In the minds of many travellers, Italy is a dream destination, conjuring images of rolling Tuscan hills topped with cypress trees, the Renaissance majesty of Siena and Florence, and charming seaside towns.
For centuries, this has been a country to which visitors joyously “escape” to sunny skies and gorgeous colors, a leisurely pace of life, a healthy respect for local foods and traditions, and a storied past both legendary and still present in everyday affairs.
Abercrombie & Kent’s Italian offerings accommodate from two to 24 guests, so gather a few friends — or plan a family reunion — and enjoy yourself in privacy, comfort and style.
If you are looking for a classic Tuscan experience in a warm green landscape dotted with medieval walled towns and olive groves, look no further. A&K offers a wide selection of villa properties in glorious Tuscany, at the “knee” of Italy’s boot.
Spend your holiday amid the steep hills surrounding Lucca and Pisa where olive groves and vineyards surround Renaissance aristocratic estates. Or perhaps you prefer Chianti, one of Italy’s most famous wine-producing areas, where art treasures range from Siena’s magnificent gothic cathedral to San Gimignano’s 15 medieval towers. Or choose the verdant Mugello valley, traditionally the summer retreat of the Florentine nobility. Its forested slopes offer great walking and horseback riding, and the towns and villages remain largely untouched by tourism, offering a true insight into the Tuscan way of life.
Those seeking more “civilized” diversions can visit both Florence, with her wealth of art treasures, or beautiful Bologna, the gastronomic capital of Italy. The hills surrounding Florence make the ideal base for a relaxing vacation as well.
We can also take you to Umbria, deep in the heart of the country, a region unchanged since the Middle Ages.
A villa holiday lets you live this traditional Italian lifestyle to the fullest. You set your own pace, select your own pleasures, and reconnect with friends and family. Nod to Roman ruins and to the corner newspaper seller on your way to the market. Devote a day to viewing Renaissance masterworks and a day to pairing local cheeses with local wines…and feel that both were equally well spent.
In the minds of many travellers, Italy is a dream destination, conjuring images of rolling Tuscan hills topped with cypress trees, the Renaissance majesty of Siena and Florence and charming seaside towns. The pace of life is leisurely and the food invitingly familiar. Heavenly meals and dream-like landscapes make Italy a perfect choice for a European villa vacation. What better way to spend a week (or two) with your family and friends than at a charming luxury villa, handpicked by A&K, with all of the services and amenities needed to make it an enjoyable, carefree and memorable experience?
Abercrombie & Kent’s Italian villas accommodate from two to 24 guests, from intimate residences ideal for a small family getaway to grand manor houses whose size and services make them a perfect fit for a large celebration. Whatever your travel style, A&K has a holiday villa for rent.
The romantic villa in Under the Tuscan Sun may have reminded the world of Tuscany’s charms, but they’ve always been there waiting to be discovered, from Roman monuments and ruins to Romanesque architecture and Gothic cathedrals. All are nestled among lush vineyards, rolling cypress hills and olive groves that tumble down to a coastline fringed with golden beaches.
A European villa rental in Tuscany gives you the opportunity to explore culturally rich Florence, often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. It is said that of the 1,000 most important European artists of the second millennium, 350 of them worked in Florence. The wealthy wanted to show their riches, creating a tremendous surge in the arts, as you will notice on excursions from your luxury villa.
An easy drive from any of our private villas brings you to the center of Florence and the heart of the city: Piazza della Signoria. You’ll see Bartolommeo Ammanati’s Fountain of Neptune, a masterpiece of marble sculpture at the terminus of a still functioning Roman aqueduct. Nearby is the city’s crowning architectural jewel, the domed cathedral known as “The Duomo.” Climb to its pinnacle — or that of the neighboring Campanile tower (partly designed by Giotto) — for spectacular views of the city. For a different kind of spectacle, stroll along the Arno River and peruse the real gems in the jewelry shops on the famous Ponte Vecchio, or browse the antique stores lining the Via Maggio; after all, no European holiday is complete without a little shopping.
Villa Belvedere is located within easy access to San Gimignano. Pay a visit and instantly see for yourself this medieval hilltop town’s claim to fame: its stunning towers, dating from the 11th and 13th centuries and dominating the Elsa Valley. Local churches are adorned with frescoes, statues and sculptures, including works by di Bartolo, Fiorentino and Gozzoli.
Surrounded by olive groves and Chianti vineyards, Siena is a beautiful city set on three hills and drawn together by winding alleys and steep steps. At its heart is the Piazza del Campo, the scene for the famous summertime Palio horse race, Siena’s greatest traditional festival. Rent your private villa in early July or August and you could be among the spectators. Join the eager onlookers crowding the plaza early in the day, happy to bear the summer heat to witness the contest. After a few false starts, the horses are off, and the race is over before the dust settles. The feasts keep going, and celebrations can last for weeks afterward.
The vineyards of the Chianti region between Siena and Florence have produced some of the world’s best wines as well as charming villages. Walk around the central square of almost any Chianti town to see Renaissance churches and quaint shops with architectural details that are works of art in themselves. The luxury villas Casa Tordela, Podere La Vigna and Villa Bianca are located in Chianti near the charming hamlet of San Regolo, with small shops and tempting trattorias.
Explore any of the towns in Chianti or even visit Siena to pick up a bottle of the famous wine. Take it back to your European holiday home and relax on the loggia, sampling the true Tuscan lifestyle in your peaceful retreat.
A&K’s collection of luxurious Italian properties provides you with a memorable setting for your European villa holiday. You may prefer unpretentious Umbria, with a quiet pastoral beauty — mountainous with castles, fortresses and watchtowers guarding small towns that are still walled, but hospitably open.
Leave your luxury villa and spend the day exploring Perugia’s magnificent Palazzo Capitano del Popolo, take a stroll through the relaxing botanical gardens or shop for its famous chocolate. Just outside the city is Lake Trasimeno, an excellent choice for taking some stunning photos or sampling the seafood restaurants.
Choosing an Italian villa in Tuscany or Umbria as your European holiday home gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the “local” life. Charming medieval villages, famous art and amazing cuisine are just outside your door.
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