This private luxury large villa near Florence is a favourite of high-profile guests seeking quiet relaxation. Immersed in the splendid scenery of the Florentine hills, nine kilometres from Florence, at the entrance of the Chianti area, a splendid villa of the late fifteenth century, has recently been transformed into a private residence with all the luxury and comforts needed. Thirty hectares of a park are divided into olive groves, vineyards, fields, oak woods and cypresses, which stretch along the surrounding land.
In the past Grillanda was a farm, formed by the main house and adjacent or smaller houses of the same level as the main house but smaller, which can accommodate a total of twenty bedrooms.
The history to which this Renaissance villa is linked makes it even more fascinating: built between the fifth and sixteenth century by the family of a famous Florentine painter, called Il Ghirlandaio, the farm became their place of vacation and leisure. One of the testimonies is represented by the previous frescoes painted by Ghirlandaio himself, at the family chapel.
Located so close to Florence, that from one of the balconies you can even admire the Brunelleschi’s dome, situated in the center of Florence. In the large Italian garden, there are two swimming pools, one of which is heated, a private pond for fishing, a spa equipped with an emotional shower with chromo therapy, sauna, Turkish bath, massage room and a small gym.
Each of the six houses has its own characteristics, but all have in common the quality of the materials used and the refinement of the furnishings. In the many details, you can grasp the best of the Florentine artisan tradition. The finishes of these spaces are of the highest level, with refined parquet or two-coloured floors. In the main villa, the walls are characterized by warm pastel colours and embellished with refined trompe-l’oeil.
The bedrooms are equipped with air conditioning, have their own bathroom covered in precious marble and windows that offer views of the park and the surrounding landscape. The walls are white lime, a warm white that also covers the wooden structure of the roof, while the floor is made of parquet of antique oak planks, a feature that makes each room different. The main villa is part of an ancient dovecote, built as a kind of tower, which has been transformed into the most charming and exclusive bedroom. One of its windows frames the Certosa of Florence while, in the distance, the Santa Maria del Fiore dome stands out. Below the main villa, there is the SPA, an extremely suggestive place with stone walls and a charming brick barrel vault. The other house, adjoining the main villa, together they form the original nucleus called the farm. From here it is possible to access the private chapel where the beautiful frescoes of Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio is kept. The style of the farm is certainly more rustic than that of the main villa; simple white lime plasters and stone floors. Some rooms together with the living room are characterized by particular vaulted ceilings brought to light during the restoration. These, made of terracotta tiles from Impruneta, tell the craftsmanship of those who built them 500 years ago.
main villa sleeps 10/11
ground floor
living room with fireplace and table for 4 people, dining room with table for 8 people and direct access to outdoor, fully equipped kitchen with double lavabo and direct access to outdoor, spacious living room with fireplace and direct access to outdoor covered area with stone built BBQ and pizza oven.
bedroom 1 double bed (convertible into a twin bedroom), accessible by wheelchair users, with single sofa bed, safe, and en suite bathroom with shower (plus extra hand held shower).
first floor
21 steps up
bedroom 2 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with (step down) shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
bedroom 3 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with bath tub and shower cabin inside the tub (plus extra hand held shower).
bedroom 4 double bed (convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
second floor
17 steps up
bedroom 5 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower) and view.
guesthouse Fattoria, sleeps 8
ground floor
small living room with French windows, TV , dining area with table for 6 people, fully equipped kitchen with direct access to courtyard.
first floor
15 steps up
bedroom 6 double bed (convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
bedroom 7 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with double lavabo, shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
bedroom 8 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom (smaller) with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
bedroom 9 bedroom with queen size bed (small double bed), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower) and direct access to outdoor with view of the second swimming pool with waterfall and lawn, 4 steps down to arrive at the courtyard.
guesthouse Studio, sleeps 7
next to the restaurant, outdoor covered area
ground floor
living room with fireplace, TV, dining table for 8/10 people, fully equipped kitchen with direct access to outdoor, guest bathroom.
first floor
17 steps up
bedroom 10 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower) and access to bedroom with single bed;
bedroom 11 single bed.
second floor
15 steps up
bedroom 12 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
bedroom 13 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
guesthouse Frantoio, sleeps 8
ground floor
living room with fireplace and TV, 2 steps up: spacious living room with fireplace and table for 6 people, access to outdoor small courtyard, fully equipped kitchen (no window) with table for 4 people. From the courtyard access to Stalla;
bedroom 14 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
first floor
23 steps up
bedroom 15 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
bedroom 16 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe.
1 bathroom with double lavabo and shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
bedroom 17 bedroom with queen size bed (small double bed).
guesthouse Bottega, sleeps 4
in front of Fattoria
ground floor
living room with TV, table for 6 people, fully equipped open kitchen with cooking island and doors opening to outdoor area, guest bathroom.
4 steps up;
bedroom 18 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with bath tub and shower cabin inside the tub (plus extra hand held shower).
bedroom 19 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower).
guesthouse Limonaia, sleeps 2
ground floor
small living room with view to the second pool.
bedroom 20 double bed (not convertible into a twin bedroom), safe and en suite bathroom with shower cabin (plus extra hand held shower) and direct access to outdoor. This guest house is wheelchair friendly.
outdoor
30 hectares of park/garden with a private pond for fishing, heated swimming pool with amazing views, second swimming pool, vineyards, oak woods, fields, outdoor furnished terraces, furnished lawns. SPA equipped with an emotional shower with chromo therapy, sauna, Turkish bath, massage room and small gym with weights.
notes
Grillanda is situated along a countryside road. One bedroom with en suite bathroom on the ground floor of the main villa is accessible by wheelchair users. The fireplaces are decoration only. Staff living on site. On the estate, in a separate area, an 80-year-old painter has his residence, privacy is definitely guaranteed unless guests would be interested in having painting and sculpture lessons from the artist, which can be organized at an extra cost. The artist has his works exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery.