Tuscany Villa
A jewel of the Tuscan countryside, Castello delle Serre majestically sits at the top of the charming medieval town of Serre di Rapolano. This is the passage into the Crete Senesi, the area that has sparked the worldwide love affair with Tuscany.

The medieval borough of Serre di Rapolano is an unspoiled jewel in the heart of southern Tuscany, where the visitor is transported into a bygone era of pristine daily Italian village life.

Castello delle Serre is the ideal location for wine lovers, strategically positioned between the areas of Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino, there are many wineries to visit.

In every direction one turns there are countless unspoiled hilltop towns, rich with cultural treasures from the Medieval Ages to the Late Renaissance. Siena, San Gimignano, Florence, Chianti, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, Cortona, Perugia and Assisi are all easily accessible by car.

Whether it is churches, monasteries, classical architecture, museums, pottery, Italian shopping or the simple aspects of everyday Italian life that draw you, all of this in the near vicinity.

The natural sulfuric waters of Rapolano Terme are only four kilometers form the castle. In the town of Rapolano Terme are two spa centers where Europeans have been coming for centuries to relax in the warm healing waters that spew through the town’s limestone foundations.

Tuscany is one of the most scenic areas in all of Italy and has a rich cultural and artistic heritage reaching back centuries. As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Tuscany is home to the largest collection of Renaissance-era art and architecture in all of Italy. The region includes the historic cities of Florence, Siena and Pisa as well as countless other picturesque small towns and villages, hill towns and vineyards to delight every traveler. Life in a Tuscany Villa is what many think of when they imagine life in Italy.

Art and wine are two of the greatest attractions to the region, and renting a Tuscany Villa will allow you easy access to both. Tuscany is comprised of ten provinces -- Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena -- as well as the wine growing region of Chianti and the ecogreen area of Casentino. The art cities of Florence, Siena, Lucca and Pisa offer a sophisticated contrast to the simpler country life of smaller outlying towns and villages.

Florence and Siena are the art centers of Tuscany. What many consider to be the best collection of Renaissance art in the world is in the Uffizi Gallery of Florence, and Michelangelo’s masterpiece David can be seen in the city's Galleria dell'Accademia. The city was the home to the powerful Medicis, and today visitors can tour the family's palaces and gardens. A number of well-known works reside in the galleries and churches of Siena. The Piazza del Campo with its tall bell tower Torree del Mangia is a great place to picnic and people watch. Don't miss the Duomos; each city has its own.

Tuscany hills towns and wine country are another side of the beautiful region. The hill towns offer stunning views and architecture, while wine country allows you to experience the rolling, rustic fields many think of when they consider this region, as well as world-class wines. This is the home of Chianti, and many wineries are open for tours and tasting. Any Tuscany villa will be within an easy drive of such attractions.

Tuscany villa rentals are a popular and often more convenient option than staying in a hotel. Beautifully renovated palazzos, cottages and even castles are available as your home base in the region. Most places in the Tuscany region are easily accessible by train from or through the central station of Florence. Alternately you may rent a car and make various day trips. The city of Siena or the southern border of Firenze are both located in central Tuscany and offer relatively easy drives to other areas. Staying in a central location allows visitors to experience more of the rich cultural heritage of the area without worrying about where to stay each night.

Wine, art, history and nature combine to give travelers a memorable visit to the region. From the historic and sophisticated cities to the bucolic countryside, Tuscany has something for everyone. For many travelers, a Tuscan villa is the idea of a vacation dream come true. Enjoy the tranquility of the countryside with full access to the many cultural delights of this bucolic yet culturally rich territory of central Italy.