BEAUTY, RELAX , COOKING .- THE TRUE TUSCANY  

Description from the owner

Villa San Simone is only 5 kms from the 14th century walls of Pistoia, a charming city of art in Tuscany. It is an antique residence located on the slopes of the hills between Pistoia and Florence (30 min. to Florence, 40 min. to Lucca, 50 min. to Pisa or Viareggio, and 60 min. to Siena and the Chianti area). The villa was built at the end of the18th century on the ruins of a Romanesque church, dated 1000 A.D., from which it took its name: San Simone.

Villa San Simone can accomodate 32 persons with every kind of comfort. It is possible to rent the entire Villa or to divide it into 6 selfcatering apartments, furnished with fine design an...d antiques furniture. A beautiful "infinitY" pool with sight on Pistoia city is available for the guests.

Tuscan cooking and organic garden growing classes are organized periodically or on request.

The owners, Lidia and Sandro, who live in the Villa, are two well known architects, who restored this building in order to inhabit it. They will welcome you to share the peace, the elegance and the beauty of Tuscan architecture and landscape.

Villa San Simone is not simply a luxury villa to rent, as here you will not find austere concierges, immense halls and electronic door keys. On the contrary you will enjoy the elegance of the place, the comfortable furniture, the magnificent green of the garden, the surrounding woods and, above all, the warm welcome that will make you feel at home.

Villa San Simone has a large garden (1000 sqm.) shaded by centuries-old trees, surrounded by olive groves, forests and peaceful private grounds of about 60.000 sqm.

The large fenced garden surrounding the Villa is at complete disposal of the guests and it is equipped with tables and chairs, comfortable armchairs, chaise-longue, barbecue, ping pong table. At a lower level there is a small fenced organic vegetable garden, with lemon and orange trees.

COURSES at Villa San Simone

~ Basic Italian language courses

~ Basic Tuscan cooking

~ Jam, marmalade and tomato sauce courses (July-August)

~ Basic design or watercolour courses

~ Cultivating the vegetable garden (spring-summer)

Custom tailored programs on demand:

We can introduce you to landscapes and places of unique art, but also to spas, wine, master craftsmen of chocolate, artists studios, outlets. Moreover we can teach you to cook Tuscan dishes, painting watercolours and cultivate your flower or vegetable garden.

Where is Villa San Simone ?

Ideally located, near both to the mountains and to the sea, it is only 30 kms far form Florence, which can be easily reached in half an hour by train, avoiding the traffic and any problems about parking.

The other historical cities of Tuscany (Lucca, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Arezzo) can be reached in an hour. Rome is at 2 hours by train from Florence. The Villas Medici of Artimino, Poggio a Caiano, Castello it's 30 min. far away.

You can reach the museum and the home of Leonardo da Vinci in 30 min., the thermal Spa of Montecatini and Monsummano in 20 min., the elegant beaches of Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio in 45 min., the sea of Portofino and Cinque Terre in less than two hours.

Pistoia is one of the most fascinating Tuscan cities, but also one of the less-known. Placed at the first slopes of the mountains that define the valley of Pistoia and Florence, the beautiful medieval old town of Pistoia, is entirely surrounded by walls fourteenth century years old. The town contains art treasures, like the great "Piazza del Duomo", churches and museums (Museum of the great sculptor Marino Marini, born in Pistoia).

In July Pistoia hosts the famous Blues Festival and a jousting tournament in medieval costume which is called Giostra dell'Orso.

The city, with its markets and a lot of friendly pubs, is also the European capital of nursery of ornamental plants.Read more

Additional Location Information

Villa San Simone is only 5 kms from the 14th century walls of Pistoia, a charming city of art in Tuscany. It is an antique residence located on the slopes of the hills between Pistoia and Florence (30 min. to Florence, 40 min. to Lucca, 50 min. to Pisa or Viareggio, and 60 min. to Siena and the Chianti area). The villa was built at the end of the18th century on the ruins of a Romanesque church, dated 1000 A.D., from which it took its name: San Simone.

Location Type Rural

Rental fees

Additional notes from owner

Over 7 nights : 10% discount
Over 14 nights: 15% discount
Over 21 nights 20% discount

MINIMUM: 3 NIGHTS
ASK FOR APARTMENTS FOR 4-6 PERSONS
ASK FOR EARLY BOOKING, LAST MINUTE AND SPECIAL OFFERS

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• 1southwold
  suffolk

  Amazing - go there now!

  Left on 01/22/2013 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  We were a mix of two families in two of the house rooms, and the holiday was beautiful. Sandro and Lidia cooked for us twice, and it was superb.
  The pool is lovely, great views over the area, and the whole accom set up was great. It is also a good base to go to Lucca, a beautiful town, and of course to Florence (go by train from Pistoia, much simpler than driving).
  Pistoia itself is nice but unremarkable, one or two nice restaurants, but lacks the charm of Lucca, or Pisa, or further south to places like Siena and arezzo.

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  Recommended for: Friends, Groups, Families w children

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• anthony M
  ROGNA

  sublime

  Left on 09/02/2012 for a stay in August 2012
  
  

  Un endrot merveilleux , point de départ de nombreuses visites ...
  Tranqulité et gentillesse des hotes .
  Nous ne pouvons que recommander cet endroit . Nous y retournerons surement .

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  Recommended for: Families w children

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• Gabrielle
  Canada

  Wow beautiful stay, comfortable and quiet

  Left on 08/02/2011 for a stay in July 2011
  
  

  Sometimes you can see pictures and wonder if it is the reality: let me say that this is even better than on the pictures! The pool was perfectly situated with a view on Pistoia, very clean pool and big. The appartment was very convenient with 2 bathrooms for 4 people, a kitchen with everything you need to cook. The owners were very helpful and speak French and English. If you have a chance, ask them to cook for you: the best food I ever had in Tuscany, everything in a lovely environment!
  
  would recommend to anyone!

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• salsaSISI
  montreal

  Wow, perfect place!

  Left on 08/01/2011 for a stay in July 2011
  
  

  If you want a quiet and lovely place to stay, this is the perfect place! We were 4 people staying in Villa San Simone and we had the best time.
  
  Wonderful view on the region of Pistoia, magnificient pool super clean and while you are having a swim, you can have a perfect view of the region. The owner Sandro is speaking well in French and English and he helped us a lot during our stay.
  
  If you have a chance, ask his wife to cook a dinner meal for you and you will be impress! This is the best food I ever had in my entire trip in tuscany!
  
  The service is perfect, the bed are comfortable plus you have a kitchen to cook yourself...
  
  The villa is a little bit out of city, in the hill but if you have a car, it takes 10 minutes to go downtown or there is a bus just down the villa if you don't want to take the car all the time.
  
  I would recomment this place to everyone!

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Friends, Tourists, Families w teenagers, Romantic, Luxury, Families w children, Rugged, Singles

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• Anon
  Vancouver, B.C. Canada

  Wonderful

  Left on 08/27/2010 for a stay in July 2010
  
  

  I would like to keep this place as my personal secret but the fact is it would be unfair to our charming host and hostess of Villa San Simone.
  
  My friends and I stayed for five days and the location was perfect for day trips to Sienna, Pisa and Lucca.
  
  Our accommodations were clean and the kitchen in our suite was well supplied for having meals in. Our days were filled with swimming, picnics, reading and painting. It was truly a wonderful experience.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

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• Richardson Family
  Guildford, Surrey, UK

  Beautiful tranquility

  Left on 08/25/2010 for a stay in July 2010
  
  

  We had a wonderful week enjoying the relaxed and beautiful surroundings. Sandro and Lidia are wonderful hosts - very helpful with local information for excellent places to visit and great restaurants/pizzerias. We would definitely like to come back one day!

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• Isabelle
  Sergy (01) France

  In the heart of Tuscany

  Left on 03/05/2010 for a stay in August 2009
  
  

  We were 4 (2 parents & our 2 sons of 16 & 18).
  We were very nicely looked after by Lidia & Sandro: Lidia cooked a delicious meal for us, Sandro advised us about cycling tours.
  The Villa San Simone is a very beautiful house, with a very nice view. We particularly appreciated the situation as we could cycle to Pistoia, catch the train to Firenze, Lucca,.... We did not touch the car for 5 days out of 7.
  Pistoia is a very nice and lively town.
  We liked the baptistery & the market very much.
  The least, I cannot remember.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

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• Françoise LAURENT
  Nantes, France

  Echappée toscane

  Left on 02/20/2010 for a stay in July 2009
  
  

  Une adresse d'exception pour découvrir la région de Florence.
  L'accueil des propriétaires restera dans nos mémoires tant il fut agréable.
  La Villa San Simone jouit d'une magnifique vue sur Pistoia et l'appartement est
  confortable et plein de charme.
  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Tourists, Families w teenagers, Romantic, Families w children

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• Chris
  Brussels, Belgium

  A hidden juwel

  Left on 02/15/2010 for a stay in August 2009
  
  

  A fantastic place. Wonderfully renovated apartments in truly historic building, with a personal touch of combining old with new. Breakfast in the garden with splendid view over Pistoia and surrounding mountains, and what a breakfast! A fresh home made cake, a cheese toast, fine coffee, tea and juice - all you need in summer. And fresh air, quite important in summer when temperatures may easily climb over 35°C.

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• Croaky
  St Tropez

  Warm, welcoming and generous in an atmospheric and dramatic hist

  Left on 02/11/2010 for a stay in May 2009
  
  

  We were four adults and a toddler. The position of Villa San Simone will
  appeal to anyone with a love of historical Italian architecture. We all loved
  the Villa's raised setting, and history, and the views towards Pistoia and the
  Prati, each evening framed by distant mountains bathed in that special light,
  reminiscent of of Florentine painting of the 16th century.
  An invitation into the principal rooms of the Villa itself should not be
  declined, even if you have only a passing interest in Architecture. The
  present owners, (formerly architects), have faithfully restored its grandeur
  while retaining a relaxed and informal atmosphere. They are both very warm
  hosts, while providing excellent wine selected from the region and the
  finest home cooking. My wife, and I, have both lived in Italy for a year, in
  different places with Italians who typically demand a lot of their ingredients
  and cooking. Sandro and Lidia are no exception. Lidia is a passionate and
  accomplished cook. The tap water comes from its own mountain spring, is
  better than regular bottled water, and makes the perfect expresso. The
  accommodation is clean, and simple, and although our quarters were a little
  dark in the lower ground floor, we mostly went inside only to sleep.

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  Recommended for: Families w teenagers, Romantic, Families w children

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• Douglas and Carole
  Maisons Laffitte France

  WHat a find !

  Left on 02/11/2010 for a stay in October 2008
  
  

  Villa San Simone holds a special place in our memories of our Tuscany
  vacation. Our apartment overlooking rollng hills of fruit and olive trees -- with
  Pistoia in the distance-- was perfect. Sandro and Lidia were superb hosts.
  Our children still talk about Lidia's lasagne. This villa is easy driving distance
  to Florence, Lucca, Pisa and other great places to visit. We would definitely
  recommend Villa San Simone.
  
  Douglas and Carole

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Friends, Tourists, Families w teenagers, Romantic, Disabilities, Luxury, Families w children, Rugged, Singles

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