Property Location

Santa Barbara consists of a beautiful old farmhouse dating back to 1700, which has been carefully restored and finished in 2006 retaining its character features. The farmhouse has been divided into four individual properties. The properties are all finished to a very good standard in typical Tuscan style making use of terracotta, beamed ceilings and brick. All are tastefully furnished in rustic style.

The farm is just 4½ miles from the medieval town of San Miniato famous for its Rocca Castle and the picturesque Piazza della Repubblica. It is perfectly placed for touring central Tuscany. Pisa, Florence, Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena and the coast are all within easy driving distance. There are good shopping facilities at San Miniato and several good restaurants in the area.

The estate extends to 45 hectares covered with woodland, olive groves and vineyards. In the grounds there are good footpaths where you can enjoy long walks, bike rides or horse back rides. Mountain bikes are available to hire. Horse riding is available at Balconevesi, 2 miles away. There is a lake near the property (not belonging) where you can go fishing. There is a 9 hole golf course at San Miniato.

Santa Barbara is a working farm where red wine, Vin Santo and olive oil are produced. In the wood plenty of mushrooms and truffles can be found. The owners farm chicken, rabbits and guinea-foul.

Breakfast and dinner are available on request and are served in a beautiful rustic room, the former stable, on the ground floor of the farmhouse. All meals are made of local produce. There is a TV in each bedroom and fly screens at all the windows. There is underfloor heating in all the rooms. Cot available on request.

The highlight of Santa Barbara is a splendid infinity pool (14m x 7m, depth 1.2m - 2.2m) on top of the hill approximately 100m distant from the farmhouse from where you have stunning views. There is a bathroom and a changing room near the pool. Each property has its own space for eating out of doors. There is a shared barbecue and a shared laundry available.

This property might be of great interest for those who love motocross as the famous motodrome Santa Barbara borders the estate on one side. The motodrome opens on Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays but is closed in August. On several weekends there are international races which are great to watch from the estate. For those who are interested it might be possible to arrange a ride on this spectacular speedway (arranged locally).

The five properties at Santa Barbara are arranged as follows -

TRAVE
Property Ref. 700 - Sleeps 4+1

This is a beautiful first floor property accessed by an internal staircase. Entrance into sitting/dining room with sofa and dining table. Open modern kitchen with fridge/freezer, 4 electric plates, microwave. To the left of the sitting room is a large bedroom with a double and a single bed. Good modern ensuite bathroom with shower, basin, bidet and wc. On the right side of the sitting room a second door leads into a lovely ensuite double room with shower, basin, bidet and wc.

ARCO
Property Ref. 701 - Sleeps 4+1

This property is suitable for disabled use. Accommodation all on the ground floor. Entrance from a large terrace, situated on one side of the house, into sitting/dining room with sofa and dining table. Open modern kitchen with fridge/freezer, 4 electric plates and microwave. There are two ensuite rooms, one with double bed and a single bed, the other with one double bed. Both bathrooms have shower, basin, bidet, wc and one of them is suitable for disabled use. Outdoor furniture on terrace. Terrace has good views to the countryside.

FACCIAVISTA
Property Ref. 702 - Sleeps 4

This lovely ground floor property takes its name from the bricks covering the external walls. There are three doors leading onto the terrace on two sides of the house. The main entrance leads into a comfortable sitting/dining room with open fireplace, sofa, dining table. Open kitchen with fridge/freezer, 4 electric plates and microwave. There are two lovely ensuite double rooms both with shower, basin, bidet and wc. One of the two bedrooms has an interesting tiled roof above the bathroom that you can see from the bedroom.

MONOLOCALE
Property Ref. 703 - Sleeps 2+1

This is a first floor property accessed by an internal staircase. It has a sitting/dining room with a sofa and dining table. Open modern kitchen with fridge/freezer, 4 electric plates and microwave. Ensuite double bedroom with shower, basin, bidet and wc. An extra bed can be made available on request for the +1 (extra charge - please see tariff).

YURI
Property Ref. 704 - Sleeps 6

This very spacious and beautifully furnished property was the former barn and is attached to the farmhouse. The accommodation is on the first floor but as the farmhouse is built on a sloping site there is access from a large tiled terrace into a large sitting room/kitchen with sofas and satellite TV. A second entrance is reached via an external staircase from the garden.

The kitchen has a hob with 6 gas rings, 2 electric ovens, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and a marble sink. From the sitting room two arches lead to a hall and three colourful bedrooms. Two have twin beds (can be made up as double beds - please specify at time of booking). One of the twin rooms has a small ensuite bathroom with basin, wc and bidet. There is a large separate bathroom with shower, basin, wc and bidet. The master bedroom has a pretty double bed and a spacious walk-in wardrobe. There is a stylish ensuite bathroom with a lovely bath, separate shower, basin, wc and bidet. From the hall a door leads out to a little private garden.

There are beautiful beamed ceilings and terracotta floors throughout. Central heating. Use of shared laundry. Extra bed and cot available on request.

Prices are per week per property in Pounds Sterling

"We had a wonderful time in Tuscany. All the arrangements were brilliant and all worked beautifully. Thank you very much for your time and effort." (2010)

** 10% off all weeks in 2012. ** Please contact us for more details.

Please note that each offer above cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. All offers apply to new bookings only and are subject to availability.