Ten Green Bottles

Set in 30,000 square metres of grounds, this home is the Tuscan dream. There’s a turquoise swimming pool for hot summer days, a volleyball and football pitch, and a well-tended orto (vegetable garden) where you can help yourself to seasonal sun-ripened produce and cook just like a local. If the weather is fine a barbecue might be in order – there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy a meal around the garden – plus an annex with a fully-equipped gym for burning off the feast the night before. Inside the traditional villa, there’s a luxuriously modern feel, yet the old Tuscan charm has been retained. Uplighting illuminates exposed brick archways and vaulted ceilings as though proudly displayed in a museum, and antique furniture sits alongside modern, comfy sofas. The sleek, minimalist kitchen has everything you need for an Italian feast from the orto and dinner can be accompanied by a bottle of local red from the stocked wine cellar (wine is not included in the rental price). This home is split between the main villa and a garden cottage. The garden cottage houses a full spa with massage rooms, a sauna and a Jacuzzi – just ask your host to make a booking. You’re in the Valdichiana hills here, looking out over olive groves and the rolling scenery Tuscany is famous for, and it’s a twenty-minute drive to the beautiful Etruscan town of Cortona.

Home truths:
*Wine and cured meats from the cellar are there for guests to enjoy, but must be paid for at the end of the stay
*Spa sessions in the cottage need to be booked in advance and cost extra
*There is covered parking for up to six cars and a car is recommended as the nearest town is a twenty-minute drive away
*Guests can help themselves to vegetables from the garden for free
*The on-site video surveillance can be deactivated on request
*All the bedrooms are on the first and seconds floors so this place may not be suitable for those with limited mobility