The additional materials used are of exceptional quality, such as travertine marble, wrought-iron, natural wood parquet and large, modern glass doors to the gardens. These are complemented by some striking examples of contemporary hand-crafted lighting and by the many modern artworks on display, which include two giant books fashioned in polished marble.

ACCOMODATION: An electronic security-key system unlocks the massive, old, woodenentrance doors at ground-floor level and lets you into the bright hallway. From here you access a large day-room, divided informally into three spaces: two smaller brick archways open into a cosy little lounge on the right, while on the left a third, larger arch leads into a spacious living-room, with a big central fireplace. French doors take you outside on to a sunterrace, with its dining-table and gazebo-shade. At the far end of this room is a long, old-wood dining-table.

Close by, another small brick archway leads open-plan into the lovely, fully equipped kitchen, set under a pitched roof and elegantly tiled. Its round-arched glass door invites you out on to the front lawns, a tempting spot for al fresco dining. Returning to the opposite end of the day-room, you step into an office/study, provided with phone; video-recorder; Sat.TV; and Wi-Fi Internet connection for the use of all guests.

Issuing off the entrance hall is a laundry room, as well as a downstairs double bedroom, comprising darkwood furniture and a wrought-iron-framed 'four-poster'-style bed. The travertine-tiled ensuite bathroom has a corner shower (no cubicle).

From the hallway, a graceful travertine staircase with wrought-iron banister proceeds up to the top floor and the following bedrooms, all with parquet flooring: large double bedroom with fireplace, bookshelves, a second separate entrance from the garden via an external flight of stone stairs. Bedroom with three-quarter-sized 'French' bed, white-washed and exposed stonework walls. These two bedrooms share a travertine-tiled bathroom, with bathtub and hand-held shower.

Double bedroom with ceiling-fan, telescope, large adjoining dressing-room, travertine-tiled ensuite bathroom with corner shower (no cubicle). Double bedroom, with ceiling-fan, spacious adjoining dressing-room/wardrobe/storage area, a lovely large ensuite bathroom with jacuzzi-shower, bathtub with hand-held shower and superb views towards Mount Amiata.

GARDEN & SWIMMING POOL: Leading off the main country road, a rough gravel track winds through vineyards and olive groves, terminating in the gravel driveway and informal parking area behind the villa. In this quietest of settings, olive trees and yellow-flowering broom dot the sheltering slope above, while in the raised beds rosemary and lavender bushes perfume the air.

To one side of the property, the outline of Mount Amiata, an extinct volcano and a popular winter skiing destination, is clearly visible on the horizon. High up in the background, two little hilltop villages dominate their surroundings. The lawns to the front of the villa, graced by an ancient, covered well and shaded by olive trees and holm oaks, lie at an elevation and so look out over the spectacular countryside beyond. This superb natural backdrop is shared by the outdoor dining-patio, with gazebo-canopy, beside the house.

From the garden, steps descend to the lower pool-terrace, set in a suntrap location, well out-of-sight of the property. Surrounded by lawns dotted with olive trees, the pool commands lovely unimpeded views over wooded hills and vineyards, which extend right up to the grass. A little stonework outbuilding nearby houses the BBQ, with its own sunshade and picnic-table alongside.

On request, cookery courses can be held at the villa and guided tours of the neighboring wine-cellars can be organised, also including wine-tasting.