Italy | Toscana - Firenze

IL DEFIZIO

Description:
"E da noi, sei di casa" – With us, you are at home. This is the one-liner in the brochure of the beautiful, small complex. And right they are. This accommodation is run by two young couples, who commit themselves for the full 100 % - and even more – to please their guests and we feel they do an excellent job. This is a wonderful accommodation, existing of four buildings, quietly situated, surrounded by beautiful nature and close to the village of Gambassi Terme, and the ever appealing culture-cities of Florence and Siena are within easy reach.

The landscape is typically Tuscan, with cypresses, olive- and wine groves and small woods, but also lots of hamlets, villages and small towns inviting you to a visit of which you will not be sorry, even if only for the special atmosphere.

We were impressed by the beautiful swimming pool, amidst a perfectly maintained garden. The pool is one of the kind inviting you to “hang around” on the sides, so that you can do some serious staring at the surrounding nature. When we mentioned this, we heard that many guests do the same, which proves that one can hardly boost of a very original idea!

The apartments are very well suited for those who want peace and quiet, enjoyment of the lay-out and nature, but when feeling like some excitement and life, it does not take long to find a terrace on the “Campo” of Siena, or do some serious shopping in this city. And Florence is also not far!

The apartments have their own entrance and have been very carefully renovated/restored. The chosen furniture, in rural style, is tasteful and comfortable, providing a romantic, delightful atmosphere. All apartments have a sitting/dining room with kitchen corner, provided with gasstove (4 burners), a microwave and refrigerator, and have one or two bedrooms and a bathroom, air-conditioning and satellite TV. Moreover, each apartment has a private space outside with table, chairs and a parasol, ideally situated for meals “al fresco”, or just a drink and watch the sunset……. There is a separate space with a washing machine for communal use.

In the main building, in which also some hotel rooms are situated, you will find the reception and a spacious lounge, with Internet point. The cosy bar is a small flight of stairs lower, and another flight of stairs down you find the restaurant where guests, not only those who rented a hotel room but also apartment-guests, can make use of the breakfast service (against extra costs for the latter, and please let the management know a day beforehand). We enjoyed a breakfast here and can vouch for an experience to titillate your taste-buds! Twice a week the restaurant is open for diner. Light lunches also possible.

Our conclusion: A very special accommodation, centrally situated in a beautiful nature, where you will feel cosseted and cared-for.

Facilities:
Reception, fenced garden of 1.500 m², restaurant/breakfast room, bar, covered parking, swimming pool for communal use with deck-chairs and parasols, heating, air conditioning, telephone, sat. TV, Internet point, washing machine (communal use), upon request barbeque. Rental of mountain bikes.

Possibilities for sports/excursions:
Walking and trekking. Distances in approx. kms. to: tennis (10), riding (11), fishing (16), golf (13, in Castelfalfi), Spa (10). Visits to Florence can easily done by railway (parking in Florence itself is an almost impossible venture): You drive to Certaldo or Castelfiorentino with your own car, park it there, get yourself a railway ticket and find yourself within an hour into the heart of the city. Of course, a day spent by mountain bike could be quite a sportive challenge, and those who like that will not be disappointed. Possibilities for excursions are too many to mention because of the central lay-out of this accommodation. Also look under “distances”. The city of Lucca should, in our opinion, be worth more than just one visit. You might feel sportive and take a walk on top of the city walls, or cycle along them. In case your favourite hobby is “sitting on a terrace”(one of our favourites, too…) we can wholeheartedly advise you to go to one of the most special “piazza’s” of Tuscany, the Piazza L’Anfiteatro. A “must”, as a matter of course, is Florence, with so many interesting museums and lots of wonderful shopping to do. There are lots and lots of shops, from the designer ones to the more tourist-minded ones, and moreover lots of markets. Moreover, there is Siena with a splendid cathedral and its world-famous piazza, the “Campo” and, as a matter of course, also numerous lovely shops. The leaning tower of Pisa, just in case you never saw this with your own eyes: You will not be disappointed. And there are some other, very beautiful old buildings on the same square! The sea-shore is not that far away, and also worth-wile a visit.

Distances: (in approx. kms)
San Gimignano 19, Volterra 29, Siena 50, Florence 65, Lucca 67, Pisa 70, beach of Cecina Mare 67.

Lay-out of the apartments:
Casalino (45 m², 2 + 2 pers.):
Ground floor: Living/dining room with kitchen corner and sofa-bed; double bedroom, bathroom with basin, bidet, toilet and shower, private garden with table, chairs and parasol. Nice view.
Discosto (45 m², 2 + 2 pers.):
Ground floor: Living/dining room with kitchen corner and sofa-bed; double bedroom, bathroom with basin, bidet, toilet and shower, private garden with table, chairs and parasol. Nice view.
Pertugio (45 m², 2 + 2 pers.):
Ground floor: Living/dining room with kitchen corner and sofa-bed; double bedroom, bathroom with basin, bidet, toilet and shower, private garden with table, chairs and parasol. Nice view.
Elitropia (70 m², 4 + 2 pers.):
Ground floor: Living/dining room with kitchen corner and sofa-bed; 1 double bedroom, 1 twin bedroom, 2 bathrooms, one with basin, bidet, toilet and bath and one with basin, bidet, toilet and shower. Private garden with table, chairs and parasol.
Fortunale (65 m², 4 + 2 pers.) :
On two floors
Ground floor: Living/dining room with kitchen corner, open fire place and sofa-bed, bathroom with basin, bidet, toilet and shower.
First floor: Two double bedrooms, bathroom with basin, bidet, toilet and shower. Terrace with table, chairs and parasol.
Connubio (65 m², 4 + 2 pers.):
Ground floor: Living/dining room with kitchen corner, open fire place and sofa-bed, bathroom with basin, bidet, toilet and shower.
First floor: Two double bedrooms, bathroom with basin, bidet, toilet and shower. Terrace with table, chairs and parasol.
Cavezza/Serafico (75 m², 4 + 2 pers):
First floor: Living/dining room with kitchen corner and sofa-bed, storing space, double bedroom, bedroom with 2 bunkbeds, 2 bathrooms with basin, bidet, toilet and shower. Outside space with table, chairs and parasol.

The prices given are in Euro's
Prices for other periods than mentioned above, please inquire

Particulars:
Minimal rental period 7 nights, from Saturday till Saturday, for the apartments. During the low seasons, other periods might be possible, but with a minimum of 4 nights

Included in the rental price: Usage of water, gas, electricity, heating, air conditioning and bed-, bath- and kitchen linens on a basis of a weekly change. Usage of barbeque, washing machine (you provide your own washing powder), baby bed inclusive linens and high chair. In case you make use of the breakfast service: Children up till and included their 5th year enjoy a free breakfast

Not included in the rental price: Usage of telephone, Internet, wood for the open fire place and final cleaning. Final cleaning for the apartments Elitropia, Connubio, Serafico and Cavezza: € 60,00. Final cleaning for the apartments Casalino, Discosto and Pertugio: € 50,00. These costs to be paid before leaving

A deposit is not applicable here

Check-in on the day of arrival between 15.00-19.00 hrs. Check-out on the day of departure before 10.00 hrs.

The swimming pool (16 x 5 m., with a depth of 1,20 –1,50 m) is open starting the second week of April, and closure only when the last guests have departed

Pets are not allowed

A car is necessary

Excellent English spoken

Please take note that there are some steps in the apartments to level the general lay-out, and that the terrain itself is terrace-shaped. The apartments have been restored whilst keeping, as much as possible, to their authenticality. Therefore, it might be possible that the guests in some of the apartments on the ground floor might hear some noise from those above