Castello di Panzano

• Charming and easy 10 minute walk to Panzano's historic center
• Multiple on-site activities for all ages; pool, tennis, gym, billiards
• Multiple options for al fresco dining and relaxing
• Lovely views of unblemished Chianti countryside
• Discreet, helpful on-site staff
• Air conditioning
• WiFi
• Tiered pricing for six or ten guests
• Excellent off-season choice
• Services of a Homebase Abroad Concierge included for the duration of your stay
• Homebase Abroad's professional staff will recommend and orchestrate a Customized Itinerary at your request

There is a lot to say about Il Castello di Panzano but most significant in our minds is location – a charming and easy 10 minute walk to the center of Panzano. There are many reasons to choose the Castello di Panzano – for the gracious and helpful staff, the lovely grounds and exceptional vistas, the pool, tennis court and gym, the multiple options for good conversation and lovely meals enjoyed out of doors, plus the WiFi and air conditioning. But it is this singular feature of a walk to a real, Chianti hill-town that makes the Castello di Panzano such an exceptional setting for a memorable Tuscan villa experience.

The location hardly needs much introduction, Panzano being 10 minutes from the so-called ‘heart’ of Chianti in Greve and a town which offers a singular Sunday morning market, several good restaurants and the well-known local man-about-town, Dario the Butcher. Most everyone has an opinion of this classic character – larger than life and with a keen eye to the success of his enterprise – but no one quarrels with how he has rather single-handedly made Panzano one of the must-see Chianti villages. From the Castello you can walk down and have your cappuccino in the morning standing up in the bar, listening to the gossip all around you, then grab an International Herald Tribune and head back home. Bikers and runners are fortunate to be situated on paved roads that lead off into the endlessly picturesque countryside in several directions. There is a good-size Sunday morning market, more than one option for buying wine and specialty foods of the region plus gift shops, ATMs, several restaurants of varying degrees of formality, etc. In other words, a complete Italian town.

The property itself has an unusual history. In the thirteenth century a cluster of buildings on this site apparently were considered a true castle and the seat of whoever controlled the town. The intervening centuries saw many changes of allegiance and some action during the long drawn-out wars between Florence and Siena. The current owners’ great grandparents chose the then-popular New Gothic style for extensive renovations in the 1890’s in preparation for their daughter’s pending marriage. Their renovations added the Medieval-style fortifications that remain signatures of the property today, adding to the stature of the estate on its high hill overlooking the village. That same village calls the house 'Bacio', meaning 'north-bound', not a definition found on-line and perhaps a bit diminutive sounding for the property, but suggestive of the close relationship between the house and the town

The very grand and impressive architecture, now under the obligations of the Italian authorities controlling buildings of historic and cultural importance, is well accompanied by a spectacular enclosed park of about 2 1/2 hectares that comprises an olive grove, a holm oak woods and an elegant and beautifully kept Italian garden. The entire effect is dramatic and authentic and invites guests into a world of great civility and beauty.

Fortunately, the Castello is well-loved and much enjoyed by the owners who come often from Florence with family and friends. Over the years, the southern wing of the property has been organized primarily for private rentals, the family retaining the balance for their private use. While they may be on premise during your stay, they will not intrude in any way and you are unlikely to even be aware of their presence although they enjoy a chance to personally welcome guests in their style of gracious hospitality. It is their family estate and the furniture and appointments are their personal heirlooms here for you to share and appreciate. The shelves are filled with books about art, culture, history and architecture. The style overall reflects the traditional good-taste of Tuscan aristocracy.

The significant advantage of owners who use and appreciate their property is reflected in the added value it offers guests. Over the years, continued improvements have been made to include the most important amenities, particularly WiFi and central air conditioning. As with any proper Tuscan villa, there is discreet but helpful on-site staff that has been well-trained to look after you and make sure you are really on vacation. The impressive architecture does not interfere with the relaxed ambiance so you can really relax and have a good time at the house enjoying the many diversions; pool, tennis court, gym, billiards, and the like. All ages are comfortable here, young children can engage in all sorts of happy play on the grounds, teenagers and young adults can go out on their own to town, adults of all ages can alternate among various pleasures – early exercise of your choice, slow mornings of conversation and coffee enjoying the view, lunch by the pool, aperitivi on the loggia watching the changing light. This is an excellent choice for early or late-season bookings as the house is well-heated with a wonderful fireplace to animate the Living Room with its full complement of comfortable couches and chairs. Plenty for a happy household of friends and family to gather for a recounting of the days adventures in Tuscany.

• High walls open to open parking area for 2 - 4 cars. Grounds include hedges of rosemary and roses.
• Shady holm oak woods
• Olive grove
• Formal Italianate garden
• Pool (with straw covered pergola for shade and panoramic views)
• Pool house with living/dining area for 6 - 10 guests, efficiency kitchen
• Tennis court (artificial grass)
• Gym (3 bikes, treadmill, elliptical, pilates ball, bath with shower)

• Entrance across open terrace with unblemished Chianti views, furnished as an outdoor living room for 10, pergola for shade
• Formal entrance from terrace leads to Living Room
• Primary living room with high coffered, painted ceiling and original carved woodwork and fragments of original frescoes, centered on enormous fireplace. Central seating area for 10 - 12. CD and CD collection
• Billiards room
• Formal dining room seats 10, with 18th century boisserie, original fireplace and three double glass doors leading to dining loggia for 10.
• TV room (TV with Satellite and Sky service, DVD player) seats 6 - 8. Two double doors open to dining loggia
• Studio with desk (DSL, fax)
• Large separate kitchen (6-gas burners, double ovens, microwave, two fridges, freezer, double sinks), most suitable for staff
• Guest bath
• Laundry Room (washing machine, dryer), for staff use only

• Master bedroom suite (king/twins) with screened windows offering panoramic and lovely countryside view. Dressing room. Ensuite bath (tub with wall-mounted shower, partition) double sinks and marble finishes
• Master bedroom suite (king/twins) with screened windows overlooking the garden. Dressing room. Ensuite bath (tub with wall mounted and hand-held shower, curtain) and marble finishes.
• Master bedroom suite (king/twins) with screened windows looking west over the garden. Dressing room. Ensuite bath (tub with wall-mounted and hand-held shower, curtain)
• Children's Suite up four high steps from main hall into central hall. Door closes to central hall. Two double bedrooms (twins cannot combine). Private bath (shower stall). Private bath (tub with hand-held shower, partition). The finishes in the Children's Suite are not to the level in the remainder of the house.

• Saturday - Saturday rentals only. Arrival time is 4:00- 5:00 pm; departure time is 10:00 am.
• Cleaning included Monday-Saturday, 8:00 am-2:00 pm, 5:00-9:00 pm; including a cook and 2 caretakers. Additional staff on request Sunday and half-Thursday at an additional E. 150 per week, paid directly to staff.
• Welcome dinner included, compliments of Homebase Abroad
• Cooking and preparation of lunch and dinner are included
• Linen changes included; beds 2 times weekly, bath towels daily, pool towels changed 1 time per week
• The entire property evolves on various levels, including the outdoor terraces and gardens. There are some modest level changes on the First Floor. The walk to town is down-hill going and is steep,typical of Medieval hill-towns in Tuscany. Please discuss if this is of concern.
• All the spaces described on the Homebase abroad Property description are for the private use of guests during their stay.
• You will hear the ringing of church bells from town

• Panzano; 10 min walk, 3 min drive
• Greve; 10 minutes
• Radda, Castellina; 20 minutes
• Siena; 50 minutes
• Florence (historic center and airport); 1 hour
• Pisa airport; 1 hour
• Rome airport; 3 1/2 hours

• Heat
• Gas
• Additional electricity
• Air conditioning
• Telephone
• Personal laundry
• Food, beverages and consumables
• Extras deposit due on arrival (E. 1,000; for multi-week rentals, extras are to be settled in Euro at the end of each week.)
• Refundable security deposit