Casa Montagnana - San Gimignano

Accommodates 4 — 2 Bedrooms — 2 Baths

In Italian, a “borgo” is a small grouplet of 5 or 10 semi-attached buildings, surrounded by farmland. In fact, the borgo was generally where the farmers lived who cultivated the land around it. Some “borghi” were fortified for protection from bandits, passing armies, and other marauders. The borgo is a characteristic feature of the Italian countryside.

What is the difference between a “borgo” and a “village”? Normally, a borgo has no shops. It really is just a handful of structures grouped together. What it means, though, is that you have an opportunity to meet some real Italians who live here year-round as well as visitors from Italy and other European countries who rent two or three of the other houses in the group.

Dating from the 1400’s, Montagnana is a lovely example of a borgo. Located 5 minutes’ drive from the town, Montagnana enjoys absolutely spectacular views of San Gimignano’s townscape. It is a group of 10 houses recently restored by a consortium of local citizens. Each has a private piece of garden assigned to it and the right to use the beautiful swimming pool just below the hamlet’s outer perimeter.

When we saw Casa Montagnana in March 2000, restoration was not yet complete. But we could tell it was going to be special and well suited to Vacanza Bella’s clients, a fact verified during our subsequent visit to the property in October, after restoration was complete. From the little parking area, you walk up about 20 steps to a little open piazza where you find the entrance to Casa Montagnana. The place is composed of a big living room with fireplace, good working kitchen and attached dining room, two bedrooms (one matrimonial and one twin), plus two baths, one with shower only, the other with shower over tub. (A third loft bedroom is locked and does not form part of our offer.) Telephone/fax with answering machine, satellite TV, dishwasher, washing machine, independent central heating.

Again, San Gimignano, perhaps the most famous of all of Tuscany’s famous hilltowns, with all services, lies just minutes away. The town is busy, with lots of cultural activities the year round. The area is a particularly beautiful stretch of the Tuscan countryside. Everything is close by: Siena, Florence, Volterra, Lucca, the Chianti Classico, the coast. There’s a Coop supermarket at San Gimignano plus a larger Superal market along the road to Poggibonsi.

For a relaxing vacation in a delightful setting, we urge Casa Montagnana for your consideration.