in: 3-8pm
Check-out: 8:30-9:30am
Refundable security deposit: 260 Euro
Click here for information about private transfers to the property.
Please note that you need a car to stay here.
