il Granaio

Recently rebuilt from the ruins of an 18th century farmhouse, Il Grannaio and its adjacent guest house form an exceptionally comfortable country retreat in a setting that lends itself to a perfectly relaxing, get-away-from-it-all holiday. From the superbly equipped fitted kitchen to the stone walls of the billiards and game rooms, the two houses combine Tuscan charm and style with very high quality finishes and the latest in conveniences. Terracotta floors and beamed ceilings are complemented by lovely, whimsical antiques and soft contemporary pieces. Two gazebos for dining and lounging extend the living areas into the garden, where a private pool is set into a sunny terrace surrounded by trees and rolling fields. Situated in the Pisan hills, the property is surrounded by lovely little villages that seldom appear on tourist maps. Between the villages are the vineyards of the Chianti delle Colline Pisane.

Location

Situated squarely in the middle of the Pisan hills, bounded by Florence, 70km/44 miles, San Gimignano, 31km/19 miles, and Pisa, 39km/24 miles. Peccioli, 8km/5 miles, is a tiny medieval village with shops, restaurants, bicycle hire and two very good museums. Volterra, a hill town at least as a dramatic as San Gimignano, is a 25-minute drive.

Accommodations:

Main house/Ground floor

Sitting room with an open fireplace. Dining room. Extremely well-equipped modern kitchen leading to an outdoor dining area that can be shaded with an awning.

First floor

[up 21 steps] Master double bedroom with an ensuite bathroom with jacuzzi bath and separate shower. Two double bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom with shower. A double bedroom and a twin bedroom with shared bathroom with bath.

Guest house/Ground floor

Billiards and games rooms. Laundry room. Bathroom with shower.

Grounds

Broad lawns, flower beds and a gravel courtyard surrounded by open fields and olive groves edged with forests. Private swimming pool, 6 x 12m/20 x 39 feet, set on a paved terrace that can be lit in the evening. An adjacent gazebo is furnished with a dining table for 10-12. The garden is entirely fenced. A professional size bocce court just steps from the pool.

Facilities

Dishwasher. Pizza oven. Built-in barbeque. Microwave. Washing machine. Spin dryer. Satellite TV [No Sky channels] with video/DVD. CD player. Billiards. Bocce court. Central heating. Working fireplace. English library. Mobile telephone provided.

Facilities notes
No fixed telephone line. Mobile phone provided to guests.

Access

Airports: Pisa, 35km/22 miles; Florence, 45km/28 miles. Railway, bus station, and motorway exit at Pontedera, 20km/12.5 miles including 4km/2.5 miles of well-maintained white road. Parking for five cars.

Activities

Several riding stables in the area. Tennis courts in Peccioli, about 10 minutes away. Natural hot springs, beauty treatments; Casiana di Terme, 15 km/9 miles. 18-hole and 9-hole golf course at Castelfalfi; 20 minutes away, http://castelfalfi.it/en/homepage Skiing; at Abetone, about 3 hours.

Small appliances
Filter coffee machine. 5 hairdryers.

Pool details

Private swimming pool, 6 x 12m/20 x 39 feet, has a constant depth of 1.2m/4 feet with steps for entry/exit.