Family Villa and Pool for 8 by Tuscan Village

Just outside the village of Radicondoli, facing across rolling, open countryside, is this family villa with a pool, once a Tuscan farmhouse, now full of charm and character and providing ample accommodation for eight people. The 12 X 6 m. fenced swimming pool, with a lovely surround made from old terracotta tiles, is landscaped into a grassy lower terrace, screened from view from the outside by a steep bank and trees. The house is prettily situated on a hillside, having superb views, yet with all the advantages of being near a village. We have known this house and rented it for years and it is a favourite for many; it's very family-friendly and having the village nearby is a boon for families, with icecreams, restaurants and cafes nearby. The owner, Claudio, is a great asset to the house and makes excellent olive oil and wine! The house has been left largely in the original configuration from when it was a Tuscan farm, with the entrance straight into a kitchen/dining room, with a large fireplace to the right. Once this would have been kept alight throughout the year, with a pan of water suspended above it, and a grill ready to be slid over the embers. Now it often has flowers in the hearth, and the cooking is done on the simple gas cooker to the right. A table takes centre stage and is a lovely place to sit, chat and drink while somebody cooks, if the weather should ever be inclement. Most of the eating, socialising and relaxing will take place outside when you're staying here, with plenty of shaded spots surrounding the house, and an excellent barbecue on the terrace above the pool. Beyond the kitchen is a living room with a television, while to the left you will find two bedrooms and a bathroom, with a further two bedrooms upstairs and another two bathrooms too. The rooms in this house are simple and the windows small, as was traditional. The whole house is characterised by small flights of steps and interesting details, and has been converted using traditional materials, retaining the original beamed ceilings and tiled floors. The furniture is a mixture of old Tuscan and some rather kitsch pieces, while fittings are modern and efficient. Radicondoli is an ancient Tuscan hill village, population 1.000, with Etruscan origins, which to-day retains a medieval aspect, yet provides good shopping and restaurant facilities along with an open air dancing on Saturday nights, which can be heard from La Ragnana, and a sports centre with a tennis court. There are a number of good restaurants in the village, and nearby, like "Il Nazionale" with wonderful views from the terrace, or the more trendy and more recent "Agriteca". A deservedly well renowned classical music programme is held in the summer. There are more than 15 acres of land belonging to the house and guests may walk almost anywhere in the surrounding woods and hills. There are splendid, unspoilt views of the hills from the house, the terraces and the pool.