Col di Forche, Monterchi - Arezzo

Set high in the hills on the Tuscan-Umbrian border, Col di Forche is a wonderful base for groups of family or friends who want time and space to really enjoy each other’s company. The house and garden, with its large private pool, sits on an elevated clearing surrounded by chestnut forests. The air is fresh; the views, to distant blue hilltops, lovely; the silence golden. This substantial property easily absorbs up to eight people. Each of the four bedrooms has its own en-suite; two have dressing rooms. Everything feels well-made and elegantly styled. Wide French doors and a travertine floor, inside and out, connect the kitchen and loggia beautifully. Both are great places to hang out – either as small groups during the day, a shout away from the pool and sun terrace, or en masse around a leisurely al-fresco evening meal.

You’ll want to spend a lot of unravelling time at this tree-top retreat, but when you’re ready for exploring, it is well-placed for Arezzo and Cortona, both of which repay close attention (the latter has Italy’s best Etruscan museum, for instance), and don’t forget nearby Città di Castello and Sansepolcro.

Ground Floor

Kitchen
Fully equipped, table and chairs, fireplace, French doors to terrace, door to main entrance via lobby.

Dining Room
Table and chairs, bookshelves, fireplace, stairs to first floor, French doors to terrace, door to front of property.

Bedroom 1 with dressing room
Twin beds (cannot be converted to a double), wardrobe, chest of drawers, two chairs and side table.

En-suite Bathroom
Shower, sink, WC.

Bedroom 2
Double bed (cannot be converted to twins), wardrobe, chair.

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

First Floor

Reading room
Two armchairs, small grand piano, bookshelves, stairs from ground floor.

Lounge
Sofa, three armchairs, two chairs, two side tables, bookshelves, fireplace, doors to external flight of steps to garden.

Bedroom 3
Iron-framed four-poster double bed (cannot be converted to twins), wardrobe, two armchairs, fireplace.

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

Bedroom 4 with dressing room
Double bed (cannot be converted to twins), wardrobe, chest of drawers, writing desk and chair.

En-suite Bathroom
Shower, sink, WC.

Our Thoughts
Clearly, you wouldn’t choose a villa based on its bathrooms, but if you did, this would be a contender – we love the claw-footed, roll-top baths with marble splashbacks and rain showers, and the glass basins! No, seriously, what a great place for medium-sized parties. The garden, loggia, pool, lounge and dining room are designed for memorable moments together, but you might also want to sneak off to the elegant reading room for some quiet time with a good book. Musicians in the party will appreciate the baby grand.

Notes
Four bedrooms. Four bathrooms, all en-suite. A tasting at one of three local wineries is included in the rental price. Small dogs are allowed and the gardens are fully fenced. The final 2.7 kilometres of the approach road is unpaved but in good condition.
A private chef can be booked, only on request and with owner confirmation.

Set within an expanse of lawn, the large pool is surrounded by a paved terrace that is furnished with sunloungers, two umbrellas and a table and chairs. Divers will enjoy its deep end. Otherwise, the water is accessed by ladder steps. It is 6x12 metres and 1.5-2.2 metres deep. It's open from May to September, weather permitting.