Villa Petrolo - 17C villa sleeps 33, huge gardens, tennis courts, private chef

The Downton Abbey of Tuscany for fine, authentic surroundings! This prestigious wine estate is where former UK prime minister Cameron stayed in 2011 on the edge of lovely Chianti. Jamie Oliver is also known to visit.
Sleep up to 17, or add the optional upper floor and sleep up to 33.

This is a very special villa for a very special holiday experience! It's convenient for trips into Siena and Florence should you be intent on organising your own mini "Grand Tour". You can rent the main part of the grand 17th century villa - the lower floor and the Piano Nobile above - to sleep up to 17 people or you can choose to add the more basic bedrooms on the top floor and sleep up to 33 people. The choice is yours: for 17 guests or up to 33 as you require.

Set in 80 acres of olive groves and vineyards, with its own private park with a small formal garden, an ancient fountain, pristine tennis courts and private swimming pool, Villa Petrolo is deep down "genuine Toscana, with 21st century mod cons. It's a gem, and perfect for that special celebration. It's hardly to be wondered at that this villa has hosted the prime ministers of Britain and France as well as food guru Jamie Oliver. It would be hard to get better references for a holiday home!
As you can see, Villa Petrolo can be rented in two ways: the ground floor and the Piano Nobile (literally the noble floor) upstairs make a fine setting for up to 17 guests, while adding the simpler accommodation on the villa's top floor, means even the largest group, up to 33, fits very comfortably. The top floor accommodation is split into two apartments, one for 7 and the other for 9.
There are two kitchens on the ground floor - a "normal" one and a professional, stainless steel kitchen with all the facilities one could need for serving large groups. There's also an old brick bread oven in the grounds, the perfect focus for an outdoor pizza party. The ever helpful staff in the estate's office have two excellent local ladies on call who will cook for you at any time - one cook for smaller occasions, otherwise the two of them together. From breakfast to informal pizza to light lunches or elegant suppers, you just pay for the ingredients and their time - and you'll find out for yourself that it's not only a wonderfully economical way to live-the-life, it also gives you the kind of authentic Tuscan experience.
The ground floor reception rooms open directly on to the gardens and one can choose to eat under the shady pergola by day, under the stars by night, or in the villa's dining room. There's ample space to find a quiet nook or spend time all together. Between the ballroom upstairs (with its elegant Venetian chandelier), three sitting rooms downstairs and the large games room with pool table, space just isn't an issue. Down by the pool, there's a shady pool house where the fit can enjoy endless ping pong matches if they've had to abandon the tennis courts for the hottest part of the Tuscan day.
Luca Sanjust, Petrolo's owner, produces delicious organic olive oil from the estate's olive groves, but above all, he and his staff make some of the most sensually pleasurable wines in Tuscany. You can take an escorted tour of the estate's ancient olive mill as well as taste your way around the estate's well-stocked wine cellars during your stay. There are also three small, private lakes on the estate if fishing takes your fancy. The picture-book-perfect parish church of Galatrona is just a short stroll through an olive grove (very "Room with a View"!) if you want to check out the fine ceramics of Giovanni della Robbia (1469-1529). Go a little further into the hills and you will come to a local landmark, the ancient stone watch tower of Galatrona, built to dominate the area over 2,000 years ago.

Live like a genuine Tuscan noble; dine on local produce cooked in your own professional kitchen, served by candlelight in your own garden or dining room, accompanied by your own estate's wines. In other words, this really is the Tuscan version of life at Downton Abbey!

The villa is priced for 33 people. Please enquire for prices for up to 17 people


The Villa for up to 17 Guests
On the main floor (the "piano nobile"):
- 1 double bedroom with en suite bathroom with bath tub
- 2 bedrooms with 2 single beds & en suite bathrooms with tub
- 2 bedrooms with 2 single beds & en suite bathrooms with shower
- 1 suite with double bedroom and single bedroom sharing a bathroom with bath tub
- ballroom suitable for parties or concerts
On lower floor:
- 1 bedroom with 2 single beds and en suite bathroom with bath tub
- 3 living rooms
- dining room
- games room with pool table
- 2 kitchens (one professional)
- half bathroom
- laundry room

For 18 to 33 Guests on the top floor of the villa:

Apartment for 9 guests:
- 1 bedroom with 3 single beds
- 1 double bedroom
- 2 bedrooms with 2 single beds
- 2 bathrooms (1 with shower, 1 with bath tub)

Apartment for 7 guests:
- 1 bedroom with 3 single beds
- 2 bedrooms with 2 single beds
- 2 bathrooms (1 with shower, 1 with bath tub)

4 hours domestic help every day, broadband (wireless), satellite TV, DVD & CD players, barbecue, ping pong table in pool house, pool table in games room, 3 small fishing lakes, traditional pizza oven, private tennis court.

Cook/s available for dining at home 18 euro per hour plus the cost of ingredients and wine.

The lower two floors can be rented for up to 17 people. Additional bedrooms can be added on the top floor.

Pool info: Private pool, (40 ft x 20 ft, 8 ft deep)

Note: Private pool open May 2 - October 3

price includes 4 hours domestic help every day