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--Italian Vacation Villas

Maramai is a well-restored farmhouse for 7 or 10 people near the hill town of Montepulciano, situated among vineyards and conveniently located for touring Tuscany

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Cheery fields of sunflowers greet you in early summer

There is no place in the world quite like Tuscany. It is an area blessed with a diversity of landscape, a temperate climate, artistic and cultural masterpieces, historical attractions, unique architecture, well-developed transportation links, and nature parks. The fifth largest region in Italy, Tuscany’s landscape of hills and mountains, interspersed with valleys carved out by its major rivers, changes dramatically as it rolls down to the plains near the Tyrrhenian Sea. The countryside is beautiful, and sentinel cypress trees, soft amber and yellow-hued country villas and farmhouses, and old stone walls greet the visitor everywhere. Different types of trees—oak, cypress, and evergreen—appear, often surrounding a hamlet or isolated farmhouse. They are interspersed with vineyards, olive groves and fields of grain or sunflowers. On top of the many hills, villages and towns dating back to medieval times enjoy spectacular views of the splendid landscape. And throughout the region there are major historical centers of art and architecture such as Florence, Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano, Arezzo, Pienza, Pisa, Montepulciano, Monte Oliveto Maggiore, and Pistoia.

	The many varieties of cheese are incredibly delicious, especially the Pecorino from Pienza

In this section of our Website, we describe villas in Tuscany that are located south of the city of Siena. Like other areas of Tuscany, the landscape is dotted with ochre-colored farmhouses and occasional castles, which have remained in the hands of their original families for generations. Other houses, abandoned in the past, are now reclaimed and restored for the enjoyment of Italians and foreign visitors. Agricultural production is very important here, and some of Italy’s best wines come from this area—the Brunello from Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are known throughout the world.

In this area one finds sheep grazing and fields of grain. Pecorino, a sheep’s milk cheese from the area of Pienza,is justifiably famous and comes in three versions: fresh, mild, and aged. The landscape is also unique, and the famous “Crete Senesi” (clay hills) create a stark contrast to the green fields, vineyards and olive groves. Rent a villa in Tuscany and you'll see interesting hilltop towns that offer a rich variety of architecture and art. The magnificent abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, founded by monks and constructed from the 14th to 16th century, is decorated with renowned frescoes.

Family farms are at the heart of Italian agriculture

Further south, the town of Pienza, the first example of town planning, was rebuilt in pure Renaissance urban style in the 15th century and remains the same today. Montalcino and Montepulciano retain their medieval appearance, and the walled town of Montepulciano has many fine examples of Gothic and Renaissance buildings. Near Montalcino, the Romanesque Abbey of San Antimo rises out of the countryside. Finally, this area of Tuscany also offers the possibility of easy access to Rome and Florence by train from your rental villa.