Cipresso di Caspri, Castelfranco di Sopra - Castelfranco Piandiscò - Arezzo

Set on west-facing slopes above the valley of the river Arno, at more than 600 metres above sea level, Cipresso di Caspri is a spectacular retreat. You are among the tree tops here, nudging the clouds, with glorious, extensive views across the Valdarno to the blue hills that run south of Florence. It takes a little effort to get here – the final kilometre is a bumpy unpaved road – but you will be rewarded with true peace and quiet. Come to really get away from it all or for uninterrupted family time: the villa sleeps parties of up to six comfortably and has an outdoor Jacuzzi as well as a good-sized private pool.

When you want to emerge from your eyrie, San Giovanni Valdarno and Gaiole in Chianti aren’t difficult to reach, while Arezzo, Florence and Siena make excellent day trips. However, this pleasantly low-key villa is a place to enjoy the good old-fashioned fun of making your own entertainment. Stock up with delicious local produce, then savour meals, laughter and conversation on the generous loggia or around the pool. Few places rival Cipresso di Caspri’s outlook and seclusion.

Ground Floor

Lounge
Two sofas, bench, sideboard, rocking chair, table and two chairs, hall table, fireplace, stairs to first floor, two sets of double doors to loggia.

Kitchen-Diner
Fully equipped kitchen, dining table and chairs, double doors to terrace.

Bedroom 1
Double bed (cannot be converted to twins), wardrobe, door to garden.

En-suite Bathroom
Bath with handheld shower, sink, WC.

First Floor

Bedroom 2
Twin beds (can be converted to a double), wardrobe.

Bedroom 3
Double bed (cannot be converted to a double), wardrobe, chest of drawers, two chairs.

Bathroom 1
Wet-room shower, sink, WC.

Our Thoughts
Cipresso di Caspri’s trump card is the stunning views afforded by its elevated location – particularly from the two first-floor bedrooms, loggia and poolside terrace. We like its simplicity, too: you have all you need (and more – a Jacuzzi to cool off in, as well as the pool), achieved in a straightforward, uncluttered, relaxed style. Plenty of doors make moving between the house and garden easy, which is great on hot days. When the weather gets cooler, comfy sofas and an open fire beckon.

Notes
Three bedrooms. Two bathrooms – one en-suite. Please specify at booking if you need bedroom 2 to be set up as a double bed, rather than twins. Pets are not allowed. The final kilometre of road to the villa is bumpy and unpaved.

The prefabricated sunken lozenge-shaped pool is set within a terracotta-tiled terrace, on which there are sunloungers and two umbrellas; it is accessed by ladder steps. Pool size: 12m x 5m, 1.4m deep. Open May to October, weather permitting.