Just 18 miles outside of Italy's treasured city, Florence,
is the lovely suburb of Londa in the province of Tuscany.
Above the village (less than a mile) at an elevation of 1200
feet is the 850 acre wine and olive oil producing estate of
Villa Zingale. Nicely spaced and privately
located along paved roads on the Zingale estate are three
350 year old villas - Villa Paterno,
Villa Poggiolo and Villa
Antica.. All have been recently restored with
re-designed interiors by a famous Florentine architect, creating
spacious, private apartments while maintaining the classic
Tuscan character of the homes, both inside and out. Villa
Paterno, Villa Poggiolo
and Villa Antica are part of the
Zingale working farm estate, situated on sun drenched hills
overlooking the estate's vineyards, olive groves and lush
green forests.
Londa, known
as Little Switzerland, is surrounded by soft, green
rolling hills and sits in a valley nestled against a lake
fed by clear mountain streams. Alongside the lake is a tennis
court, a roller rink, and park like grounds where people fish,
swim and enjoy festivals throughout the year. The wooded hills
provide the ingredients for the gourmet specialities of wild
boar, porcini mushrooms, homemade pasta, pizza and rice dishes
served at the local restaurants. By the beauty and cleanliness
it's easy to see that Londa is an "upscale" village.
The main street bustles with a bakery, fruit vendors, food
markets, gas station, bank, barber shop and a couple of bars
for wonderful pastries and prepared foods. The people are
friendly, the food is FABULOUS and the air is so pure. Londra's
history dates it to Etruscan and Roman times. Small towns
nearby are filled with historical works of art. This is where
the Medici family had their country villas and where the Renaissance
was born.
Most important
of all is the close proximity of Florence with all of its
treasures. Only two miles away, a commuter train which runs
18 times a day, transporting you to the main train station
in Florence in only 35 minutes. Using your own private villa
apartment as a home base, day trips to destinations such as
Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Bologna are all within
an hour to an hour and a half's drive for daily adventures.
Your villa apartment is only 60 miles from the Mediterranean
Coast and lively Cinque Terre, Michelangelo's marble town
of Carrara, the exquisite Italian Riviera and Portofino. You
are also located 60 miles from the Adriatic Sea Coast, Rimini
and the smallest country in the world, San Marino. Equidistant
between Rome and Milan, the Florence train station provides
frequent connections, reaching Rome, Venice or Milan in 2-3
hours.
Villa
Paterno and Villa
Poggiolo, built around large courtyards
and terraces, are classically furnished in a mixture
of Italian antique and new furniture which complement
the original thick white stucco walls, the terra cotta
tiled floors and the beamed ceilings. These combine
to capture the restful, quiet country feeling of Tuscany.
Each spacious and pleasant apartment has its own entrance
off the private courtyard. There are fully equipped
new kitchens, nicely sized rooms with wonderful views,
and new fully tiled baths. There are tables and chairs
and lounges for outdoor enjoyment. If needed, two apartments
with adjoining doors can be opened for access to each
other for a four bedroom rental. There is a telephone
in each apartment. Even a fax machine is available.
The apartments are all heated and Villa
Poggiolo is centrally heated. Rates include
weekly cleanup and change of linens, firewood and all
utilities, except telephone. Short or long term rentals
are available.
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Adorno
- Private garden entrance, skylights in the living room
(with fireplace), dining/sitting room and large kitchen
with dishwasher. Two bedrooms (one double and one twin-bedded)
one full bath, plus extra sofa bed.
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Giotto
- Double arched glass entry, living room (with fireplace),
built in kitchen with stone sink, two bedrooms (one
double, one twin-bedded) and two full baths. Private
terrace with beautiful views.
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Bellina
- Large arched glass entrance, living room, dining room,
kitchen with fireplace and dishwasher, two bedrooms
(one double, one twin-bedded), one full bath, terra
cotta stair entrance.
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Leonardo
- Glass entry passage between living room and kitchen
with separate dining area, two bedrooms (one with fireplace),
one full bath plus extra sink. Private terrace with
beautiful views.
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Carina
- Five sets of double arched windows, living room with
fireplace, dining room, kitchen with dishwasher, large
glamorous master bedroom, loft and full bath. High ceilings.
Juliet balcony.
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Dante
- Private stair entrance, skylight in living
room, built-in kitchen, beamed ceiling great room, two
bedrooms (one double, one twin-bedded), two full baths.
Spacious courtyard, beautiful views.
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Dolcetta
- Living room, large kitchen/dining room with diskwasher,
two bedrooms (one double, one twin-bedded), one full
bath, extra sofa bed. Private garden entrance off master
bedroom.
Note: Adorno and Bellina have adjoining door. Carina
and Dolcetta also adjoin. The whole villa has seven
bedrooms and four fully-tiled baths.
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Donatello
- Private stair entrance, skylight in great room, built-in
kitchen, large living room, two bedrooms(one double,
one twin-bedded), one full bath plus extra sink. Spacious
courtyard, beautiful views.
Note: Dante and Donatello have adjoining doors.
The whole villa has eight bedrooms and six fully tiled
baths and sink areas.
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Marco
- Entrance loggia opens into a very large
living room with kitchen and wood burning fireplace. The
room is divided by stone-column arches. Full bath with
shower on first level. Stucco walls, beamed ceilings and
terra cotta tiled floors. The master bedroom upstairs
has a fireplace and queen-sized bed. The second bedroom
has twin beds. Dual baths in twin towers have a sink and
shower and a sink and toilet. Beautiful views. Private
garden entrance.
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Michelangelo
- Separate freestanding 3 level townhouse. High
ceiling living room, built-in kitchen, two bedrooms
plus den (or third bedroom), two full baths. Private
terrace.
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Isabella
- Entrance into kitchen with beautiful built-in walnut
cabinets. Full bath with tub and shower in bright fully
tiled bath. Three steps down to large living room/dining
room with large windows and gorgeous views. Upstairs is
large master bedroom with arched glass windows and full
bath with shower. Second bedroom has twin beds. Additional
sleep futon plus daybed. Rear garden. Stucco walls, beamed
ceilings and terra cotta floors. Beautiful fiews. Private
entrance.. Note: Marco and Isabella have adjoining
doors to combine the two, if desired.
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