19th century luxury villa with pool in Tuscan hamlet between Florence and Rome

OVERVIEW Villa Melissa

Villa Melissa is a large villa set within its own private garden. The beautiful swimming pool with pool house and full changing and shower facilities lies 2 minute walk from the house, in a separate garden. There is also a covered area for al fresco eating.

This property, like all the properties in Fighine, has been totally restored but has maintained all the original architectural features of a Tuscan house, with its’ domed painted ceilings, colour washed walls and stone floors. The rooms are beautifully furnished with Italian antiques and attractive rugs. Wonderful pictures hang on the walls. The bedrooms and bathrooms are all luxuriously appointed with beautiful bed linen and towels.

The villa has a master bedroom suite with two dressing rooms, a double bedroom and two twin bedrooms. All the rooms have an en suite bathroom with a separate shower and bath. There is a study, sitting room with open fireplace, library/hall and a dining room with a table that can seat 14. The kitchen is fully equipped. Outside in the walled garden there is a covered area and a table for al fresco dining.

Villa Melissa is equipped with air conditioning and wifi.

Amenities and services

Floorplan of the villa

Lower floor
1 double with private living room and en suite bath (tub)
1 twin with en suite bath (tun and shower)
1 twin with en suite bath (tub)

Main floor
Living room
Study
Dining room
Kitchen
Guest WC

Upper floor
1 double bedroom
Private study
Dressing room
Bathroom (tub and shower)

Location of Villa Melissa within the Hamlet of Fighine.

Garden :

• Pergola for al fresco dining
• 12×5 m childsafe private pool in a separate walled in garden with lovely views
• Pool house

ESTATE: Fighine

Escape back in time to a spellbinding, 11th century castle and its surrounding hamlet.

Half way between Florence and Rome, perched dramatically atop a hill overlooking the Tuscan countryside lies the medieval masterpiece Castello di Fighine. With its rich history and awe-inspiring vistas it’s little wonder owners and philanthropists Max and Joy Ulfane describe revitalizing the castle and its adjoining buildings as a labour of love.

This historic property was painstakingly restored with the help of acclaimed interior decorators David Mlinaric and Hugh Henry. David Mlinaric, who has worked on properties for the British National Trust and was described by the New York Times as “England’s foremost decorator of period interiors,” is renowned for his unparalleled ability to revitalize architectural treasures. Mlinaric’s talent lies in breathing new life into a property while remaining true to its spirit and venerable past—which is exactly what he has done with such stunning success at Castello di Fighine.

As well as a castle, the estate houses a hamlet of five, impeccably designed villas that sleep a total of 30 guests. Though steeped in history, each stylish villa features five-star, modern amenities, canopy beds, an eclectic mix of antique and eccentric furniture, and en-suite, mosaic-tiled bathrooms. The meticulously maintained gardens are filled with box hedges, cypresses, lemons trees, grape vines and roses. Guests can rely on the impeccable services of the English-speaking concierge José to see to any of their additional needs.

If you’re looking for a light lunch to cap off a morning spent relaxing by the pool, or a hearty feast after a day of sightseeing, the estate’s Ristorante Castello di Fighine, run by Michelin-starred Italian chef Gianluca Renzi promises unforgettable meals.

This remarkable property is also a breathtaking wedding venue: what better place to welcome eternal bliss than at this heavenly hilltop hamlet that sweeps the sky? The property features a small, 16th century church and a beautifully converted barn perfect for intimate receptions and dancing.

Castello di Fighine is just an eight minute drive from the picturesque village of San Casciano dei Bagni, which is home to Italy’s foremost award-winning spa Fonteverde, as well as an array of traditional Tuscan restaurants, and a variety of shops. Castello di Fighine is well-situated between Rome (170 km) and Florence (150 km).

FOR YOUR REFERENCE, NYT QUOTE CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/25/garden/25mlinaric.html?_r=0

ACTIVITIES

• San Casciano dei Bagni – The Etruscan settlement known today as San Casciano dei Bagni owes its existence to the 42 thermal springs with indubitable therapeutic properties
• Chiusi – Chiusi’s mysterious origins date back to the 6th century before Christ, when Chiusi was one of the 12 most important cities in the Etruscan Federation.  The town itself rises up from its legacy a warren of underground subways, tombs and passages.
• Città della Pieve – Città della Pieve sits on a hill overlooking the River Tiber. It is some 8 km from Chiusi. It is an attractive town with churches and palaces built of brick from the late Middle Ages through the Renaissance.
• Orvieto – Orvieto is one of the most beautiful cities of Umbria.  The site of Orvieto is among the most dramatic in Europe.
• Cetona – The medieval town of Cetona is situated at the base of Mount Cetona
• Montepulciano – Montepulciano is a graceful Tuscan hill town, best known for it’s Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which was being praised by connoisseurs over 200 years ago and can certainly contend with Italy’s best today.  The many churches and handsome palazzo, the steep cobbled alleys and vine-trailing stone bastions are essential viewing for anyone venturing south of Siena.  On a clear day from the top of the town you have tremendous panoramic views across the countryside, stretching towards Assisi’s Monte Subasio, Monte Amiata, the Val d’Orcia, Pienza, and even the towers of Siena.
• Pienza – the unfinished “utopian” city, was commissioned by Pope Pius II in 1459.  In just three years the cathedral, the papal and bishop’s palaces and the central part of the town were completed, but the extensive project ended abruptly when Pius died only two years after the consecration of the cathedral.
• Montalcino – Montalcino is beautifully situated on a hill inhabited since Etruscan times, swathed in vineyards and olive groves.  It is a quiet, affluent, attractive town with pretty buildings and flower-filled squares, and many shops selling the Brunello di Montalcino.
• Florence and Rome can be reached by train in one and a half hours from the nearby station at Chiusi.
• There are Prada, Guici, Armani, Yves Saint Laurent and Miu Miu outlets on the road towards Florence

RATES

GUEST REVIEWS, Villa Melissa, Fighine

LOCATION

Fighine is situated in a dramatically beautiful part of Tuscany midway between Florence and Rome. The closest village is San Casciano dei Bagni, an 8 minute drive.