VILLA MACHIAVELLI

Tuscany’s evergreen allure has only been enhanced in recent years by a wave of superbly restored, beautifully presented villas, and Villa Machiavelli’s faithful restoration embodies Tuscan beauty in truly stunning fashion — a remarkable 15th-century historic home skilfully brought into the modern age.

Once belonging to the Machiavelli and Mazzei families, Villa Machiavelli has been carefully modernised and refurnished throughout, though many of the property’s finest original features have endured to this day. These include bathrooms crafted from rare marble, original stone and parquet flooring, antique furnishings, and superb pieces of artwork, alongside a number of beautifully rediscovered frescoes.

The villa’s proximity to Renaissance Florence — close enough to dip in and out of the city’s wonderful streets, delicious cafés, and incredible shopping and dining — makes it one of Tuscany’s most desirably located larger properties. Among its most striking features are the many broad, beautifully arranged terraces, accessed through elegant French doors and overlooking the villa’s lovely gardens and neatly ordered vineyards. From here, guests can glimpse Brunelleschi’s famous Duomo across the treetops in the distance, a gentle reminder that while surrounded by open countryside, Florence itself remains tantalisingly close.

The superbly renovated interiors, at times boldly designed, include a formal dining room, two lovely reception rooms, an entrance hallway adorned with 16th-century frescoes, a family kitchen, four fireplaces, and a laundry room. On the lower ground floor, through large oak doors, guests will find a wonderfully atmospheric wine cellar, complete with an intimate dining area and adjoining kitchen. Elsewhere on this level, a superb spa and gym facility awaits, featuring a private indoor pool alongside a state-of-the-art steam room and sauna.

Spread across the ground and first floors, all bedrooms are individually decorated and fully air-conditioned, each opening onto spectacular terraces with sweeping views over Chianti. Every room also includes its own separate living room, offering plenty of extra space, along with a dedicated dining area. Bathrooms are consistently fitted out in striking configurations of marble, some exceptionally rare and prized, while plasma TVs and Wi-Fi broadband run throughout the property.