Cottage in Moncione near Florence, Siena & Arezzo, walk to restaurant

La Rota is a delightful cottage set among peaceful olive groves, barely a ten minute stroll from the village of Moncioni, which is slap in the centre of Tuscany’s “golden triangle” formed by Florence, Siena and Arezzo. As there is no swimming pool at La Rota, the cottage is affordable for couples or singles who want to tour the classic area of Tuscany. You are comfortably within an hour’s drive of all three of the tempting must-see points of the golden triangle and you are also on the doorstep of the fine red wines of Chianti.

The local village is only a 5-10 minute walk away and there is a little bar/ shop as well as a new restaurant/ pizzeria.

If you prefer to let the train take the sightseeing strain, it’s just ten minutes drive down to the busy town of Montevarchi, where you can park and hop on a train down to Rome or up to Florence. Montevarchi also boasts an excellent Thursday morning market, where you’ll find fresh fruit and veg plus clothing and household bargains galore and there’s an antiques market on the last Sunday of every month too.

Attention has been paid to every detail of this pretty cottage: from the comfortable furnishings in authentic Tuscan style to the superbly well equipped kitchen and newly updated bathroom. The owners have tried to think of everything by providing useful things like a sewing kit, sun bathing towels, a range of CDs and DVDs, a bookcase with maps, books and guides and a lavish welcome snack (assorted cold meats, mozzarella and vegetable salads, nibbles, chocolates and a complementary bottle of prosecco, and breakfast pack (croissants, bread, butter and jam, tea, coffee, fresh milk and fruit juice) to ensure you start your holiday in style.

Your own private terrace is equipped with sun loungers, huge shady umbrella and a table for candle-lit dining under the Tuscan stars. Podere La Rota’s two cats will no doubt drop by to check up on what you are doing, unlike the owners who are discretion itself - they’re there and a mine of local information if you need them, otherwise you will be left to enjoy your gloriously peaceful surroundings in perfect privacy.

If you want something special in Tuscany, you’ll be delighted with La Rota!

For fashion enthusiasts, just 20 minutes drive will get you to Levane, where the Prada outlet is discreetly tucked away. The area abounds in outlets selling fabulous shoes, glassware and cashmere to name but few. And the outlets for Armani, Fendi, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana are all in a 40-minute drive from this beautifully furnished cottage (you’ll find full details of the locations of the high fashion outlets in all Summer’s Leases House Books).

The walled village of Moncioni is tiny, but you’ll nevertheless find a bar, a well stocked “sell-everything” shop and an elegant restaurant. If you want to drive into Chianti to dine at the ancient and atmospheric Osteria di Starda, there’s a secret back route which is a wonderfully scenic ten-minute drive from your cottage. Serious walkers couldn’t pick a better base than Podere La Rota with maps in the house showing the many local footpaths, or you might prefer to settle for a gentle saunter in the sylvan surroundings of La Rota’s 30 acres of woods and olive groves.