Description
Porperty description
A historic farmhouse on an organic farm just off the ancient Pilgrim's Way from Canterbury to Rome. Exceptionally well equipped, lots for the kids to do, sleeps 15.
La Francigena is a large high-specification Tuscan farmhouse sleeping up to 15. Set on an organic farm covering 240 acres, the farmhouse is 50 minutes’ drive from Siena and 15 minutes from Pienza.
There is a café and trattoria in the nearby village (2 miles away).
This fine farmhouse sits in tranquillity just off the ancient Pilgrim Way, which begins at Canterbury cathedral in England and ends at the Basilica di San Pietro in Rome. The Pilgrim Way was first mentioned in 876 AD and it is still in use today. Those walking the 1,900 kilometre route might decide to pause (meet up with friends and family?), for a couple of weeks R&R at La Francigena before embarking on the final leg of their pilgrimage. The more sybaritic sorts may simply decide this is a perfect spot for a fine holiday far from our noisy modern lives.
La Francigena is ideal for a special family celebration or for a group of friends to chill in picture-book-perfect Tuscany in a farmhouse offering lots of space for togetherness and pleasant privacy as required. Our guests will find ping pong and table football, as well as the 50 foot swimming pool.
Peggy, the "house dog" lives year round at La Francigena. She loves visitors and is especially good with children. If you'd rather not have Peggy around, she has her own quarters down by the shaded parking area.
She's no bother at all and is fed each day when the pool is cleaned, so she's pure pleasure and no responsibility. You can choose to let her join you or, if you would prefer, she can stay in her own spacious accommodation.
The enthusiastic cook will find all the heart could desire at La Francigena, including a pizza oven. This old farmhouse was once 4 large apartments, but the friendly and capable owners, Antonella and Vanessa, decided to change that. Their clever changes have ensured that catering for large groups is a delight. Nowadays, the farmhouse has one large, well-equipped main kitchen with a huge dining table, where large-scale cookery is easy. However, the clever trick was to keep the other four kitchen-come-sitting-rooms too. Now guests have a wonderful set of choices - join everyone in the main kitchen or, just round the corner from your bedroom, there will be a small-scale kitchen with all you need to make a midnight feast, get an early morning coffee or relax with a book in comfortable peace. Togetherness, as well as discreetly private relaxation away from the others is easy at La Francigena!
Antonella and Vanessa have set up a large BBQ on a shady terrace by the house together with an equally huge outdoor wood burning oven for large-scale cookery. There is a 2nd barbecue and large dining table in a shady gazebo by the pool. There are lots of tables and chairs around farmhouse and its large pool so you can eat under the stars by night or in the shade by day.
There's furniture enough for the young to create their own private outdoor dining location if required. In short, catering for a large group here is a pleasure.
If you'd prefer to eat at home but without the effort of cooking, Vanessa or Antonella can arrange a chef to cook for you.
La Francigena is a delightful house with so much space both outdoors and indoors that even the largest group will never feel squeezed. Smaller groups who'd nevertheless like to enjoy the excellent facilities and the great location at La Francigena will also feel entirely at ease in the intimacy of this exceptionally well managed farmhouse. If you are looking for an outstanding property at a great price - you have just found it!
Location
The farmhouse is beautifully located: for garden lovers the famous gardens of La Foce are only 15 minutes’ drive away, stunning Siena is an hours' drive away and the thermal springs at Bagno Vignoni are just 11 kms away (Saint Catherine of Siena and Florence's Medici family enjoyed taking the waters here). Pienza, another Renaissance stunner of a town, is 15 minutes’ drive away and admired not only for its illustrious history, but also for its flavoursome ewe's milk cheeses and its fine wrought iron work. Small, picturesque villages abound in this area, offering eateries from the most basic to the most elegant. Gallina is almost too small to call a village, but it has an excellent trattoria.
Gallina 2 m
Bagno Vignoni 6 m
Pienza 9 m
Montepulciano 13 m
Montalcino 17 m
Siena 36 m
Florence 95 m
Rome 115 m
Nearest train station Chiusi-chianciano Terme & Buonconvento (approx 30 minutes drive)
Ammenities
- 6 double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms (3 with single beds on mezzanines)
- main kitchen with huge sitting room and dining table
- 3 breakfast kitchens
- half bathroom
- laundry room
- covered games area
Ground floor
Open plan kitchen, dining room and lounge
Second Kitchen-Diner
Bedroom 1 & En-suite bathroom
Double bed - can be converted into a pair of twin beds.
2 single beds on mezzanine floor
Shower, sink, WC
Bedroom 2 & En-suite bathroom
Double bed, single bed on mezzanine floor.
Shower, sink, WC.
Bedroom 3 & En-suite bathroom
Double bed, single bed on mezzanine floor
Shower, sink, bidet, WC.
Bedroom 4 & En-suite bathroom
Double bed
Shower, sink, WC.
First Floor
Third Kitchen-Diner
Living/ Dining room with Kitchen Facilities
Bedroom 5 & En-suite bathroom
Double bed, single bed on mezzanine,
Shower, bath, sink, WC.
Bedroom 6 & En-suite bathroom
Double bed
Shower, sink, bidet, WC.
Barbecue, Pizza oven, Broadband (wireless), Satellite TV, Stereo, Dishwasher, Laundry room, Working fireplace, Children's play area, Table football, Ping pong table, Pool towels, Covered parking.
Available services; welcome meal, dinners, breakfast, domestic help, baby-sitting all available on request, Chianti wine welcome
Pool info: Private pool, 50 ft x 25 ft, 4½ ft deep
Towels, bed linen and pool towels provided.
Private pool open May 3 - September 27