MONTAUTO

Description:
The country estate of which Montauto forms part is situated on the hills looking down on the Val d’Orcia, which is a miraculously unspoilt piece of Southern Tuscany, especially in this time and age where everybody has already seen and discovered the most popular region of Italy. And even more miraculous; it lies between Florence and Rome, but within easy reach of other cultural gems like Siena, Arezzo, Perugia Assisi and Orvieto.

Medieval and Renaissance jewels like Pienza, Montepulciano, Montichiello and Montalcino are close-by; at the most a twenty, thirty kilometres by car. You can walk to your heart’s content through the woods and over the characteristic clay hills of the “Crete Senesi”. And as far as meals to enjoy: even in other parts of Tuscany one admits that the kitchen is good, which means quite a lot, so not everything. Tuscany’s best wines come from this part of the region, like the Vino Nobile, the “Noble Wine ”from Montepulciano and the Brunello from, a.o., Montalcino. Would you like a taste? There are more than enough local wineries to choose from! Throughout the year, there are more cultural events to visit than we could mention and do not forget the local “sagra’s”; the Italians are master-organisers of festivities all evolving around food.

The view from the country estate stretches out over the valley, with on the background the cone-shaped, extinguished volcano of the Monte Amiata towering above it. Small wonder that this beautiful piece of the world has been adapted by the UNESCO, as being of the utmost importance to keep it intact, both for its natural beauty as well as its cultural assets. The hills behind the estate are woody, and the ancient country roads which connected the farms to each other are strictly kept intact, so that nature can be enjoyed in all its riches

Amid the fields one finds the “Crete Senesi”, which characterize this part of Tuscany. These “crete” are often strange, moon-like landscapes of clay hills and small woods and shrubs, offering a natural habitat to quite a many animals like deer, wild boar, porcupines, hares, rabbits and lots of birds. Less than fifty years ago this part of Tuscany was so poor, that the farmers were desperate to feed their families, and the government tried to transform the “crete” into productive farming land. But times changed for the better, when the superb wines became popular, and now the “crete” are being strictly protected. Mammals and birds can procreate, and hunting is prohibited.

The large villa on the estate was built in the 2nd half of the 15h century to provide a night’s stay for pilgrims and merchants on their way over the old, Roman Via Francigena to and from Rome. In 1924, the estate was bought by a well-known, aristocratic family, which devoted their live to bring prosperity to the then desperately poor people. Daughters Benedetta and Donata, the next generation, are now as lovingly and efficiently managing the estate, which has become a superb combination of wood- and farmland as well as olive groves. The famous English garden designer Cecil Pinsent made the gardens come to life as being an ideal combination of pure landscape and 20th century garden architecture, inside which both the British and Italian gardening traditions made a beautiful, lasting marriage.

Moreover, the estate has become a centre for many cultural and artistical events. The medieval castle on the estate is home to an internationally famous musical festival, the “Incontri in Terra di Siena”. A large, framed photograph of the world-famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin in the reception area bears witness of this. He came to play, and became a much-loved friend of the family.

The dwellings on the estate have all been completely restored and enjoy all modern comforts, without, however, having abandoned the original structure. You are sure to enjoy a wonderful holiday in one of these accommodations and will cherish the happy memories, completely according to the motto of Elisabeth Travel “memories are made of this”. And, just in case you would want more than relax, take the car to drive round and just bask in being away from it all, doing nothing? Well…There are cooking lessons, or language lessons, you can rent a bike, taste wine.. The manager of the estate will be pleased to give you all the information you could wish for, in excellent English.

This absolutely beautiful house “Montauto” on the above estate offers spectacular views on the surrounding landscape and the Mediaeval castle, also belonging to the estate. It is a jewel of Tuscan architecture, built of local stone and very spacious, around an inner court which offers you, depending on the seasons but with always quite a lot of flowers, an ideal setting for meals outside in all privacy.

The ground floor, which originally existed of the stables and storage spaces, has been completely rebuilt into a beautiful kitchen/dining room, with some bedrooms directly opening onto the inner court. The living is on the first floor, with entrance to a small loggia, leading you, via an outside staircase, to the garden.

One of the owners of this estate used to live here with her family; the house has been very tastefully furnished and decorated with family antiques. As a matter of course, one might say, the floors have terracotta tiles, the ceilings wooden beams, and there are old fire places. It goes without saying that this house is provided with all modern comforts. You cannot but feel very welcome and special in a holiday home like this.

In 2006, a new swimming pool has been built on a terrace just below the house, on a spot from where you can enjoy wonderful views on the surroundings, for instance the afore-mentioned pine-trees, cypresses and the towering Monte Amiata. The gardens are very well kept, amongst olive-groves and quite a lot of subtropical plants and shrubs. In one word: the garden is a "dream"....

All rooms on the ground floor offer direct access to the garden, you will feel that outside and inside gets together as a kind of fluency. The large garden, about 1,5 ha, offers sufficient spots to either find sun or shadow, with two special places for eating outdoors, a terrace with a barbecue underneath ancient oak trees, and quite a lot of other spots to read or just gaze around and meditate. More than sufficient parking spaces available. The inside of the house has some little steps, here and there.
The estate offers many country roads for walking; ask for advice which will be gladly given.

Facilities:
Reception, parking, garden with garden furniture, swimming pool, open fire place, fridge/freezer, dish washer, oven, 4 burners, electric kettle, washing machine, toaster, TV-SAT, CD-stereo, mobile fans in the bedrooms, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, Italian coffeemaker (not electric), French coffeemaker. There is a tennis court on the estate, a trampoline and a children’s playground; please bear in mind, however, that you will need your car to get there, unless you would like a walk! WiFi-Internet. There is a small restaurant on the property.

Possibilities for sports/excursions:
Walking and cycling. And perhaps you will find out, just like we did, that taking small “walks by car” through the surroundings are relaxing and enjoyable. We can recommend a visit to the wonderful town of Pienza, with many nice shops with local products; delicious olive oil, wines, Pecorino cheese, etc. When you are there, look at the beautiful wrought iron objects at Biagotti’s. Montichiello is a small jewel, with its Teatro Povero, the theatre for the poor. And if you like linens: Next to the church there is a small shop selling bed spreads, towels etc. made of pure linen. Also worth while a visit are Montalcino and Montepulciano, with many wine-houses where you can taste and buy to your heart’s content. In Bagno Filippo you can sit all day in the pool filled with water from the natural hot springs for about € 10,00 p.p. And just in case you now ask, what about some culture? Well, then we can suggest a visit to the Abbey of S. Antimo, with a mass on Sunday, or the Duomo in Chiusi and the Museum of Archaeology in Chianciano. Just to mention three of the many possibilities.

Distances: (in approx. km.)
All shops, postal services, pharmacy, big supermarket etc. in Chianciano Terme, 5 km, Montepulciano 11 km, Chiusi 12 km, Pienza 21 km, Montalcino 41 km, Orvieto 56 km, Siena 85 km, Perugia 92 km, Florence 128 km.

Lay out: (360 m², 10 pers.)
Ground floor: Very spacious dining room/kitchen with open fire place and French windows to the inner court, with garden table and chairs, one double bedroom, one bedroom with 2 beds, one single bedroom, bathroom with bath, bathroom with shower, laundry room.
First floor: Spacious living with open fire place and French windows opening to the loggia, double bedroom with en-suite bathroom with bath, double bedroom, single bedroom in the corridor way between the double bedrooms, bathroom with bath.