Interior & Grounds

Villa Maria

Villa Maria is one of five houses in Il Borgo, an 11th C castle and village all with private gardens and interiors that have been brought to life by the vision and expertise of one of the revered names of the interior decorating world. The result is calm, unobtrusive elegance and comfort, perfectly in keeping with the style, location and period of the buildings, with quirky touches of character that betray the confident touch of a master. In particular the lighting – always crucial and often neglected – is skilfully orchestrated to give ample illumination while casting a flattering and kindly glow.

Villa Maria is a separate village house built in the 19th century, grand and spacious with appropriate antique furniture, frescoed ceilings, and an air of urbane refinement. Peaceful views of olive trees and gardens please the eye in all directions, and Villa Maria has delightful grounds complete with statues and a fountain.

Study: Every house should have such a study – the perfect private refuge in which to pen a work of genius, awakened occasionally from a creative reverie by a carillon from the village belfry whose tower dominates the stupendous view.

Sitting Room: Comfortably arranged around a fine Turkish carpet, this room has a touch of formality in its marble fireplace, and breathtaking views from its tall windows.

Library: A vast inglenook fireplace is the heart of this lovely relaxed room, whose terracotta tiles are casually overlaid by rustic matting. Fine portraits grace the walls, and the lighting, as always, is faultless.

Dining Room: A high beamed ceiling and a warm terracotta floor make this into a inviting alternative to the private outdoor eating area with its fine view of the tower.

Kitchen: A fine, well-equipped kitchen with plenty of space for serious cuisine, reached through a characteristic stone arch.

Cloakroom

4 Bedrooms: The master bedroom is quite exceptional, entered through its own ante-room, and complete with two separate dressing rooms and a luxuriously finished bathroom. The other three bedrooms have en suite bathrooms built to an equal standard of opulence.

Villa Maria has its own pool and combines well when rented with Casa Emma.

Casa Anthea

A fascinating building incorporating a tower, Casa Anthea has loads of charm, and is a home from home in winter – when sinking into comfortable armchairs in front of blazing log fires induces the relaxed torpor of contentment  - and summer – when eating out on the patio among the lavender and roses under the stars, gazing at the distant lights twinkling in the valley could not be more blissful.

Study: The perfect haven of peace, a comforting semicircular room in the tower in which to take refuge and sit in the old leather chair to read a book or write a letter at the antique desk far from the madding family.

Sitting Room: A large room with massive walls, this has a traditional inglenook fireplace in which you can sit and roast chestnuts should you have a mind to, wonderfully comfortable seating and lots of it, beamed ceilings, rugged matting on the floor and quaintly rustic furniture. A sophisticated take on bucolic bliss.

Dining Room: A simple cosy room with a beamed ceiling and soft lighting, seating up to 12. This is at its romantic best when lit by the soft glimmer of candles, taking the odd trip to the wine cellar for replenishments.

Kitchen: A magnificent semi-circular room, furnished with state of the art culinary equipment, rustic terracotta floortiles and marble worktops. Cunningly curved shelves show off colourful local ceramics.

3 Bedrooms: Spacious and wonderfully restful, the bedrooms have beamed ceilings and foot-friendly matting on the floor, warm and flattering lighting, antique furniture and well appointed en suite bathrooms.

Casa Anthea has a pool in its garden and combines well when rented with Casa Fico.

Casa Fico

An intimate hideaway whose irregular and interesting rooms have high airy ceilings with whitewashed beams. Outside there are a couple of delicious private corners for al fresco eating, reading or a spot of meditation.

Sitting Room: A large fireplace dominates this glorious room whose quietly luxurious decor takes its cue from a magnificent spice-coloured kelim.

Kitchen: A spacious galley kitchen whose double doors open straight out to the garden, this has everything an aspiring cordon bleu chef could desire in the way of equipment, good lighting, storage, marble worksurfaces.

Dining Room: A comfortable room with intimate lighting, inviting lingering conversation over liqueurs.

3 Bedrooms: The bedrooms in Casa Fico are simply magnificent, furnished simply and elegantly, with generous king and queen sized beds, an extravagance of swagged and draped textiles, kindly carpeting underfoot, and divine en suite bathrooms in which to luxuriate.

Casa Fico has no pool unless it is rented with Casa Anthea.

Casa Emma

Perfect for those in search of a little privacy, Casa Emma is a stone’s throw from the rest of the properties, but separate, located in the middle of the tiny thousand year old village.

Sitting Room: Amply and comfortably furnished, with a huge fireplace, high ceilings and a tranquil blue and white colour scheme, extending to the antique ceramics decorating the walls.

Dining Room: Large, bright and airy, with twin double doors opening out onto one of the two pretty patio gardens.

Kitchen: A fabulously efficient kitchen with all the equipment you could want, a traditional terra cotta floor and plenty of space for a farmhouse table, perfect for casual family meals.

3 Bedrooms: There are 2 double bedrooms and one twin bedroom on the first floor, all with en suite bathrooms.

There is no pool unless rented with Villa Maria

Casa Vigna

The owners prefer to rent Casa Vigna with all the other houses, Casa Anthea, Casa Fico, Casa Emma and Villa Maria.

Decorated by a consummate Italian designer, Casa Vigna has the advantage of effective central heating and air conditioning.

Sitting Room: The muted colours of nature, picked up by the botanical prints that grace the walls, this is the quintessential country sitting room with lots of comfortable seating around an imposing fireplace.

Dining Room: A cosy room with a warm terracotta floor, traditional Italian furniture and botanical prints on the walls.

Kitchen: Lots of space, sympathetic stone floor, ample equipment, the kitchen doors open straight onto an intimate outdoor dining area.

Cloakroom

2 Bedrooms: One bedroom has a grand modern fourposter bed, both have en suite bathrooms with bath and shower, and soothing green views of Tuscany