Villa
Lysis is located at the border of a charming hamlet perched on the top of a
hill just few miles west of Florence.
Originally built on 12th century as fortified Lombard farm, guard the fertile Arno Valley, the building was transformed during 16th century in a residential villa and a chapel was added. Continually renovated and tranformed along the time, during the 19th and 20 th century was owned by a local upper class family and, thanks to the talent of the master the mansion was the first building in the village provided with electricity and running water. After WWII the last members of the family abandoned the villa and it feel into very poor conditions.
The
present owner acquired in 1989 and began the task of renovation and restoration
in order to preserve the original frameworks, frescoes and wooden beamed ceilings,
the stone walls, brick vault and cotto floors.
Tastefully re-furnished and decorated, the interior is very cozy producing a
most pleasant effect with it's character and individuality.
The
property has allotted parking space and is ideally situated for those who wish
to enjoy Florence ( only 15 minutes drive ! ). It is also only 3 miles from
the entrance to the Florence-Pisa and Milano Roma motorways both of which will
connect easily to the major cities and villages of Tuscany.
At Villa Lysis you can simply relax and enjoy country-walks along the panoramics hills blanketed with precious olives groves and vineyards and where each mount support a tower, castle or magnificent villa. The gourmet restaurants in the vicinity offer the best Tuscan meals and wines at affordable prices. The basic grocery store situated a few steps away the villa offer all kind of fresh food like bread, fruits and vegetables, olive oil, wine, cheese, prosciutto, salami etc.
Is open from 7,30 to 13 am and from 5 to 8 pm except on Wednesday afternoon and Sunday.
In the city center of Lastra a Signa, just 1/2 mile away ( 5 minutes drive or 15 min. walking ) you find banks, Post Office, Chemist, Petrol Stations, other kind of shops, bakery, pastry, coffe shop and the big Supermarket Ipercoop.
The
Lazzi buses start from Lastra a Signa city center until the Central Station
in Florence each 15-20 minutes. The train station is 2 miles away ( trains for
Florence-Pisa-Siena )
One Lady is available to prepare Tuscan dinners at home for an affordable price. She speak English current.
In the vicinity surrounding area you can find different farms where is possible to visit the cellars and wine tasting. Not far is the famous Villa Bellosguardo, owned by the tenor Enrico Caruso. Along the road to Pisa is the village named Montelupo, famous for ceramics artcraft from the Middle Age. There is an interesting Museum and different shops and factory where you can assist to the ceramic hand made works. You can visit also the village where the genious of Renaissance is born, Leonardo Da Vinci, with a very interesting Museum showing all the inventions of Leonardo and his inborn house. Another interesting place is Artimino, a village perched on the top of a panoramic hill, with a marvellous hunting villa built by the Medici family during the 16th century. There you can find also goods restaurants and farms.
DESCRIPTION OF INTERIORS:
Upon
entering the main entrance you are in the large living room with its open fireplace,
original cotto floors and lovely beamed ceilings. Thre is a tv with satellite
connection ( CNN ), shelves of books and a glassed in-door to the garden.
In the left of the sitting room is a decorated studio-room which can be used
as a double bedroom.
Also from the living room there is a door to the laundry room complete with
washer, ironing facilities and a full bath with open shower.
The Tuscan kitchen has a spacious firegas stove ( 4 fires ), the electric oven,
the microwawe, the american coffee machine, microwawe and a small table on which
to prepare food. In addition there is an abundance of cooking utensils, pots
and pans.
The formal dining room can be accessed from the kitchen or via a series of stairs
situated between the kitchen and living room. It has a window and glass door
which look out into the garden and also has an open fireplace, 
cotto
flooring and beamed ceilings. There you can find the fixed telephone with a
plug available also for pc connection.
Under the living room is a medieval cellar with stone walls and a curved brick
vault. During the restoration antique ceramics were uncovered here.
Behind the house is the pensile garden, with iron furnishings, Jacuzzi pool
and amazing views of the city of Florence area, villages, the Arno Valley and
a 18th century Monastery.
Up the stone stairs are two doubles bedrooms and a large bath with tub. The
first bedroom is graced with a four poster iron king size bed and beamed ceilings
and truly is " a room with a view" over Florence with the Duomo.
The second room, has a double bed, antique cotto floors and a ceiling with 19th
century flowers decor;both bedrooms are equipped with air conditioning.
The large, confortable bath room is tiled and has an old wooden glassed in linen
case and old paintings on the walls.
