Villa Bandita

Pienza, Tuscany

• Sleeps 16
• 8 bedrooms, 8 Ensuite baths
• Staff + Concierge
• Air Conditioning
• High Speed Wireless Internet

Summary

Located between Florence and Rome and about 45 mins south of Siena, La Bandita is an old farmhouse and stone side building sitting within the Lucciolabella Nature Reserve with sweeping views of the Val D’Orcia UNESCO heritage park and the hilltop towns of Montalcino, Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, San Quirico D’Orcia and Radicofani.

The Val D’Orcia is the quintessential Tuscany of post cards and calendars, and has been rigorously protected from modern development. The result is a breathtaking and unblemished landscape. The area is also rich culturally and historically, with small, walled villages still beautifully preserved, frescoed monasteries, and imposing medieval fortresses guarding the hilltops. Less than 20 minutes away, Tuscany’s twin wine capitals of Montepulciano and Montalcino produce Nobile and Brunello, some of Italy’s top wines, in vineyards on the sloping hillsides. Visiting small producers nearby offers the chance to sample spectacular--and difficult to find—wines in beautiful settings.

But what makes La Bandita truly unique is how designers Ab Rogers in London and DA Studio in Florence collaborated to create a luxury retreat with a fresh contemporary design.  Although all the materials are traditional and local, and the original external features of the old farmhouse have been maintained, the open common spaces and spacious, light-filled guest rooms are totally modern.

Fine Points

Exterior

The property itself sits on a four acre property surrounded by rolling sheep pasture and grain fields. There is a 36 square meter infinity swimming pool with infinity edge facing west across the wide valley and a covered dining pergola for outdoor dining and relaxing. Your nearest neighbors are only sheep, so there are no noise restrictions on late night parties!

The property sleeps 16 adults and 3 children comfortably. There are 7 double rooms in the main house and 1 suite in a stand alone stone cottage about 15 meters away from the main house. There are two cots for infants available.

There is a shaded outdoor dining area with views over the wide valley. This has a wood decking floor, a bar with a sink and long wood tables that seat up to 20. Along with two soft outdoor sofas.

By the pool is a large shaded pergola. This has wood decking and also has a bar with a refrigerator that is kept stocked by the staff with wine, soft drinks, water and beer. There is a card table here with games, yoga mats and blankets, an I-Pod dock, and a soft sofa. Pool towels are included and replaced by the staff each day.

Interior

Inside, you’ll find cream-colored stone floors, brand new queen size mattresses with luxury white linens from Bussati, massive showers with Santa Maria Novella and Hotel Sirenuse skin care products, and in several rooms stand alone bathtubs with views over the valley.

The totally new kitchen is outfitted with professional appliances and is designed as the center of the loft-like main common area downstairs. There is a long wood table for dining, a record player with the owner’s personal collection of classic LPs and a flat screen television in front of an oversized designer sofa. Upstairs, there is a second common area in front of a large open fireplace. High-speed wireless internet is available throughout the building.

Daily breakfast is provided free of charge. Our full time gourmet chef is available for all shopping and meals. Lunches are dinners are charged at a flat rate of 20 Euros and 40 Euros per person respectively, not including wine. The chef is also available cooking instruction and market visits. You’ll also have access to the owners personal wine cellar and a humidor packed with fine Cuban cigars.

The Bedrooms

Ground Floor

All rooms have self-controlled air conditioning/heating, a private bathroom with a large shower, pull down mosquito screens in all the windows and great views.

This suite dubbed the “Pig Sty” is located in a separate building next to Bandita.  It is closed off by large sliding doors, has a queen size bed, and a glass door opening onto a private garden area.  There is a sitting room with pull out sofa and small kitchen with refrigerator, 4 burners, and a stone counter work-top. Large bathroom with 2-person bathtub, large stand-up shower with oversized showerhead, and 2 sinks.

There is a generous bedroom with a queen-sized bed, 2-person bathtub sunken into the floor in the bedroom area and a private entrance to the garden. The ensuite bathroom has a large stand-up shower.

Another bedroom with private access t the garden, it has a queen-sized bed,  and a bathroom with a large stand-up shower. This room is wheel-chair accessible.

First Floor
The third bedroom has a queen-sized bed, and sunset view. The bathroom has a large stand-up shower.

The fourth bedroom has a  queen-sized bed and sunset view and a bathroom with a large stand-up shower.

There is a bedroom with 2 twin beds, can be pushed together to make 1 double. The bathroom has a large stand-up shower.

There is a queen-sized bedroom with an additional twin bed and bath tub located in the bedroom area.  Additionally, it has 3 large windows with great views. The bathroom has a large stand-up shower.

The last bedroom has a queen-sized bed, and an additional 1 twin bed and bath tub in bed room area. There are 3 large windows on a corner with great views, and the bathroom has a large stand-up shower.

Additional Notes:

The property is reached by a 3km bumpy dirt road in between Chianciano, Montepulciano and Pienza. The road up to the property is not appropriate for low clearance cars.

La Bandita is 2.5 hours by car from Rome airport to the south and Pisa Airport to the north. The smaller airports of Florence and Perugia are around 1-1.5 hours away. Train access is at the town of Chiusi about 40 mins away where all major car rental agencies are located.

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