Villa Montalbano 12, Cerreto Guidi - Florence

Villa Montalbano is a large villa set in its own mature gardens near to Vinci the birth place of Leonardo da Vinci. The villa is in an elevated position and has wonderful views over the surrounding landscape. This is an ideal base for large groups or families of different age ranges wishing to holiday together, as there is plenty of space for everyone, with the added bonus of a separate self contained studio in the grounds.

The swimming pool is set on a terrace to one side of the house overlooking the valley below.  This is a perfect spot to relax and soak up the sun in between cooling off in the pool.  Should you wish to escape the midday sun you can relax under the covered veranda or retreat under one of the mature trees that are planted throughout the garden.

An attractive tree lined drive leads up to Villa Montalbano which is built on two floors with five bedrooms located in the main house.  There is a sixth bedroom located in the annex which is across the lawn, a few metres from the villa.  A covered veranda wraps around two sides of the house, and there are plenty of comfortable chairs to relax in affording the opportunity to follow the rise and set of the sun or to change your view as often as you like.

All the rooms on the ground floor, with the exception of the study have doors opening on to the veranda. The main entrance opens into a very lovely bright and airy hall way which has an attractive tiled staircase leading up to the first floor.

To the left a long hallway leads into the kitchen/diner, to the right a door leads into the study which has a wooden desk, chairs and armchair.  An archway at the far end leads into the lounge. 

This is a bright spacious room with two large windows along one wall and double glass doors leading out to the swimming pool.  This area is furnished with several comfortable armchairs and two sofas arranged in front of the large open fireplace which is the main feature of the room.  At the far end of the room separated by a single step down from the seating area is second dining table and chairs. 

From here three steps lead up to the large kitchen/diner, with windows along one wall and double glass doors to the garden.   Fitted cupboards are arranged in an ‘L’ shape with a modern wide built in oven with separate hobs above, a dishwasher, fridge/freezer and microwave oven.  There is also an island table with tiled surface that can be used for food preparation.  In addition to the electric and microwave ovens there is also a wood burning oven built into the wall. 

There is a traditional large wooden dining table with six chairs plus a wooden bench seat in the opposite end of the room next to the doors to the veranda.  An archway on the left takes you back into the entrance hallway where there is also a downstairs bathroom with WC.

At the top of the stairs is a small seating area and a long corridor, off of which all the bedrooms are located. 

On the right is the first of the double bedrooms, this is a corner room with windows on two sides through which light floods in.  There is a large wooden wardrobe and a painted iron antique style double bed.

Opposite this room on the other side of the corridor is a twin bedroom, again this is a light room having both a window as well as glass double doors opening onto a ‘Juliet’ style balcony.  The room is furnished with the traditional wooden wardrobe and matching twin beds with attractive scrollwork headboards.  In between these this bedroom and the first of the double bedrooms is a bathroom with shower and washbasin.

Next to the twin room is the second of the double bedrooms, which is simply but comfortably furnished with a double bed and large wooden wardrobe.  There is also a writing desk and chair placed next to the window which has lovely views of the garden. 

Adjacent to this room is the second of the twin bedrooms which has matching twin beds a triple wardrobe and views over the garden.  Next door is a smaller room with a single sofa bed and built in cupboards for storage.  Doors lead to a spacious bathroom with full size bath with hand held shower, basin and WC.

The final bedroom on this floor is the master bedroom suite, which as you would expect is much larger than the other rooms.  There is a double bed, large wooden wardrobe with matching chest of drawers and writing desk.  This is a corner bedroom with two large windows with views over the garden and the Tuscan landscape beyond.  There is a modern ensuite bathroom with shower, basin and WC.

The Nido is a small 2-storey building close to the house. Upstairs you’ll find a double bedroom with en-suite bathroom, and a fully equipped sitting room with TV. The ground floor contains a garage and storage area, which also houses a table-tennis table and a foosball table. These are all available for guests’ use. Another smaller building on site is where you’ll find the pizza oven and barbecue equipment, as well as a bathroom with shower.

This is a very bright room with double glass doors opening onto a ‘Juliet’ style balcony.  A door on the left leads to the bathroom with shower, basin and WC, and also to the bedroom which has a double bed, large wardrobe and double glass doors opening onto a second ‘Juliet’ balcony, which has views across the gardens.

The gardens wrap around three sides of the house (the fourth side has the driveway) and are mainly laid to lawn with mature shrubs and trees planted throughout.  There are wonderful far reaching views across the valley below with its olive groves and vineyards, and the town of Cerreto Guidi on the hillside opposite, the road into the town is very good and it is possible to walk there.

In a fantastic location for visiting the well know sights of Tuscany, as well as discovering the smaller local villages. 

 With great views overlooking olive groves and vineyards, this spacious villa would suit a wide variety of families or groups wishing to holiday together.

Four double bedrooms in the main house and one double bed in the cottage are only double beds and cannot be made up as twins.

Two twin bedded rooms accommodating four people of which only one can become double (both in the main house)

Approach road - 350m bumpy unpaved road

Located at the side of the house overlooking the valley below, the pool has a paved surround furnished with sun loungers, tables and chairs.  Rectangular in shape, with internal steps leading down into it at one end, and a ladder at the other end.

The pool measures 8.5 metres by 4 metres and has a constant depth of 1.55 metres.  The pool is open from May until September.  Pool towels are provided by the villa owners.