Pienza offers the best of both worlds. First, it is private. The villa is nestled on five acres of gated grounds, with great vistas of the Val D’Orcia Valley. Second, lying between Rome and Florence, it also offers easy access to some of the region’s best attractions, including the medieval city of Siena, with its wonderful art, cuisine and horse races, and Montalcino, a hill town famous for its Brunello di Montalcino wine. Also close at hand is the renowned Fonteverde Spa, whose abundant thermal waters are drawn from San Casciano dei Bagni, famous for centuries for their restorative powers. The villa itself is more than 400 years old but was recently renovated to contemporary standards. It is filled with antiques. Its warm and welcoming living areas open out to a covered terrace that is alive with climbing roses and vines, and overlooks the pool, with rolling hills in the background. The ambience is light, airy and rustically sophisticated. The property includes a main house and an annex. The main house has a living room, pantry, winter garden room with pool table and wine cellar on the ground floor. On the first floor, guests will find four double bedrooms, a small kitchen and study. On the second, there’s a double bedroom, twin bedroom, and kids’ playroom. The annex includes a double and a twin bedroom, a gym and a spa room with a heated Jacuzzi that can accommodate up to six people. A few minutes away by car is the historic center of Pienza, rightly celebrated as one of the “most beautiful old towns of Italy,” with its maze of narrow streets, alleys and squares that wind around the hill up towards the town hall, offering a selection of shops and restaurants. Family friendly, Villa Pienza offers families or groups of friends a spacious base for exploring the beauties of the Val D’Orcia.