Villa for sale in Rufina, Tuscany, Italy

On the hills of Florence, in the Chianti Rufina production area and bordering the Casentino National Forest, historic estate of 76.1 hectares with a medieval hamlet The buildings (more than 2,800 sqm in total) include various villas, tastefully restored in the Tuscan tradition, which could be managed as an accommodation business Including the buildings to be renovated, the property can reach a total of 38 bedrooms. The land, mainly woodland, is also home to over 2,000 olive trees that produce an excellent extra virgin olive oil.
All villas face sunny valley and have spectacular views.
Services are all available in the nearby village (6km; 10') and Rufina is a little further away (11km; 15'). The center of Florence can be reached in about 40' and other Tuscan cities are within easy reach (Arezzo, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Siena...). For shopping lovers, the luxury outlet The Mall is just 40’ away by car, right next to the Incisa-Reggello highway junction. The nearby Parco delle Foreste Casentinesi is the ideal natural area where one can go walking and hiking and enjoy the peaceful landscape of Tuscany.

Description of the buildings
The main building of the property is Villa N°1 (875 sqm – 9,415 sqft, 10 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms) built in 1604 in the Tuscan style, complete with a private chapel, which has been conservatively restored to retain its salient features. On the ground floor, there is also a distinctive aristocratic chapel consecrated in 1793 by the pope and still used today. The rooms are spacious and bright, with beamed high ceilings, frescoes and original terracotta floors. In the lower level are the building's large historic cellars, which could also be restored if a wine business were to be set up. The villa (with two adjoining apartments, each with 2 bedrooms) features three beautiful original fireplaces and all the furniture and paintings are included in the selling price.
Off the courtyard filled with lemon trees is Casa Giardino that could be used either as a guesthouse or as a keeper’s quarter. The current layout include a living area with an original fireplace, a large kitchen with exit to the garden, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

Opposite the villa is an agricultural warehouse (195 sqm – 2,098 sqft) that includes various rooms for storing oil, a garage for two cars, a workshop/laboratory and an elevated level with access from the road with warehouses, workshops and office.

Next to the main villa, Villa N°2 (225 sqm – 2,421 sqft, 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms) is a building of medieval layout (dating back to year 1000), formerly a guard post for the San Leolino castle just beyond the valley. Today the building is divided into two apartments (each with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms) with a beautiful garden at the back, sheltered from prying eyes, and two original fireplaces still intact. A little further down the valley is an agricultural outbuilding (180 sqm – 1,937 sqft) used in the past as a stable for animals, now a garage and tool shed.

Villa N°3 (410 sqm – 4,412 sqft, 8 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms) enjoys a splendid view of the Tuscan hills. The building is on four levels with independent entrances on each floor (thus divided into four apartments, each with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom). The finishes are classic, with terracotta floors, wooden beams on the ceilings, two original fireplaces and plastered walls. An 8 × 4 m pool completes the villa.

Villa N°4 (465 sqm – 5,003 sqft, 10 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms) is a two-story farmhouse divided into three independent apartments, plus a basement used as storage. The house features beamed ceilings, skylights a huge piazza
- Unit A (4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms)
- Unit B (4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms)
- Unit C (2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms)
A 10 × 5 m swimming pool located in the private garden completes the property.

Villa N°5 (420 sqm – 4,519 sqft, 8 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms) is a rustic three-story building undergoing renovation. Work had begun a few years ago but was not completed: The permits have now expired but it is possible to file the paperwork for completion. The plan was to create eight bedrooms in the building, with three separate entrances. As things stand, walls and roofs have been entirely renovated.
- Lower ground floor entrance, living room with kitchen, laundry and bedroom with bathroom and walk-in wardrobe;
- Upper ground floor living room, kitchen and three bedrooms with private bathroom;
- First floor living room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Casa Michelangelo (60 sqm – 646 sqft, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms) is a lovely independent stone farmhouse located not far from Villa Poggetto, laid over three floors and divided into two apartments in need of renovation and updates:
- Unit C (first floor): Kitchen with dining area, bedroom and bathroom;
- Unit D(second floor): Living room with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

History of the property
The history of the property began in the Middle Ages, around the year 1000, when the Conti Guidi had four castles built in the area to guard their territory. These fortresses were then entirely dismantled in the 16th century by order of Cosimo de' Medici, who was concerned that these buildings might be used against Florence in some way.

The manor house dates back to the 17th century and a very schematic representation of the building dates back to this period. The stone buildings, on the other hand, are older and are probably remodels of medieval buildings once linked to the fortress of San Leolino.

Families who have owned the estate over the years include the Strozzi and Passerini families (related among others to the powerful Roman Orsini family). During the Second World War, the estate was used by the Germans as a command post and this saved the buildings from the bombing that hit the surrounding area instead. The first significant restorations date back to the 1960s and 1980s, with more recent work carried out by the current owners.
At the moment, without considering Villa Verdi that is under renovation, the property (potentially) includes thirteen apartments for the guests.

Exteriors
Surrounding the villa and between the buildings of the main hamlet is a lush garden, well-tended and marked by stone walls: In front of the villa, sheltered from the street and prying eyes, there is also a 9 × 5 m swimming pool where you can spend hot summer days. This green space between the buildings is also the perfect setting for events, private ceremonies or even business meetings and seminars. Two more swimming pools (respectively 8 × 4 m and 10 × 5 m are located next to the other villas and are reserved for guests of those buildings).

The farm covers a total area of 76.1 hectares (188.0 acres), spread over five farms in the Tuscan hills. Much of the land is covered by woods (52.4 ha) with plants typical of the Tuscan environment. At proper elevations are olive groves (a total of 10.9 ha with over 2,000 trees) and various fields (12.8 ha) that are also potentially suitable for planting vineyards.