VILLA LUANA

Description:
We visited this villa towards the end of the day. The ruins next door were already beautifully illuminated. The caretaker, a modern woman who had, as we learned, already dealt with a lot of business that day, proved to be very "non-Italian" and to the point. Her walking tempo, towards the surrounding garden, was more than brisk. Come on, come on… We could not find any cause for complaining; we arrived too late. But oh, how much we would have loved to stand and absorb the special feeling this villa already offered at first sight!

Never before we experienced this feeling of playing a role (in our case, of course a very minor one…) in a typical Italian movie as when we visited Villa Luana. It was November and getting dark with a setting sun; a colouring suitable for the start of a mysterious film. There were laid tables with chairs outside, the air was sultry for the time of year making a dinner outside still possible and the cypresses made blackish shapes towards the rapidly darkening evening sky.

The feeling of partaking in a film was strengthened when we saw the portrait gallery of the present owner’s forefathers, and in our head, the theme of “The Godfather” made itself heard, because all these dark-haired, severe elderly gentlemen without even a trace of a smile really did look like “godfathers”. It did not surprise us in the least, therefore, when we later heard the owner is indeed of Sicilian origin.

Villa Luana is a luxurious house of about 800 m², situated on an estate producing and processing several kinds of cereals, at a distance of about 25 km from the town of Siena. The imposing house – to us, “imposing” is the best description for it – lies on a hilltop and is surrounded by a beautiful garden with age-old trees and high cypresses. In a sunny spot of the garden, at a short distance of the house, one will find the swimming pool, offering a beautiful view on the surrounding landscape, undulating with some higher hills, sometimes with a lonely cypress, or a cluster of pine-trees. The ultimate Tuscan landscape.

The villa has more or less gigantic dimensions, two stories and two independent entrances, making it an ideal accommodation for a group of 22. The rooms are nicely furnished, with lovely antiques, but all modern comfort is available. We later told each other that even grownups could play hide and seek in this house. And if you do: take something to eat and drink along in your hide-out, because it might take quite a while before you are found!

But despite the dimensions, the villa offers one the comfortable feeling of being on your own, with your own, chosen company, with peace and quiet around. And when wants some “stirring up”, well, there is Siena with special shops, interesting sights, lively terraces, and nice little restaurants close-by and within easy reach. The villa has 12 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms and a large terrace on the first floor. The kitchen has all modern comfort. The first floor can also be reached by an outside stairway. The closest village, Monteroni d’Arbia, is at about 6 km. away and has shops, supermarkets, banks, bars and restaurants.

Facilities:
Parking, large garden with garden furniture, terrace, swimming pool, barbeque, TV, CD-player, video, 6 cooking elements, oven, refrigerator/freezer, dish washer, washing machine.

Possibilities for sports/excursions:
You can go for walks, or explore the surroundings on a bike. There are more than enough nice and interesting excursions to be made: Of course to Siena, a lively old town with wonderful shops and of course the famous Piazza del Campo and the Duomo. The museum of art is a must for all art-lovers, with more than 600 works on display. You can also pay a visit to the, yet again age-old, little towns of Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Gimignano and then there is, of course, the famous town of Florence. When in Florence, go to the Mercato Centrale Di San Lorenzo, a market situated in halls from the 19th century with a metal covering. We can advise a visit to grocery Perini (stall no. 344) for some delicious cheeses and meat products. Also very suitable for an excursion are Pisa (Campo dei Miracoli) and Lucca (biking on the city walls, visit to the Villa Lucchese and, specially for the children, the park of Pinocchio).

Tip: Murlo, a walled, tiny village on a rather high hilltop, has a fantastic Etruscan museum.

Distances: (approx. km.)
Vescovado di Murlo 3 km, Monteroni d’Arbia 6 km, Siena 25 km, Florence 90 km.

Lay-out (800 m²):
Ground floor:
Enormous living with several sitting corners, connected to each other by stone arches, open fire place and stereo, dining room, small breakfast room, television corner with video and card-table, two toilets, a completely equipped kitchen with 6 cooking elements, refrigerator with small freezer and a big freezer, dish washer and washing machine.
Via a wooden staircase from the living you reach a:
Mezzanine:
With on the left side a double bedroom, a single bedroom and a bathroom with shower. On the right side a double bedroom, a room with 2 beds, a single bedroom and two bathrooms with shower.
First floor:
Entrée, large living/dining room with television (no satellite) and video; 4 double bedrooms and 2 rooms with 2 beds each, 2 bathrooms with shower/bath, 1 bathroom with shower.
Large terrace of 35 m² with table and chairs and a magnificent view. The first floor as well as the terrace can also be reached via an outside staircase.
Mezzanine:
Double bedroom with en-suite bathroom with shower.

NB. This house can be rented together with Villa Luana II for a group of 36 persons.