Caregi | 1.51 million US dollars (1.3 million euros)
A three-bedroom apartment in a historic villa north of Florence
This ground floor apartment is part of a century-old villa in the hills of Careggi, a neighborhood about four miles north of central Florence known for its collection of 12 villas and two gardens belonging to the Medici family, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Florence, the capital of Tuscany and epicenter of the Renaissance, is served by Florence International Airport. Both the high-speed train and the regular train from Rome reach the historic Santa Maria Novella station near the city center.
Although not a Medici villa, this house sits between two such landmarks: the 14th-century Villa La Petraia, now a museum; and Villa La Quiete, once the summer home of the last members of the Medici family and now a museum with restored gardens. It is located about six miles north of Florence's historic city center and five miles from Fiesole, an affluent suburb of Florence known for its elevated views of the city and its Etruscan history. Numerous European and American universities have campuses in the city.
Size: 3,229 square feet
Price per square meter: $467
Inside: This is a discreet ground floor apartment in a two-unit villa built on 13th century foundations. The great room combines living and dining areas and features painted arches in traditional Tuscan style, a beamed ceiling, remnants of 14th-century frescoes on three walls and terracotta tile floors. There are also two en-suite bedrooms on this level and additional seating or sleeping space on the mezzanine.
The open kitchen has been updated but retains its rustic farmhouse feel with tiled countertops and walls, an oversized stone sink and wooden cabinets.
The lower level, with arched doorways and stone walls, includes a wine cellar and a flexible space, including another bathroom that can be used as staff quarters. The room was converted from the old barrel-vaulted cellars and overlooks the garden.
Outdoor area: The extensive garden includes lemon trees. There is parking for up to three cars.
Cost: Annual taxes amount to $4,065 (3,500 euros).
contact: Lionard Luxury Real Estate Florence | +39 055 054 8100
Impruneta | 1.53 million US dollars (1.32 million euros)
A renovated five bedroom farmhouse
Built more than two centuries ago, this renovated farmhouse in Impruneta, a community of about 15,000 residents, is nine miles south of Florence city center and about three miles south of the A1 or Autostrada del Sole (“Sun Highway”). Translated, Impruneta means “in the pine forest” and is best known for its terracotta production. This house is about 4 km from the village and about 8 km from a golf club in L'Ugolino.
Size: 3,100 square meters
Price per square meter: $494
Inside: The ground floor includes an en-suite bedroom and an open plan living and dining room with numerous doors giving access to the terrace and garden. The modern kitchen features minimalist cabinets and brushed steel worktops and opens onto a terrace with an outdoor cooking and dining area under a pergola. A small stone extension offers a flexible space with beamed ceilings and sliding doors leading onto a stone terrace and courtyard.
Upstairs there are four bedrooms and three bathrooms, all updated with bright tiles and modern fixtures. There is custom millwork on two of the upstairs windows and in some areas of the home. In the basement there is a tavern or wine cellar, a service area and a storage room.
Outdoor area: The property includes 0.25 hectares of manicured gardens. An adjacent plot of just under 0.75 acres is also available for $69,650 (60,000 euros).
Cost: Estimated taxes of $4,075 (3,500 euros) per year when used as a second home.
contact: Isabella Foster | +44 7870 393 148 | Knight Frank
Oltrarno | 1.57 million US dollars (1.35 million euros)
A ground floor duplex apartment near the Arno River
This stylish three-bedroom apartment is located on the ground and first floors of a 19th century (or earlier) building with another residential unit. Oltrarno, meaning “beyond the Arno,” is the historic bohemian district on the south bank of the Arno and home to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. In recent decades, chic restaurants and shops have sprung up alongside classic trattorias and workshops, but the area remains less visited than the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and located on the famous Ponte Vecchio.
Size: 2,476 square feet
Price per square meter: $633
Inside: After the entrance hall, on the ground floor there is the kitchen and living room, separated by open doors, followed by a garden courtyard and a guest room. The living room features a wood-burning fireplace and beamed ceilings. The modular dining table in the eat-in kitchen offers space for six people. The second floor is dedicated to the master bedroom and a guest bedroom, both with private bathrooms. The master bathroom's bathtub is in a separate open area.
Outdoor area: The terrace on the ground floor covers 325 square meters. There is also a roof terrace.
Cost: There are no condo fees. If used as a second home, an estimated annual municipal tax of US$2,900 (€2,500) applies.
contact: Isabella Foster | +44 7870 393 148 | Knight Frank