Watching blazing sunsets over Florence from the terrace of Castello Ducale is surely a lasting memory for all guests to take home. If a single word could encompass all this property has to offer from vistas to furnishings, space, comfort and service, the word is regal.

Just 25 minutes from Florence, Castello Ducale was reborn centuries ago as a monastery from the ruins of a far older Florentine fortress. It eventually became a prized possession of one of Italy’s most celebrated wine families whose vintages have long graced the tables of European royalty.

A first class restoration of the castle in the early nineties employed the finest craftsmen and materials and took ten years to complete. To date, Castello Ducale with its own helipad, has hosted a variety of foreign dignitaries and executives as personal guests of the family. By exclusive arrangement, guests of Parker Villas may now experience the regal splendor of Tuscany from within Castello Ducale’s walls.

An immense stone terrace crowned by a gazebo faces Florence and is designed for grilling and dining amidst a delicious view of the city and the Chianti hills that flank its sides. Inside, over 8000 square feet of living space are magnificently furnished in traditional Florentine style. Two elevators reach every level of the property. The owner’s wing at one end of the estate is completely separated. While the estate embodies this family’s ties to wine, no production takes place here. The effect is one of soothing tranquility overlooking a stirring panorama.

In addition to a welcoming living room that opens to the terrace, there are plenty of other living spaces: a capacious dining room, a meeting hall, a billiard room and an enormous professional kitchen equipped with professional grade appliances along with a wood burning pizza oven, an indoor barbecue and wine refrigerators. The kitchen is the perfect spot for conducting cooking classes that may be arranged when booking. A stone encased wine cellar on the lower level is where a complimentary tasting of the estate’s wines takes place.

While the original structure of Castello Ducale was respected during its renovation, including the vaulted stone ceilings, terracotta floors and brick archways that have all been finely preserved, guests are surrounded by the comforts of modern day, including: air conditioning in the dining room and bedrooms, Wi-Fi Internet access, a large plasma TV with movie channels translated into English and bathrooms with heated towel racks and built-in hairdryers. The price of Castello Ducale conveniently includes a number of services: heating, electricity, firewood, three hours of cleaning on weekdays, a mid-week towel change, Wi-Fi Internet access and a complimentary estate wine tasting.

Castello Ducale is just off of the SS222, the famous Chianti Wine Road that may be traveled from Florence to Siena and is the ideal route for visiting vineyards, wineries and other castles. Nearby, Castello di Verrazzano is the birthplace of Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first European to sail into New York harbor. His castle is now a winery open to the public.

Grassina, reached in a five minute drive, offers a few shops for basic necessities. San Polo in Chianti, eight minutes away, offers a restaurant, a cafe’ and two small food shops. San Polo is known in the perfume world for its distinctly fragrant irises. The town’s Iris Festival occurs in May. A 20 minute drive leads to the Ugolino Golf Club. Within 25 minute drives are Florence, Greve in Chianti or Panzano in Chianti; the spas of Montecatini Terme are reached in 40 minutes; Castellina in Chianti: 45; San Gimignano or Arezzo: 60; Siena: 75; Lucca or Cortona: 80; Pisa or Bologna: 100.

Discounts for rentals beyond 2 weeks do not apply to this villa.

Protect your valuable vacation with Travel Insurance from MHRoss. The Rental Postponement Coverage is not available on this villa.

Technical Description
Lower level: Professional kitchen with wood burning oven and grill, six burner stove top, griddle, two ovens, microwave, multiple fridges, freezer, commercial dishwasher and espresso machine. Air conditioned main dining room with open hearth fireplace, wine refrigerator, stereo and door to outside. Wine cellar. Three half baths.

Ground floor: Entrance hall with billiard table and door opening to the courtyard. Small living room. Half bath. Main living room with fireplace, plasma TV and doors to a furnished terrace with barbecue fireplace. Mezzanine: Two bedrooms each with en suite bathroom; one with shower and one with tub and hand shower. Half bath.

First floor: Left wing: Formal meeting hall with Wi-Fi. Three steps down to a corridor with four bedrooms each with en suite bathroom with shower. Right wing: Three bedrooms each with en suite bathroom; two with shower and one with tub and hand shower. The two wings are not connected and each has its own staircase and elevator access from the ground floor.

All bedrooms are air conditioned and have two single, joinable beds. All bathrooms have heated towel racks and built-in hairdryers.

An elevator services the lower level, ground floor and the right wing of the first floor. A second elevator services the ground floor, the mezzanine and the left wing of the first floor.