SETTING: The property is located midway between Florence and Siena, about 30min from both. It is surrounded by cypress and oak woods, olive trees, and vineyards, and it dominates a little lonely valley. We are based in one of the most wooded and well-preserved parts of the Chianti Classico area (renowned for its wines and food). The quiet atmosphere of the property allows for frequent sightings of roe-deers (even during daylight hours), istrici (a peculiar kind of porcupine introduced by the Romans, emblem of a 'Contrada' of Siena's Palio), and squirrels. ACCOMMODATION; You would be housed in a large country villa (Yellow House), with a fully independent access road. Its stone exterior, the shade of nearby trees and the soothing sound of chirping birds offer a natural refuge from stress and metropolitan life. The house is fully restored and equipped, and it can accommodate up to 8 guests. Please see a more detailed list of facilities in the following. We are also renting a smaller country house (Red House, unit 11198671 on VRBO). The two houses are fully independent and situated on two different levels of the hill. GROUND FLOOR: includes living and dining room (extensible table up to 10 seats, sofa, fireplace), kitchen and and 1 of the 3 bathrooms. The kitchen is equipped with a dishwasher, an oven and a microwave, a four-burner stove, a fridge, and a freezer. A washing machine is also available, hidden away in a bathroom closet. FIRST FLOOR: 2 comfortable master bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (one with bath tub) and a third smaller bedroom with 2 bunk beds and a second television.  OUTDOORS: Courtyard with dining tables, chairs and a parasol. The garden is equipped with all necessary furniture to allow for outdoor meals as well as reading in the green. A barbecue is also available. SWIMMING POOL:  A 150m stone path, which goes through the wood leads to the 83m² pool (open from mid April to mid October). The pool is shared with guests from our other unit. However, separate blocks of parasols and sunbeds on each side offer a private relaxation space. NEARBY FACILITIES: The property is extremely quiet. Since the nearest country road is 1.1 km away, our closest neighbors live at a 1.5 km distance. Nonetheless, the village of S.Donato in Poggio (4 km) will provide you with most of the things you might need during your stay. There you will find a well-supplied small supermarket (also open on Sunday mornings), a pharmacy, a bank, a post office, restaurants, bars, a bakery, and other shops. NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Despite the private setting, the cities of Florence and Siena are easily reachable by car with a 30 minutes ride. You can bike or drive to the numberless charming hamlets, small villages, churches, castles, and panoramic spots of Chianti nearby. In addition, some examples of what the surroundings have to offer are: – S.Gimignano, with its well known tower-houses – S.Appiano – The palaces of Colle Val d'Elsa, the birthplace of Arnolfo di Cambio (the architect of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence), and the nearby Natural Park, which includes the Diborrato waterfall. – Certaldo, where Boccaccio, the author of Decameron, lived – The fortress of Monteriggioni – The Etruscan city of Volterra – Montalcino and Val d'Orcia, worldwide famous for “Brunello” wine production – Hot-springs in Bagno Vignoni, the setting of many scenes from the film Nostalghia by film director Tarkovskij – Pienza, a magnificent example of the Renaissance “città ideale” – The seafront in Cecina and Maremma