A perfectly situated grand retreat
Villa Capponi occupies a privileged position overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany, near Florence. It is no coincidence that so many important Florentine families chose to construct their noble residences in this area.
This is the Tuscan countryside at its most golden, yet the Renaissance glory of Florence is only a short distance away – 20 minutes by car, in modern terms.
Villa Capponi is a short drive from Florence Airport, making it easy to reach from cities across Europe. The nationally important A1 autostrada is three minutes from the villa gates, with fast connections to cities throughout Italy. Venice, Rome and Milan are close enough for daytrips.
Though set within a vast natural landscape, Villa Capponi is on the edge of a thriving town with many useful amenities, including supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies and dining.
Two nationally well-respected hospitals – Careggi University Hospital and the Meyer Children’s Hospital – are less than 10 minutes from the villa by car.
AIRPORT AND CITIES
- Florence Airport (Peretola) – 15 min
- Florence City Centre – 20 min
- San Gimignano – 1 hour
- Siena – 1 hour 15 min
- Pisa – 1 hour 15 min
- Bologna – 1 hour 15 min
- Venice – 2 hours 30 min
- Rome – 3 hours
- Milan – 3 hours
KEY AMENITIES
- Grotta Giusti Spa – 50 min
- Forte di Marmi beaches – 1 hour 20 min
- Abetone ski resort – 1 hour 30 min
The Tuscan Lifestyle
Living in the hills above Florence means there will always be much to do and explore – culturally, physically and gastronomically – at any time of year.
BEGUILING FLORENCE
Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, continues to be one of the most beautiful cities on earth. A living museum, it contains many artistic treasures and architectural masterpieces. But Florence is also a vibrant modern city with exceptional shopping – from luxury fashion houses to elegant boutiques – and many outstanding cultural and food related offerings. The city’s trattorias, gelaterias and wine bars buzz with cosmopolitan life.
SESTO FIORENTINO
This bustling hill town stands at the foot of the Villa Capponi estate, offering residents a full spectrum of services and amenities, including several excellent restaurants. Though not well known internationally, Sesto Fiorentino is famous throughout Italy for its hand painted ceramics. The Gucci-owned ceramics design house Richard Ginori and fashion houses Salvatore Ferragamo and Roberto Cavalli are all based here. The town has a heliport for the benefit of residents who prefer to arrive by helicopter.
CULTURAL LANDMARKS
The era of the grand Italian villa is preserved for posterity in three especially noteworthy Sesto Fiorentino landmarks, all of which were once owned by the powerful Medici family – Villa La Topaia, Villa La Petraia and Villa di Castello. All three have exquisite Italian formal gardens that attract many visitors each year, and all are within a few kilometres of Villa Capponi. Also of note culturally are two beautiful ancient Etruscan tombs, which are highlighted in many guidebooks because they offer a rare and up-close glimpse into the rituals of this great civilisation.
In the sun-drenched landscape around Villa Capponi, there are many available outdoor pursuits, including horse riding, cycling tours, mountain biking, tennis clubs (there are several in the local area) and walking through vast and timeless landscapes. The glamorous beaches at Forte dei Marmi are only an hour and 20 minutes away. Or stay closer to home and hike up the Monte Morello for cooling breezes and majestic views over the valley. Before your descent, stop for a hearty lunch or glass of wine in the olive grove outside the unforgettable Botteghina di Morello.
The Tuscan lifestyle is rooted in the pleasures of the changing seasons. In autumn, experience the festivities around the annual grape and olive harvests and – if you are lucky – the thrill of the truffle hunt. In winter, there is skiing and snowboarding on the pistes of Abetone, the famous ski resort in the Appenines – a mere one hour and a half from Villa Capponi. Throughout the cooler months, warm up at and gain the health benefits imparted from bathing in one of Tuscany’s many naturally fed thermal spas. The luxurious Grotta Giusta Spa, known for its remarkable underground caves, is less than an hour from the villa.