L'Eremo - Gaiole - Tuscany

The Eremo offers you a delightful, private villa with its own orchard and two spacious terraces set amongst vineyards and olive trees in the hills of exclusive Chianti - and you also get all the convenience of the facilities used by the guests staying in the apartments on the same estate (three minutes walk from your electric gates). You’ve got your own, entirely private space, but you can tap into the tennis courts, leap into the large pool shared by the apartment guests, fish in the lake, visit the peacocks and the cashmere goats and even order breakfast or dinner delivered to your door if you don’t feel like the short walk to the estate restaurant. In a nutshell, L’Eremo offers you a clever combination of the privacy of your own, very enviable villa in its private grounds plus the possibility of joining the “neighbours” should you or the kids feel like company. This house is the perfect solution to everyone’s holiday needs - and deliveries from the restaurant are the Tuscan cherry on the top!

The house is 1.5 km from the medieval fortified village of Barbischio (with its cute little trattoria) and 3 km from Gaiole in Chianti. Walk up the lane from your gates and you’ll be at the thickset castle of Castagnoli in 30 minutes. The ruins of Castello di Vertine, the refinements of Badia a Coltibuono (a pretty garden to visit, fabulous wines, wonderful meals!) and the rich red wines of Brolio and the Castello di Meleto are right there on your doorstep. Is it any wonder that the houses you see from your garden are the Tuscan retreats of famous artists and well-know celebrities?!

The Eremo (which translates as the hermitage), dates back to the 600s and belonged to the Ricasoli family - the famous “Iron Baron” Ricasoli was so offended when a handsome young man dared to dance with his beautiful young wife, he swept her off to the hills and (happily for us!) invented Chianti to while away their peaceful days. Or so we’re told! This large estate, with its woods, vineyards and olive groves, fell into disuse and has, over recent years, been carefully restored by Signor Giuseppe. The wine cellars are a fundamental part of life on the estate and you can tap into guided tours of the vineyards with a sommelier to follow through with an expert's tasting of the estate wines. If you want even more spoiling extras, then swing by the estate's little beauty centre and indulge in aroma therapy, a shiatsu massage, a facial or a Turkish bath. There's also "chocolate therapy" and "wine therapy" and a host of other indulgences on their list. The ever helpful staff at reception, in the main complex, are always ready to help. They'll book you in for a cookery class, give you the train times for a hassle-free journey that'll drop you in the heart of fabulous Florence, they'll set up horse riding and even organise bike rental if you want to explore the lovely lanes of Tuscany. Nothing is too much trouble to ensure your holiday is outstanding - even a scarlet Ferrari or a hot air balloon ride can be organised!

L’Eremo is on three levels. The ground floor is very spacious (as you can see from the pictures) and there are fabulous views of the surrounding countryside from the huge picture windows. The sauna and the heated swimming pool are typical of the care that has gone into restoring this charming villa to ensure you’ll experience the authentic Italian lifestyle. The kitchen is nicely equipped if you prefer to do your own cooking, or you can stroll over to the estate restaurant - or even ask them to deliver. There are two bedrooms on the ground floor, the rather grand pink room with its super-smart shower and a small bedroom with two single beds and simple en suite shower room. Upstairs you’ll find the red bedroom which is another double bedroom with a very smart en suite bathroom and the kind of walk-in wardrobe you’ll wish you could take home with you! Doors open off the bedroom onto the enormous first floor terrace and the steps that take you out to your private orchard. Carrying on up to the top floor, there’s a little lobby with a writing desk, then the yellow bedroom with another handsome en suite bathroom, but this time with a spa bath.

The Eremo is a clever choice for the discerning traveler - you’re peacefully private, but you can plug into the amenities used by the other guests on the estate any time you care to step outside your gates. The tennis courts are just over five minutes walk away as is the other swimming pool, the fishing lake and the mini zoo. For shopping you can hop in the car and be in Gaiole in barely 5 minutes or historic Radda in 15. Florence is only an hour’s drive away and Siena too. Or decide to stay home, soak up the sun and enjoy the many "extras" barley a stone's throw away.

Step into L’Eremo and make your Tuscan Dream a wonderful reality this holiday!