This extraordinary castle is set high on a hillside in the Chianti wine region just south of Florence on the road to Siena. It was originally built in the 10th century on the ruins of an ancient Roman settlement by the Buondelmonti family, who owned the castle for nine centuries. During the Renaissance (between 1450 and 1500) the inside of this feudal castle was converted into a villa and recently it has been beautifully restored by its current owners. No detail has been overlooked. The castle is filled with fine Italian antiques, gracious, comfortable sofas and chairs, gorgeous canopy beds and all modern conveniences including an elevator. A huge central reception room divides the castle into two sections, the Conventino and the Torre. This magnificent room also opens on to an arched patio that overlooks the elegant swimming pool and out over the sweeping valley of the Pesa River. In all there are a total of eleven bedrooms, most with en suite bathrooms: 2 master bedrooms, 5 double bedrooms and 4 single bedrooms; and all this just 15 minutes from Florence. Ground Floor Conventino · Large comfortable living room · Large master bedroom with queen-size canopy bed and en suite bathroom Torre (with elevator) · Super large living room with fireplace · Bathroom · Huge, well equipped kitchen · Arched patio facing the swimming pool with panoramic view of the valley · Master bedroom with queen-size canopy bed and en suite bathroom · Double bedroom with en suite bathroom First Floor Conventino · Living room · 3 Double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms Torre (with elevator) · Living room · Double bedroom with en suite bathroom Second Floor Torre (with elevator) · 4 Single bedrooms · 2 bathrooms shared by the above bedrooms · Large game room/sitting room with two of the above bedrooms on each side · Beautiful loggia overlooking the swimming pool and valley Amenities: Telephone, fax, modern kitchen, elevator and weekly linen change Staff: Two maids daily for 10 hours a day, except Sunday. A cook and assistant cook provide breakfast and one meal a day. The house manager lives nearby and can arrange day trips, horseback riding, golfing, tennis and walking tours. Services Available at an Additional Cost: A waiter for the table can be arranged by separate payment