Villa Serena

Tucked away in the sublime and peaceful countryside between Pienza and Montepulciano, Villa Serena’s discreet yet prominent hilltop position offers perfect privacy coupled with the stunning panorama of the Val d’Orcia’s gently rolling hills. Painstakingly restored, the owners paid careful attention to maintaining its historic details while integrating contemporary comforts and technology.
The large stone house is approached via a 2.4 km gravel road (strada bianca), maintained in good condition. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens in classic Tuscan countryside. The interiors achieve a fresh airy feel thanks to traditional hand-made terracotta tiled floors, light-washed chestnut ceiling beams and many windows casting in natural light and showing the exceptional panoramas. The house is a family home and has been beautifully furnished with antiques and pictures.
The ground floor is home to a spacious sitting room with open fireplace, comfy sofas and Sonos wireless sound system, a dining room with a gorgeous antique French fruitwood table that seats up to 14 and a well-equipped gourmet kitchen decked out in pale-washed oak, specifically designed by the owner.
Throughout the property, careful thought has been given to the ultimate comfort of guests. Bedrooms are generous and well planned with handmade wrought iron beds, excellent mattresses, down pillows and ensuites with high quality fittings, from lighting to mirrors and from powerful showers to ample storage for toiletries.
The outdoor spaces are equally exquisite. Guests are treated to two spacious terraces with areas for relaxing and alfresco dining, where you can continue to take in the unbelievable scenery. Further lounging can be done next to the large saltwater pool. It has an electric cover and is surrounded by a terrace of travertine stone paving on which are luxurious teak sunbeds and sunshades. For a moment of calm, retreat to the villa’s mature garden, beautifully landscaped by Nancy Leszczynski of the Mediterranean Garden Society. For more active pursuits, the villa has plenty of flat space for games, such as badminton and table tennis, and the vicinity provides various hiking and biking opportunities.
A key factor considered during the villa’s restoration was the reduction of its carbon footprint. Photovoltaic panels generate electricity and solar panels heat the domestic water. In the summer, excess energy from the solar panels heats the pool. Additional pool heating can be provided by gas boilers. Since the owners have a supply of renewable wood from their own forest, they installed a biomass furnace to power the under-floor heating system and to heat the hot water when the solar panels need a boost. Gas boilers can also power the central heating and hot water systems as well as heating the pool. When temperatures peak in summer, the under-floor heating tubes can be used to cool the house. The high tech and ecological system is coordinated by a computer that can be accessed via the internet from anywhere in the world.
We regret that, due to the nature of its interiors, Villa Serena is not available to children below the age of 12.