Overview Villa Persimmmon is a rambling stone farmhouse in the wooded hills to the east of Florence. It was built by the monks of the Vallombrosa Abbey – the same monks who raised the astronomer, Galileo – and, during the tumultuous 14th century, sheltered a number of Florentine Guelph families after their defeat by the Ghibellines. The building’s setting is just as extraordinary as its history: little more than half an hour’s drive from downtown Florence, it is marvellously secluded and from its hilltop perch at 635m/2000ft above sea level commands a spectacular westward view of endlessly receding mountain ridges. Inside, lovely old wood-beamed ceilings overlook spacious rooms decorated with polished antiques and English fabrics. The ground floor living areas, and the very nicely finished kitchen, open to a long furnished terrace facing the view, an ideal spot for relaxing afternoons in the sunshine and drinks and dinner at sunset. In addition to the six bedrooms in the main house, there are four independent suites for couples, including three with private sitting rooms. A beautifully-maintained English garden surrounds the house and sweeps down to a large swimming pool with a full complement of loungers and a second outdoor dining area. The villa lies minutes from the glorious walking trails in the protected forests of the Vallombrosa, and just off the ‘wine roads’ of Chianti Rufina and Pomino.
