A charming apartment in a Tuscan farmhouse with a hill village nearby, a swimming pool at the bottom of the garden, and only around 30 minutes drive away from the medieval city of Siena; these are just a few of the reasons so many of our clients choose to stay at Agriturismo Elvira.

A working farm, it has 2 apartments and a cottage that have been carefully converted from the original farm buildings to make great places for families or couples to stay. Being close to a village is a wonderful experience: you are in your own little parcel of countryside but a brief walk will take you into Casole d'Elsa, which boasts several cafes and restaurants, a couple of grocery stores, and even a couple of tiny art galleries for resident artists. Walk up for breakfast, then buy some fresh produce and wander home for a fresh lunch and spend the afternoon by the pool; it's a real Tuscan delight.

The walk into the village is just over 1km and takes between 15 and 20 minutes. It's uphill on the way in, and there is a lift to help you up the last steepest climb.

On the ground floor of the main farmhouse, Rustico has beautiful brick vaulted ceilings.

A shaded entryway leads into the heart of any Tuscan house, its eat-in kitchen and this one has good equipment (though tiny oven), and a a small sofa for those not at work on dinner.

The shower room is up a few steps from the kitchen, while the twin and double bedrooms, both large, are on either side of the main room. There is a furnished central patio near the entry where guests can enjoy an outdoor meal and views in all directions.

At the front of the farm, one path leads down to a the large swimming pool, alll within a gentle, evocative framework of vineyards and olive trees. With a wide, travertine-tiled surround, and plenty of sun loungers, the swimming pool is a soft ochre colour, blending comfortably with the olive groves and vineyards. Set in a delightful position down the hillside from the farm, it has extensive and beautiful views across to the Chianti hills.

Further afield, beyond Casole d'Elsa, San Gimignano with its medieval towers is less than half an hour away, as is Monteriggioni while Siena is under an hour. Florence is around an hour away and can also be reached by train or bus from Siena or Poggibonsi. Tiny local villages abound, many of them with festivals and events during August and September, so exploring is well rewarded.