La Bandita is a converted farmhouse dating from the 15th century. It forms part of the 830-hectare (2050-acre) estate of the Abbazia di Spineto, a Benedictine abbey of the Vallombrosan Order founded in 1085, and named after the “spinaie” (brambles), once a dominant feature of this beautiful and unspoilt southern Tuscan landscape of woodland, pasture and rolling hills. The abbey reached its zenith in the 12–14th centuries, when its activities focused on religious devotion and agriculture. It eventually closed in 1783, and since 1830 has been in private hands. Today the old abbey buildings are used as a study centre and for conferences and cultural events, but eleven of its farmhouses, scattered across the estate, have been recently converted into comfortable rental villas, each with its own private pool. The style adopted for their renovation mixes modern comfort and convenience with a simple, rustic, Tuscan style, in keeping with the history of the estate. The Abbazia di Spineto is very well placed for touring some of the most treasured towns and cities of Tuscany and Umbria, including Montepulciano, Pienza, Perugia and Orvieto. Visitors can walk, jog and fish on the estate; mountain bikes are available for rent; there are tennis courts and horse-riding facilities nearby; thermal pools and a spa lie 15 minutes away by car, and a golf course 25 minutes away.
One of the oldest farmhouses on the estate, La Bandita has a beautiful setting, nestled among the hills with woodland close by. The oval-shaped pool (5 x 11m) is set into a grassy hillside, with fine views across a small natural lake and into the valley. The renovations have made the most of the wide brick arches, and the arched brick ceilings. The décor has been kept agreeably simple, with some clever modern touches, such as the spiral staircase to the first floor. The total floor area is about 400 square metres, lending a feeling of spaciousness to the interior. The ground floor has a large sitting/dining room with a Tuscan arch divider, and a door to the garden. The spacious kitchen likewise has a door to the garden. There are also three double bedrooms on this floor, with large twin beds and en-suite bathrooms with shower (one with handicap facilities), and separate entrances from the garden. There is also a cloakroom with a WC.
A spiral staircase leads to the first floor, which can also be accessed by an external entrance from the higher garden level. Here there is a second sitting room on the landing, plus four bedrooms with large twin beds, and en-suite bathrooms with shower and WC. Wi-fi access is available to guests at the main office in the abbey. Some of the bedrooms can be made up as double beds on request.
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GROUND FLOOR
Sitting/dining room, kitchen, cloakroom with WC;
2 bedrooms with large twin beds, and en-suite bathrooms with shower and WC; 1 bedroom with large twin beds and en-suite bathroom with shower and WC (with handicap facilities).
FIRST FLOOR
Sitting room/landing room. 4 bedrooms with large twinbeds, and en-suite bathrooms with shower and WC.
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Maid service 3 times a week. Daily swimming-pool cleaning. Also available on request: laundry services, babysitting, additional domestic help, the services of a cook, car rental, airport transfer. |
