The Villa di Collina is an historic Tuscan country house near the village of Vicchio, 35 km north of Florence. This location, the Mugello, is known as the "Switzerland of Tuscany", because of the hilly, wooded quality of the countryside. Collina's origin goes back many centuries to at least the Renaissance and quite possibly the Middle Ages. The owner's ancestors inherited the property in the mid 18th century and have continued to live in the villa ever since. A 10,000 sq. meter enclosed parkland with a fascinating ancient grotto, La Grotta dei Delfini,. and century old trees surround La Collina, which is available year round. It has a splendid view over the countryside as well as an extensive terrace with a pergola and a 5m x 12m swimming pool.

Like most other country houses in Tuscany, Villa di Collina was the center of an agricultural system as well as a summer residence. The house is still surrounded by the tenant farmers' dwellings, now converted into vacation houses, which are located outside the villa's walls. Still preserved, but no longer used, are the stables, workshops, wine cellar, and bakery - all of which evoke its past. This lovely ancient house has very large rooms with much of its original furniture. All the floors are cotto bricks or tiles, except living and dining rooms, which have palladiana mosaic. Years of restoration have brought La Collina back to its former glory and it is now one of the most beautiful houses in the region.

Ground Floor
· Spacious entrance hall with a fireplace and French doors leading to the bedrooms and the
  main staircase
· Wide living room with a fireplace and access to the terrace
· Formal dining room with a fireplace
· Large eat-in kitchen
· Large bedroom with a double bed
· Large bedroom with twin beds
· Large bedroom with twin beds
· Bathroom with a shower
· Bathroom with a tub and shower

First Floor (reached by a stone staircase)
· Spacious drawing room with fireplace and balcony
· Bedroom with a double bed and bathroom en suite with a tub and marble walls
· Bedroom with double bed and bathroom en suite with a shower and marble walls
· Bedroom with twin beds and bathroom en suite with a shower and marble walls
· Bedroom with twin beds and bathroom en suite with a shower and marble walls

Amenities:  Central heating, telephone, fax, satellite and regular TV, baby bed, dishwasher and washing machine.

Staff:  Cleaning and change of linen once weekly and final cleaning

Additional Costs:  Telephone and heating 

Services Available at an Additional Cost:  Extra domestic help and cooking (2/3 times a week), mountain bike rental and adding one or two more beds. Dogs are allowed for a small fee, which is added to the final cleaning. Cooking classes, vineyard tours and wine tastings can be arranged. 

Notes: The owner, who lives away most of the time, uses another completely independent wing of the house with its own entrance. The pool is open until September 29th and from May 3rd to September 27th 2003 and and is for the exclusive use of the guests. A riding school, golf courses and tennis courts are in the vicinity. The fireplaces are purely decorative and may not be lit and barbecues are not permitted.

Distances: Florence (35 km), Arezzo and S. Gimignano (70 km) Siena (80 km), Pisa and Lucca (90 km), are all within easy reach. Rome is 3 hours away by car.