Villa Granchiaia is a recently renovated property, a long dirt track drive of 500 metres brings you to a mid level positon overlooking the valley. The main building offers 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms all ensuite. The Villa is placed in the municipality of Montopoli in Valdarno (province of Pisa) and was built in the second half of the 18th century as a farmer's house, then restored in the 20th century and reshaped as it looks now in 2004.
The countryside around the building is typical of the lower valley of the Arno river (which crosses Florence and Pisa and flows a few kilometers far from here): you may see that the surrounding hillocks (covered with woods, or with olive tree cultivation) slope gently down to the plain where corn, barley, maize, sunflower, etc. are grown.
The farmhouse is composed by the main construction, which was modified in order to render our guest's life more comfortable as possible; the barn, where once the crops were stored and now has become a play area, and finally, the swimming-pool.
a) The main building, a simple square construction, is arranged on two floors. On the ground floor a very large space, which once housed the stable, has maintained its original size. Now a part of it constitutes the living room another part the dining room. They were not separated in order to maintain unaltered the original breadth of the room and the atmosphere given by a solid rustic arch dividing it in two. Two entrances (one from the swimming pool side and the other from the parking side) give access to it. This large space is adjacent to the kitchen, and to a double bed room with ensuite showeroom and a stair case leading to the upper floor. At the top of the stair case one double bedroom is available on the right also with ensuite showeroom while on the left a double bed room communicating with a room with two bunk beds which share a bathroom. Further the stair case will lead you to a small sitting room provided with a rustic fireplace and furnished with a sofa in order to allow a pleasant rest. Besides, this room is adjacent to the last bed room a twin with ensuite showeroom.
b) the barn, once used as a hay and straw shelter, was modified and equipped in a such way to create a wide and suitable place where our guests could play and relax. A ping-pong and equipment are available, and comfortable sitting places to follow from above the game have been drawn from existing structures. The area adjacent to the side closer to the house is covered by a pergola suitable to have pleasant meals in the open air.
c) The swimming pool was built on the side of the Granchiaia area where the slope of the hill rendered it possible. Its surface measures 14m long and 3.5m wide and it is framed by peculiar stones of the region. More externally a rustic wooden base surrounds the pool. This is the area where the bathers may lie on adequate cushions or deck-chairs. Pool towels are provided.