 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 
|
Occupying a magnificent hilltop just east of Florence, surrounded by landscapes of almost totally unspoilt olive groves and stately Renaissance mansions, this unique 15th-century villa offers views of Florence that are rarely glimpsed from any other private residence, at least one that we mere mortals can access! The home is one of the most celebrated Italian villas, and since its restoration in the 18th century, its gardens have been considered a masterpiece. The reworking of the property was commissioned by one of Florence's most famous (or infamous, depending on your political point of view!) families, the Capponis. Not only did they enlarge the house, they also added fountains, statues, a grotto, a bowling green, a lemon garden and an orangery terrace. In 1896, the villa was bought by Princess Giovanna Ghyka, who created four pools hedged with narrow beds for a large variety of flowers, as well as a semi-circular pool bordered by a cypress hedge through which you can spot the Duomo. After 1905, it was American-born Baroness Von Ketteler who contributed the final modifications that turned this paradise into the unique Italian garden that is today: a mecca for botanists and landscape designers from around the globe. They may visit only by appointment and for a fee, but those who are lucky enough to spend a few days in the estate's three guesthouses can stroll about the gardens freely as they please. At the far end of the property, about a 15-minute walk through an alley of towering umbrella pines, is the enchanting swimming pool that offers a magical end to any weary traveler's day.
Guests at Villa Gamberaia stay in three air-conditioned houses, which have been restored and furnished with the family's own antiques. You will find many original features, including painted walls, beamed ceilings, terracotta floors, elaborate stuccos and stone fireplaces. Large paned windows offer fantastic views of the gardens or of Florence. Because the estate is so vast, it is calm and quiet, with barely any noise other than birdsong. Up 24 steps to the parterre orangery, a formal garden embellished with potted citrus trees that go inside for the winter, is Limonaia, the biggest of the houses. It dates from the 1400s, measures 1940 square feet and has its own covered pergola for outdoor dining. Whether you enter from the street or the garden, there is a large sunny living room with couches, fireplace, satellite TV and telephone, an eat-in kitchen with a coffered ceiling and the original fireplace for grilling, as well as a dishwasher, washing machine, double fridge, and door to the patio. On the other side of the living room are a powder room, and a staircase that leads up to a long hall with a big closet and full-length mirror. Off this hall are a twin/queen bedroom with en suite bathroom with bathtub, a big bedroom with two or three twin beds (no queen), and a bathroom with stall shower. At the end of the hall are a queen/twin bedroom and a twin bedroom (no queen), which share a hall bathroom with stall shower.
Back on the same level as the main entrance to the villa, facing the bowling green, are Nettuno and Cappella. Both measure 1620 square feet and are next to each other so, although they cannot be connected, they are perfect for a group of up to 12 people. Nettuno is all on one floor, featuring a large living room with views of the Duomo, an ancient stone fireplace, couches, tables, satellite TV and telephone, and a separate kitchen with a toaster oven, gas burners, dishwasher, washing machine, and full fridge. On each side of the living room is a queen/twin bedroom with views of Florence and a bathroom with stall shower. On the rear of the house, facing the garden, is the third queen/twin bedroom, which also has a bathroom with stall shower.
Cappella occupies the former 17th-century chapel from which is takes its name. It has the biggest living room of them all, with beamed ceilings, couches, tables, satellite TV and telephone. Also on this floor are a bathroom with stall shower, a twin/queen bedroom with views of Florence, and an eat-in kitchen, which has an oven, dishwasher, washing machine and full fridge. 15 steps up the wooden staircase, one comes to a landing where the walls still bear the original frescoes. There is a convenient baggage room here, as well as a twin/queen bedroom (without air conditioning), a bathroom with stall shower and full-length mirror, a twin/queen bedroom with views of Florence and another bathroom with stall shower. All three houses offer DSL Internet access.
You could easily spend days on this property, just enjoying one tranquil corner
of the gardens after another. But you will surely want to do some sightseeing,
perhaps in Florence (which you can reach by the bus that stops only 800 yards
from the property), or throughout the Chianti, or to Cortona, Siena or Arezzo.
Although the last part of the road leading to the villa is narrow, you should
soon get the hang of navigating it, as Tuscans have been doing since it was first
built some 700 years ago.
|
In Italy Online charges no booking fees or hidden extras.
Click
here for more information about our services.
Click here for details about Italian lodgings.
|
2008 Prices (per house) |
||
|
|
Low Season |
High Season |
|
Nettuno (sleeps 6) |
|
|
|
Nightly |
420.00 EURO |
450.00 EURO |
|
Weekly |
2500.00 EURO |
2800.00 EURO |
|
Cappella (sleeps 6) |
|
|
|
Nightly |
420.00 EURO |
450.00 EURO |
|
Weekly |
2700.00 EURO |
3000.00 EURO |
|
Limonaia (sleeps 8) |
|
|
|
Nightly |
500.00 EURO |
550.00 EURO |
|
Weekly |
3000.00 EURO |
3300.00 EURO |
| 2009 Prices (per house) Three-Night Minimum Stay |
|
| Nettuno (sleeps 6) | |
| Nightly | 480.00 EURO |
| Weekly | 2900.00 EURO |
| Cappella (sleeps 6) | |
| Nightly | 480.00 EURO |
| Weekly | 3200.00 EURO |
| Limonaia (sleeps 8) | |
| Nightly | 580.00 EURO |
| Weekly | 3900.00 EURO |
Prices include: taxes, services, two changes of linens per week, utilities, heating, air conditioning, final cleaning and parking
Optional extras: 2 hours/day of extra cleaning costs 600 Euro/week. A crib and high chair are available on request. Breakfast is available for 10 Euro/person; dinner is available for 65 Euro/person including wine.
The swimming pool is open May to October.
Check-in: 4-7:30pm (there is no one on site after 8pm)
Check-out: by 10am
Refundable security deposit: 500 Euro per house paid in cash or travelers
check
Click here for information about private transfers to the property.
Please note that it is not possible to guarantee Internet access at any property, because
the property does not generate the service, it merely provides access from a server. If the server experiences
any kind of problem at all, the property regrets it cannot be responsible for any inconvenience caused by
subsequent lack of service.
