Tenuta Asciano Green Vacations - Family Lodgings

Character: Typical Tuscan farming estate featuring nine apartments with upscale amenities. Advantages: Exceptional amenities; stay as few as three nights; English-speaking staff on hand. Location: Outside Asciano, 25 km south of Siena. Great for visiting Montepulciano, Pienza and the Chianti too. Click here to see a map. Size: One apartment with 3 bedrooms/4 baths, three apartments with 3 bedrooms/2 baths, and five apartments with 2 bedrooms/2 baths. Each has its own outdoor area for dining al fresco. Features: Fireplace, dishwasher, Internet access, shared washing machine, swimming pool, tennis courts, oven, full fridge/freezer, American coffeemaker, hair dryer, towel warmer. Minimum stay: Three nights except in High Season, when Saturday-to-Saturday is required. Disadvantages: Some of the apartments have no bedroom on the ground floor. Car needed: Yes.

Just south of Siena, between the small medieval towns of Asciano and Monteroni, this classic Tuscan estate sits on a sunny hilltop with 360-degree views of the kind that have made this area so popular with filmmakers and advertising directors. You know the vista we're referring to: a series of gently rolling hills covered with fields of soft green wheat, punctuated occasionally by a lone cypress tree or the famed limestone deposits known as le crete. The tenuta began its life as a tiny hamlet that dates back to the days when this was just about the last outpost of Siena's territory. It was built atop the hill so the feudal lords and their serfs could have plenty of time to spy any enemy Florentines that might try to sneak into the city through the back door. Today we reap the benefits of their toil, but we can relax and simply enjoy the views without having to worry about defending our turf.

Like a beautifully-appointed oasis in the midst of the Tuscan farmlands, this small agriturismo features a tennis court and a well-equipped 50 X 25-foot swimming pool. On the far side of the pool is a playground for children. The nine spacious and sunny apartments occupy three ancient stone buildings with terracotta floors, whitewashed walls, wood-beamed ceilings and extremely comfortable furniture, floral upholstery and framed artwork. Kitchens all have double sinks, a range-top, stove, fridge/freezer and dishwasher; bathrooms have hair dryers and towel warmers. Those unforgettable landscapes are just outside every single window.

On the first floor of one building, Onda (1162 sq. ft.) has a big living room with fireplace, couches and a dining table for six. On one side of the living room is a double bedroom with en suite bathroom and bathtub. On the other side of the living room is the kitchen, which has a table for four. A door leads out to the garden where there is another dining table. Up six steps from the kitchen are a twin bedroom, a big bathroom with bathtub, and a large double bedroom.

Torre (1100 sq. ft.), on two floors, has wonderful views of the crete. On the ground floor are a big living room with dining table, sofas and fireplace; and a big eat-in kitchen with a table for four. Upstairs (19 steps) are a twin bedroom, a bathroom with bathtub, and a double bedroom with en suite bathroom with walk-in shower. The apartment has its own table and chairs in the ancient courtyard between the buildings.

When you enter Drago (1162 sq. ft.), you are in a hallway with a walk-in closet. On one side are the big sunny kitchen, a twin bedroom and a bathroom with shower. At the other end of the hall is the big living room with fireplace, couches and table for six. Up a few steps are the large double bedroom, a bathroom with bathtub and a single bedroom. This apartment also has its own table and chairs in the courtyard.

Istrice (1190 sq. ft.) occupies two floors. On the ground floor are a living room with couches, fireplace and dining table, and a separate kitchen with table for four. Upstairs are a twin bedroom and a double bedroom divided by a large bathroom with shower and a bathroom with bathtub. The apartment is completed by a very private patio on the rear of the building.

The second building is shared by Nicchio and Civetta. Nicchio (860 sq. ft.) is perhaps the most popular apartment on the property, because of its large panoramic covered portico for outdoor dining. It has a dramatic living room with couches and freestanding fireplace, behind which is the kitchen. The big double bedroom also opens onto the portico and has a bathroom with bathtub. On the other side of the living room is a twin bedroom with bathroom with tub.

Civetta (900 sq. ft.) is up 19 steps, above Nicchio. It has a big living room with fireplace, couches and dining table, a separate kitchen, a single bedroom, a bathroom with a great shower, and a big double with canopy bed and bathroom with shower. This double bedroom probably enjoys the best views at Podere Asciano.

Selva and Aquila share the third building. Selva (750 sq. ft.) is upstairs and has a living room with couches, table and fireplace, a separate eat-in kitchen, a twin bedroom, a bathroom with bathtub, and a double bedroom with en suite bathroom with shower. Dining al fresco is easy on the vine-shaded terrace.

On the rear of the building, thus enjoying great privacy, is Aquila (1520 sq. ft.). It has a private patio which opens onto the eat-in kitchen. Next door are a single bedroom with ¾-size bed, and a bathroom with shower. Up a few steps is the living room, which has couches, a table and a fireplace, and a door onto the courtyard. Down a few steps is a hallway onto which open a twin bedroom, a big bathroom with bathtub, and a double bedroom.

This impeccably groomed, quiet estate is completed by a 17th-century chapel, where mass is still celebrated each Sunday for a handful of local parishioners. Next door to the chapel, occupying the entire former parish house, is a brand-new apartment, called Bruco (1130 sq. ft.). On the ground floor it has a large living room with fireplace and kitchenette, plus a powder room; upstairs there are three double bedrooms, two bathrooms with shower and one bathroom with bathtub.

THE FOLLOWING DATES ARE ALREADY BOOKED IN 2009:
Istrice: Oct. 31-Nov. 13
Torre: Oct. 3-Dec. 31

THE FOLLOWING DATES ARE ALREADY BOOKED IN 2010:
Aquila: July 3-Aug. 21
Bruco: July 10-Aug. 6
Civetta: May 8-21, July 31-6
Drago: July 3-Aug. 13
Istrice: May 22-June 4, June 26-Aug. 20
Nicchio: July 31-Aug. 13
Selva: July 31-Aug. 13
Torre: June 26-July. 9

For this property:
Included in the price: taxes, services, water, gas, electricity, one change of linens per week, final cleaning, use of the Internet, use of the swimming pool (open May 1-September 30) and tennis court.
Not included in the price: metered central heating in winter, firewood.

It is important to note that none of the twin beds at this property can be pushed together to make a king-sized bed. Likewise, the double beds cannot be separated to make single beds.
A laundry room is shared by all the apartments. It has a washing machine, iron and ironing board.
There is covered parking on the property, which has an English-speaking caretaker.

Check-in: 5-7 p.m.
Check-out: 10 a.m.
Security deposit: 150 Euro

Please note that you need a car to stay here.

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