Il Colle di Sotto

A Hilltop Villa in the Ceramics Town of Montelupo

Il Colle di Sotto sits high above Montelupo Fiorentino with an unbroken 360° view of olive groves, cypress rows, and Chianti hills. The structure was meticulously restored in 2022, preserving original terracotta floors, reclaimed wooden ceilings, and stone walls while adding contemporary Italian design and full modern services. Two private pools serve the estate. Experiences including a private chef, truffle hunting, and Vespa tours of the Tuscan hills are all available on request. There are two houses on the site, the Cottage and the Villa. Each has its own pool. They can be rented separately or as a single property.

The Cottage

The Cottage has two bedrooms, one with exposed stone walls and the other a gentle blue, both with antique iron beds. Upstairs there is an open-plan gallery with room for another two guests on a sofa bed. The cottage-style kitchen is fully equipped with all the amenities needed for a self-catered vacation, and there are two bathrooms with showers. The bedrooms have air conditioning, but the thick walls of the building (and the breezy location) mean the house is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

One of the most striking features of this property is its large saltwater swimming pool, which blends in perfectly with the house and its setting. It offers amazing views across the Tuscan countryside, and is set in landscaped gardens and olive groves, framed by the rolling wooded hills beyond.

The Villa

The Villa has been fully restored, offering stunning views of the valleys and countryside. Like the Cottage unit, it features original terracotta floors and reclaimed wooden ceilings, and showcases the best of contemporary Italian design. The villa is composed of two separate apartments, connected by an interior door, but it is rented as one property (with exceptions in low season, please inquire).

The main floor has two large living rooms, a kitchen with arched windows and views across the valley, plus two bedrooms. Upstairs, there are two further living rooms, another kitchen, and three further bedrooms. Ceiling fans have been installed in the bedrooms and the kitchen of the first-floor apartment. There is air conditioning in the main villa's bedrooms, excluding the study bedroom (which is available on request for an additional charge per week, €400/week paid in cash at check-in).

It is possible to rent the villa (10 + 1 beds) with the exclusive use of the swimming pool or rent the entire property (14 + 3 beds) with the exclusive use of two swimming pools and jacuzzi.

Experiences

Private Tuscan welcome buffet with local meats, cheeses, and breads. Guided wine and truffle tours. Vespa and vintage Fiat 500 tours of the Chianti hills. Pizza, pasta, and gelato-making classes. Horseback riding, mountain biking, and yoga. Spa treatments, babysitting, and a private chef available on request.

Good to know

Access to the villa is via a 700-meter unpaved road, so a car is essential. Six free parking spaces on the estate. Air conditioning in the main villa bedrooms is billed at €400 per week, payable in cash on arrival (the study bedroom has no air conditioning). Cottage air conditioning: €150 per week. Pets are welcome (up to two medium dogs).

Amenities & services

Private pools (×2), jacuzzi/whirlpool, air conditioning (surcharge applies), ceiling fans, heating, wi-fi, satellite TV, DVD player, stereo, fully equipped kitchen (×2), dishwasher, washing machine, outdoor barbecue, coffee maker, private parking (×6), baby cot, private chef (on request), spa treatments (on request), babysitting (on request), guided experiences (on request), car rental service

Experiences

A large number of experiences are available. Choose from a special Tuscan welcome buffet of local meats, cheeses, salads and breads, guided wine tours, boat tours of Florence (with a glass of Prosecco), tours of the Tuscan hills by Vespa or vintage Fiat 500, perfume-making classes, pizza, pasta and gelato-making classes, truffle hunting, horseback riding, mountain bike excursions, and yoga classes. Also available are a babysitting service, spa treatments, and a private chef. Please inquire for the full range and for specific details.

Around

Montelupo Fiorentino has been firing ceramics since the 13th century (it was the preferred supplier of majolica to the Medici), and the town's Museo della Ceramica holds over 1,200 pieces spanning the late 13th to 18th centuries, with a reconstructed period kiln on site. The annual Cèramica festival takes over the town each June. For dinner, Locanda del Moro on Via Caverni is the local institution: a small, family-run osteria known for Florentine steak, pappardelle al ragù di cinghiale, and a well-chosen Chianti list. Florence is 12 miles east, Pisa and Siena both around 30 miles. Leonardo da Vinci's birthplace at Vinci is 10 miles. A car is necessary for all of the above.