Villa La Striscia with its working farms lies at the foot of the hills surrounding the city of Arezzo.

First historical mention of Villa La Striscia dates back to the 16° century, witness the splendid frescoed hall with delightful grotesques painted in 1582 by Alessandro Forzori, pupil of Vasari and Domenichino.

The villa was enlarged in 1700 and further restord in the 19° century by Count Pier Ludovico Occhini.

The architect Porcinai was engaged to create the Italian gardens and the groves of cypress and live oak.

The garden

with its 16th century architecture, is decorated with pools, ornamental plants and flowerbeds; a wrought iron Art Nouveau door adorns the greenhouse.

The garden has now been divided in two: the first part remains annexed to the main villa, currently leased to a private organization, while the second part is annexed to the Farmhouse.

It has no service facilities, but benches, deck chairs and coffee tables are provided for the guests’ comfort, should they desire to relax outdoors.

The tree blossoms, exuding a particularly inebriating scent in the spring and in September, are delightful.

THE SWIMMING POOL

Immersed amid the vineyards and embraced by the gentle Tuscan hills, the swimming pool is only a few steps away from the farm.

The trail that runs along the vineyards leads to an enchanted place where peace and quiet reign supreme.

The countryside’s beauty makes time stand still, evoking the landscapes painted by Raphael, Leonardo and Piero Della Francesca.

Time flies here, and guests may relax while sunbathing on comfortable sun beds or reading under the shade of a parasol.

THE CELLAR

The farm’s cellars are part of the villa’s basement, where wine matures in casks and barriques amid imposing walls and 15th century arched vaults.

There are 12 hectares(28 acres) with magnificent vineyards registered at D.O.C.G. Chianti Colli Aretini, and further 4 hectares (10 acres) of olive groves producing Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The vineyards were totally renewed in the seventies.

They face South East and thrive on the soil and rocks so typical of the best land in the Chianti.

The grapes are principally Sangiovese, the moderntechniques of vinoculture produce the highest quality wine.

Winter pruning and careful selection ensures a special product. The grapes perfectly matured, are placed in special vats for further natural fermentation from these vats the wine is placed in “barriques” where it remains 12 months before bottling.