Modern Luxury Villa in Chianti for Rent [Villa Torre il Santo]

Villa Torre il Santo is a newly renovated eight bedroom air-conditioned modern luxury villa located overlooking the UNESCO world heritage site of San Gimignano.

Originally built in 1,000 A.D., this spectacular villa was meticulously restored in 2013 using its original stones and beams to create a bright and luminous home with architecturally clean lines and all the modern conveniences.  This 500 square meter villa features huge floor to ceiling windows which provide picture-postcard views over the rolling hills of Chianti and all the amenities one would expect in a luxury home.

The bedrooms are large and well furnished, each with its own en-suite bathroom.  The kitchen is positively huge and features lots of uncluttered counter space and a huge island to make preparing meals a communal affair – unless you would prefer us to provide you with a gourmet chef who will be glad to combine your feast with a Tuscan cooking lesson!

The villa’s charming owners put a tremendous emphasis on hospitality and offer a welcome dinner as well as two hours complimentary maid service included in the price.

Torre di Santo is perfect for family vacations, groups of friends traveling together – and with its beautiful gardens is a fabulous place for weddings of up to 40 people.

Torre il Santo History

For those history buffs, Torre il Santo has a rich and fascinating history.  In the latter part of the early Middle Ages, on the hills between Certaldo and Barberino Val d’Elsa (Chianti) stood the Semifonte Castle, with its watchtower now known as Villa il Santo.  Due to its strategic position and to its broad-minded politics, the Semifonte Castle became a refuge for all kinds of drifters, refugees, and exiles, to the point that it became an evil city, disliked by its powerful neighbors Florence and Siena.

This situation of city-refuge consequently led to a population explosion, and by 1200, Semifonte was almost the same size as Florence. whereupon, Florence requested Semifonte to limit its growth and to submit its power. The city’s reply was a sign attached to the city gate, facing the direction of Florence, on which was written: “Florentia, get out of the way because Semifonte is becoming a city.”

Florence sent two ambassadors to Semifonte but they were killed and for several days their bodies were left hanging at the city gates.  In retaliation, accompanied by several mercenaries from Siena, Florence sent its armies with the explicit order to destroy everything.

The city was reduced to a pile of rubble and the entire population was massacred and buried in common graves.  A law prohibited any kind of construction on the Semifonte territory for five centuries, after which time, the Lorena Family, a new noble family from Florence, had a miniature copy of the Florence Cathedral, the San Donnino church, built where the cursed ancient city used to lie, and the “new” tower is the oldest part of Torre il Santo.

Today the villa has been transformed from a place of contention and war to a place of great serenity and peace!  Torre il Santo is one of the finest modern luxury villas in all of Chianti!

Please send us an email to check if Torre il Santo is available in the dates you are interested in!