The magnificent abbey of Spineto, set in the wooded heart of southeastern Tuscany, was founded in 1085 by Benedictine monks who devoted their lives to study, meditation and farming. 

Today, although the estate is run privately, that same air of peace and tranquillity remains.   The abbey itself, now used as a small conference centre, has been finely restored in a style both strikingly contemporary and yet sensitive to the building’s noble past.  It is a style that has been echoed in the restoration of the various farm houses spread across the 830-hectare estate, which have been decorated and equipped to the highest possible standard. 

Casino overlooks the abbey from a wooded hillside on the far side of the lake and is reached along a 2km track.  This four bedroom stone-built house has been renovated and decorated with the same imagination and flare that was brought to bear on the restoration of the abbey.  The terracotta and pastel green interior is furnished with a striking blend of antique and modern furniture to ensure the house is both attractive and comfortable.  Large windows in the sitting room and spacious dining room offer glorious views of the lake and the abbey; the kitchen to the rear is generously equipped, with dishwasher and fridge-freezer.   Outside, the swimming pool has been built a short distance from Casino on the hillside above, to guarantee maximum privacy and in order not to interfere with the peace of the house.

 Porchereccia stands a kilometre away from the abbey, in a wooded clearing on the other side of the estate.  Slightly larger than Casino, Porchereccia has been restored and furnished with the same care and attention to detail.  The main entrance leads through a fully equipped kitchen into a sitting room furnished with antique pine furniture, upholstered cane furniture and a contemporary fireplace built from Roman travertine stone.  The house has three ground floor bedrooms, each with bathroom, while a wood and glass treaded staircase leads to a further four bedrooms, each in the restful terracotta and pale green colours with which the whole house is decorated.  Shops and restaurants are on hand in the nearby town of Sarteano, ten minutes’ drive away from Spineto.  Horse riding, tennis and fishing are among the activities available either on the estate itself or in the vicinity.   

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