Villa Nicoletta

About this property

A large and magnificent residence around two hours’ drive south of Florence, Villa Nicoletta does things on a grand scale and thus has been frequented by Italian film celebrities including Vittorio Gassman and Federico Fellini (a room was named after him!)

Enjoying the greenest of surroundings and offering spectacular views, this property just outside the village of Radicofani can accommodate from 18 to 26 guests, making it one to consider for either a large family gathering or those really special occasions.

Your stay at Villa Nicoletta is likely to be unforgettable. That will be partly due to the setting – this former hunting lodge was built in the 18th century and sits on a hill at the height of 580m. Oak and cypress trees surround the property, with a verdant garden playing host to a 12m x 6m swimming pool and pretty, circular lawn area.

A spacious terrace overlooking the lawn gives you plenty of places to sit and enjoy the sun and makes a great place to host a dinner or a less formal event. You have a bar and a well-equipped kitchen on the ground floor of the house, with amenities including a fridge freezer, dishwasher, washing machine and two large gas ovens.

A large living room on the lower ground floor gives you direct access to the pool and gardens, and other useful features can be found on this level, in the form of a pantry, laundry room and garage.

Villa Nicoletta's 13 bedrooms are located all over the property. There are three on the ground floor, with an exit to the semi-circular terracotta pavilion. On the first floor you will find five double and three twin bedrooms, while the remaining two doubles are to be found in the ‘lemon house’, a separate property with kitchenette and bathroom which has direct access to the garden.

Just 5 km from Radicofani, this local landmark is often used as a wedding venue or yoga retreat and is an incredible base for exploring the Siena region. You’ll be around 90 minutes’ drive from Italy’s west coast, as well as cities like Perugia and Terni, although you may find yourself distracted by the many beautiful villages en route.

Roughly halfway between Florence and Rome, Radicofani lies in the Tuscan province of Siena. The attractive location makes it well worth seeking out, and it has some wonderful architecture to discover.

Chief among Radicofani’s sights is the majestic Rocca di Radicofani, the ancient castle with a 37m tower which sits high above the village. It’s quite a trek to reach it, but the castle certainly rewards the effort with some magnificent views of the Val d’Orcia park and volcanic Monte Amiata. Double walls surround the fortress, a pentagon on the outside, then a triangle within. You can learn more about this once strategically important landmark with a guided tour. Be aware that if you do make the ascent right to the top of the tower, the heights can be genuinely dizzying!

The San Pietro church is another building of note, where frescoes, oil paintings and terracotta sculptures remain. You will probably also become familiar with Radicofani’s most famous son, 13th-century ‘gentleman bandit’, Messer Ghino di Tacco. Intriguing stories of this Italian Robin Hood’s dastardly deeds for noble purposes abound in Radicofani.

The village hosts regular festivals too, including October’s ‘Harvest and Chestnut Festival’ and there are regular antique markets to potter around throughout the summer.

Another attraction is the ancient pilgrim’s route, the Via Francigena, leading from Rome to France, which passes through Radicofani. The Tuscan section of the route is made easier to follow by regular signposts. Said to be a spiritual experience even for the non-religious, it is certainly an appealing way to be at one with nature in this particularly beautiful region of western Italy.

Accommodation

The Villa

Ground Floor
- Three large rooms with fireplaces
- Double bedroom with en-suite bathroom with shower
- Reception area
- Bar
- Well-equipped kitchen with professional refrigerator and freezer, 3 refrigerators, 2 gas ovens, electric oven, microwave, two american coffee machines, espresso coffee machine, kettle, two toasters, professional juicer and two blenders
- Laundry room with wardrobe
- Small living room
- Bathroom with shower
- Two guest toilets

First Floor
- Three twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms
- Five double rooms with en-suite bathrooms

Lower Ground Floor (accessed via lower garden)
- Large living room with TV and doors leading to the pool side
- Twin bedroom
- Two double bedrooms
- Bathroom with bath
- Guest toilet

Lemonaia House
- Two double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
- Small kitchenette and exit to the garden

Outside Grounds
- Swimming pool (6m x 12m), open approximately May to end-October
- Sun loungers and chairs
- Large gazebo in the garden (with lighting)
- Large park with oak and cypress trees
- Barbecue area
- Private parking

Facilities
- Wi-Fi (villa, garden, swimming pool)
- TV
- Hi-Fi
- Children's board games
- Swimming pool games
- Piano