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LUXURY VILLA

(visit us at www.laquerce.com for more information)

Florence luxury villa rentals with swimming pool and air conditioning for avacation in total relax. 
 Villa La Querce is a charming place located only 12 km off Florence, a mere 20 minute trip by car, ideal for those who would like to visit the Uffizi or Ponte Vecchio without the inconvenience of finding a parking for their car. In fact the bus stops at only 100 t from the villa's gate and takes directly to the center of Florence!
 Villa La Querce is also located only 5 minutes away from the motorways which lead to Tuscany's main attractions: Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca, Pisa, Cortona etc. 
 Visiting these jewels will be the easiest thing! Villa La Querce promises to you an unforgettable holiday in the beauty of the Florence hills, in the wellrenowned Chianti area, among olive trees and vineyards, with the world's most famous monuments at hand....
 

History:

Florence exclusive Villa la Querce is surrounded by vineyards and olive orchards in the hillsides of florentine Chianti, located on the road that connects Bagnolo to Impruneta. Impruneta is a very nice little town whose reputation is related to the production of “cotto” (the cotto tiles of the Duomo, in Florence, were made in Impruneta).
Villa la Querce is located only 2 km from Impruneta, it measures 900 square mt and we can find the famous imprunetine cotto in the amazing ceilings of the villa. Although the reputation of the estate is above all linked to the quality of its products – its wines and extra virgin olive oil have won a great number of prices – interest and attention have been paid to the historical and architectural elements of the villa.
The elegant villa, whose construction is so old that some parts date to the 1300, is dominated by a stately tower. The form is somber and dignified both in the design of its layout and in the finish of the facade. But the origin of the property dates even further back. A document dated 1042 reports the sale of a “house with land and vineyards” in this area, indicating without doubt the antiquity of the cultivation of vineyards in the region. During Second World War the villa knew dramatic moments. It 1944 it was occupied by the Germans. The nazis cut down the enormous oak tree that gave the name to the property in the effort to block the road, but the tree fell on the wrong side of the road, ruining their plans.
 

Accomodations:


Villa La Querce can accept a maximum of 14 guests. There are 7 bedrooms – 4 double and 3 singles (but beds can be combined in one of the single) – and 6 bathroom + 1 wc. 6 bedrooms have air conditioning. 
Please note: the villa is rented as a whole and not in portions or single bedrooms
On the first floor we find a magnificent hall with huge fireplace, 2 elegant living rooms (one of which has an office area with fax machine and Adsl internet connection), dining hall with a large table suited for 14 guests, kitchen with microwave oven, traditional oven, freezer and two refrigerators, service bathroom, and 2 double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. 
On the second floor we find a large hall with grand piano, a comfortable living room with satellite tv, the breathtaking master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, one large and elegant twin bedroom with en-suite bathroom, one double bedroom and a twin canopy bedroom. These two rooms share a bathroom. 
On the third level (the tower) we have a cozy living room with tv, a twin bedroom (but the beds can be combined to obtain a double bed) with amazing view of the valley and a bathroom. All the bedrooms have plenty of storage space. 
On the basement or ground floor we find the wine cellars (available to guests for wine tasting tours), the gym with sauna, the laundry room (with washing machine, drying machine and iron board) and the staff quarter (not available for guests). The villa has also two safety boxes at clients disposal. Air conditioning in 6 bedrooms will make your vacation even more comfortable!
 

GARDEN & SWIMMING POOL:
 
The guests at villa la Querce can enjoy the beautiful and peaceful private park, with swimming pool, abundant olive orchards, laurel hedges and a fantastic lawn perfect for children to play.

There are two living areas in the park. One in the cotto patio in front of the villa, with two arcades where it is possible to eat or relax in the shade. A huge fig tree guarantees shadow and coolness also in the hottest months. Plenty of deckchairs are at the guests' disposal.

The other living area is in front of the hall at the first floor. An elevated square garden with a big oak tree where it's possible to enjoy breakfast in the freshness of the morning or have a relaxing aperitivo at sunset, or try an informal dinner with the tasty dishes cooked by Grace, the villa's cook.

The swimming pool is surrounded by laurel hedges for the guests privacy. Nested among the olive trees, it measures 15 for 8 mt.
 

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE RENTAL PRICE


Welcome dinner
On the arrival day our cook Grace will prepare you the dinner, so you don't have to bother cooking or looking for a restaurant. Our dinner includes an aperitivo with bruschette and our wine, pasta alla puttantesca with olives, veal with porcini or chicken with white wine and rosmary, roasted potatoes, salad and ice cream with fruit salad.

Tour of the cellar and wine tasting
You can tour our vineyards and learn everything about our wines with Marco Ferretti, the wine maker of our company. At the end of the tour you'll visit our cellar and taste our wines which have won a great number of prizes.
 

EXTRA ACTIVITIES


Cooking lessons
Learn the real tuscan cuisine with someone who has a true insight into the tuscan food culture. You'll learn how to make the real “pappa al pomodoro”, “zuppa di farro”, “rosticciana”, “fagioli all'uccelleto”, and other dishes that make the tuscan cuisine so unique. Our new chef Lorenzo Girolami will teach you the tricks in the informal, homely atmosphere of villa La Querce - learning to cook italian food will be a pleasure!
 NEW! Lorenzo is available as a chef for a special meal or for our guests who require a chef during their stay at our villa. Inquiry with the owner for the prices.

Guided visits of Florence and Siena
Visit Florence and Siena with a very special guide, art historian Cecilia Martelli, former teacher of the art history program of John Hopkins University in Florence. You will step into the Renaissance and walk thru the beauty of the city and its monuments, museums and churches.
Some example of itineraries:
 The Medici family and the arts – visit to Palazzo Medici Riccardi (with the famous Benozzo Gozzoli chapel), San Lorenzo church and Medici Chapels
 Brunelleschi Renaissance architecture in Florence – walking tour of Ospedale degli Innocenti, San Lorenzo Church, visit of the Duomo and the “cupola”.
 Introduction to florentine Renaissance art – walking tour of San Lorenzo church, piazza Duomo, Battistero, Orsanmichele church, piazza Signoria, visit of the Uffizi Gallery (this is an whole day itinerary).
 Michelangelo in Florence – visit of the Accademia museum, Medici Chapel, Laurentian library.Lorenzo Ghiberti and the Baptistery doors – visit to the Battistero and the Opera del Duomo museum.
Our guide is an expert on Renaissance art and she can organize tours also in Siena (which is only 50 km away from the villa).


 NEW: we now offer special art lessons with canadian artist Sharon Okun at the villa!!! Great fun for the kids.
Yoga & Pilates
NEW! Yoga lessons (hatha yoga, sivananda) by the teachers of Firenze Yoga: 90 minutes lesson in English (but also German or Spanish) in the hall of the villa. The space is perfect for excercize and meditation. It is also possible to have our Pilates teacher, Silvia, come and teach a class at the villa.

Visit of the pottery factory Antica Fornace “Ugo Poggi”
Located very near villa La Querce the terra-cotta factory Ugo Poggi is famous for its beautiful terracotta pots, jars, tiles and art works. Impruneta is the town of “cotto”, the tiles of the Florence Duomo were made in Impruneta and the factories which produce terra-cotta are many. But the Poggi furnace is unique, because it has a long tradition in this manufacturing art. The Poggi furnace creates gorgeous flower pots, both traditional and modern which are exported in the whole world. Recently the italian artist Mauro Staccioli created his art work for Poggi, a gigantic terra-cotta ring which has become a landmark for Impruneta. Visiting the factory you'll discover the secrets of “cotto” as we call it and the process of making it.

Chianti by bike
Why not visit Chianti by bicycle? You can book the bikes and the guide at the villa, pick up your favorite tours and see the country in a new, exciting way. Our guides from the shop “Florence by bike” will propose a different range of tours, right for a family ride or for a more “professional” challenge. In any case, there is no better way to really enjoy the beauty of Chianti, with its extensive vineyards and olive groves. The famous towns of Greve and Panzano are within reach, a must of Chianti touring. If you don't think you need a guided tour, but you want to rent your bikes nevertheless, we offer you the possibility of having them delivered right at the villa.

Trekking on the Apuane mountains
 The Apuane are the Dolomites (Alps) of Tuscany. They are very near the coast and are famous for their marbles (Michelangelo used the Apuane's marble for his sculptures). They offer the beauty of a walk in the mountains with the breath-taking view of the sea. Our expert guide and friend Cinzia Sarti will come with a van to pick up your group at the villa and lead it through an easy but fascinating trekking. The day can end with a visit of nearby Lucca or with a stop on the beaches of the tuscan riviera, Versilia.