Verdi - Montaione - Tuscany

Podere Il Sapito is a large organic farm in the heart of Tuscany producing top quality wines. In 2009, the owners refurbished two farmhouses to make eight characterful holiday homes. Verdi is one of the two back-to-back cottages in the smaller building. Each cottage has its own private garden and terrace - with barbecue of course. The landscaping is deliciously lush with olive trees, mediterranean oaks, oleanders and wisteria. Banks of rosemary and lavender attract butterflies and bees to this chemical-free oasis of pure air. The two farm buildings are set into a hillside, so there are winding pathways and wide stone stairways. The dense planting on every level gives shade and a sense of privacy to both the cottages and the six apartments set around the pool. It's a lovely place!

Verdi is a two storey cottage with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an open gallery/sitting room with a wide settee which convert into a comfortable double bed. The kitchen is simple, but it has all you could need including a fan oven, four gas hobs and a dishwasher. The decor is authentically traditional, as you can see from our photos. There's a terrace for dining conveniently next to the kitchen door, plus a cute terrace a little lower down for private sunbathing should you choose not to go down to the swimming pool.

The generous landscaping tumbles down to the pool, which is amply supplied with sun loungers and a shady pergola. The swimming pool incorporates a little paddling area for tiny tots. There’s also a tiny tots play area, table tennis and, just 5 minutes walk away, there's tennis too. There’s even a little "estate shop" where you can buy the farm’s own organic produce (zero food miles!) as well as their wines. The impressive cinta senese pigs produce divine salami, bacon and sausages. They also sell their own olive oil, their own saffron and even their own estate produced pasta sauces - all of it organic of course.

The pigs live in the woods and you are welcome to wander the estate's 5 km of pathways, spotting the wildlife as you go. Apart from the pigs with their distinctive pink "saddles", if you are fortunate you'll also see deer and pheasants, as well as a host of birds and a great many ducks. Should you fancy sightseeing, you can be in the centre of Florence in an hour, Volterra in 30 minutes or San Gimignano in 20. There are restaurants aplenty in the area including a delightful restaurant in the beautiful convent at nearby San Vivaldo as well as the friendly trattoria mentioned above. Book your holiday in the pure air at Sapito for a special Tuscan experience!