I POGGI Villa

This property sits on a hillside offering magnificent views over the surrounding countryside, including the massive Rocca di Sillano on the hilltop across the valley. When the air is clear, you can see the seaside in the distance. The property is ideal for vacations in total relaxation, immersed in the woodlands that are great for taking nature walks. The access road to the property measures 1.8 kms and is not ideal for low vehicles. San Dalmazio with shops and restaurants is at 8 kms. Pomarance and Castelnuovo Val di Cecina offer all services and facilities and are equidistant at 15 kms. Volterra is at 34 kms, San Gimignano is at 42 kms, Siena is at 50 kms, Cecina, with the closest train station, is at 52 kms, Firenze is at 74 kms, Pisa is at 92 kms, and the Tyrrhenian coast is at 123 kms, with the commercial port of Piombino (where the ferries to the islands are) at 117 kms.

The property is surrounded by private grounds, with a delightful, panoramic swimming pool that measures 6 X 12 meters. The pool is at 50 meters from the house, and accessible via a private pathway. It is for exclusive guest use.

Entrance to the property is via a main gate. Just past the entrance gate, to the left, is a downhill path that leads after 100 meters to a small independent barn that remains closed if the house is only booked in the version for 6 persons. Past the barn is the main house. The barn is a one-room, open plan apartment with stone walls and large oven for baking bread and pizza. Next to the oven is a kitchen corner with electric hob, stone washbasin and small counter fridge. On one end of the room is a double bedroom. To the right, just inside the barn is a dining area and door to a complete bathroom with shower stall.

Closer to the entrance gate and totally separate from the other structures is a small cottage that the owners occasionally occupy on weekends. They are delightful people and hospitable. She is a great cook and is willing to cater meals to guests if asked ahead of time (quite useful, believe us, if you decide you would like to tackle making pizzas in the wood oven).

The house develops on two floors, with several entrances, as it is built into the hillside. Main entrance is from a paved, partially covered, panoramic terrace that is equipped with table and benches where you can enjoy your meals “al fresco” while taking in the breezes coming in from the seaside. Entrance is into a hallway with stairs on the right that lead to the sleeping section on the first floor. Across from the hall are six steps that lead down to the lower floor where the living areas are located.

At the base of the stairs, to the right, is a study area with a door that remains closed. Across from it, a second door opens into a spacious complete bathroom with fitted bathtub and shower attachment on the wall, washing machine, ironing equipment and two windows on the panorama.

To the left is the spacious living/dining room with huge open hearth stone fireplace. In the dining area, a glass door opens out onto a small covered loggia with table and benches which is ideal for breakfasting. Down three steps from the loggia is the grassy lawn that is furnished and equipped with a barbecue.

From the dining area, an open brick archway leads directly into the liveable kitchen that is delightful and functional, offering gas range, electric oven, fridge with freezer, microwave oven, dishwasher and wood stove (AGA).

At the top of the stairs leading up from the entrance hallway, is a landing with low wall. A first door opens into a complete bathroom that is on two levels: one level is where the bidet, shower stall and WC are located, and the second is where the washbasin and panoramic window are. A second door opens into a utilities room.

From the landing, a hallway offers four doors, three of which are to double bedrooms, one of which has a baby cot. At the end of the hallway, the fourth door opens into a small but complete bathroom with shower. There is a wood stove in the hallway.

The house doesn’t have central heating, but is fine in the early off seasons because of the efficient fireplaces and wood ovens and stoves. Wood is payable on consumption. The owners dedicated a lot of effort and love to restoring this house and, whenever possible, have used cotto floors, wood beamed ceilings and abundant stone and natural materials found locally. The furnishings are comfortable with bright coloured textiles chosen by the lady of the house who is an interior decorator.