Chianti

In the heart of the Tuscan countryside, spending your time in a remote villa is a rite of passage. Just 3 km from San Gimignano, a UNESCO-heritage-awarded medieval town, this modern country home offers quite the opposite experience. As you roll up to the tree-lined driveway the house will emerge like an oasis, behind which is your private lawn, pool, barbecue, and shady patio for alfresco dining. While it’s tempting to head straight to the sun loungers, we’ve not even reached the house yet. Its warm, terracotta exterior looks incredibly inviting, with huge French windows ushering you into the main living space. Inside, the decor is far from traditional Italian. Find a sleek grey kitchen, cow-print footrests, and a perspex chandelier in this high-ceilinged space. Peep around the corner to find the glass doors to your private sauna, or look up to the mezzanine floor with its reading nook (a perfect place for a glass of chianti in the afternoon). If by any chance you'd want to leave this serene retreat, take a scenic one-hour drive to Florence for a city fix before returning to country life.

Home truths:
*Check in is possible from 2.00pm to 7.00pm, after 7.00pm it will be necessary to organise a self check-in
*A Pet welcome upon request, but please don't bring them without checking in advance
*Free parking in driveway (and we recommend a car for this rural area)
*The couple who own the villa live next door – they're on hand to help at any time, but won't interfere during your stay
*There is a double sofa-bed on the mezzanine level
*There's a private sauna in the home – these spa facilities are all included in your stay, but haircare products are not provided by your hosts
*If you're staying 12 nights or more, you'll get complimentary housekeeping and fresh linen
*Your host provides all the BBQ utensils and extras that you'll need