Listing of the Day
Location: Radicondoli, Siena, Tuscany, Italy Price: €35 million (US$37.2 million)
Undulating hills and verdant valleys, hosting ancient forests and the odd terracotta-tiled roofed farmhouse; the countryside that surrounds this estate is sparsely populated and completely rural.
Straddling three municipalities, Radicondoli, Castelnuovo Val di Cecina and Montieri, the property covers an area of 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) and is home to unspoiled woodland and scrub, and a diverse range of wildlife.
Two stone-built villas, previously farmhouses, form the main part of the estate. The renovated homes share an infinity-edge outdoor swimming pool and are surrounded by immaculate gardens, which feature groomed lawns and borders planted with rose bushes.
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But it’s in the hills above the villas that the centerpiece of the estate stands: A 12th- century castle. Clinging to a rocky crag, overlooking a steep valley, the location of the historic building is impossibly romantic.
The castle and the two villas, along with a collection of 25 cottages and a chapel which are also included in the estate, were once part of a village known as Fosini.
Abandoned by its inhabitants in the 1960s, it was bought as an estate by the current owners more than a decade ago.
"Three properties, as well as the chapel, are fully restored and back to their former glory," said listing agent Daniela Sprea of Tuscany Sotheby’s International Realty. "The vineyards are thriving and the estate is producing its own wine."
The estate has undergone extensive renovations, but it is still a work in progress: the castle is in a poor state of repair and the cottages need renovating. "It is hoped that the new owners will continue the work," added Ms. Sprea.
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The Stats
The two villas, Salicastro and Tre Colli, have been renovated and refurbished to a high standard. The former is a five-bedroom house with an annex; the latter is a four-bedroom house with two annexes.
Located in the heart of the estate, nestled among the vineyards, is La Casetta, a restored three-bedroom guest cottage with an al fresco dining area and a wood-burning grill.
There is also 18 hectares of vineyards, which have been planted with sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and pinot blanc grapes, and a winery.
Amenities
The estate includes a 300-hectare hunting reserve, which is home to deer; roe deer; fallow deer; mouflon, a type of wild sheep; and wild boar. It is mostly covered in woodland but it also includes small clearings and vineyards, and around 180 hectares of the land can be used for hunting. The area is also home to a large number of pheasants and red partridges.
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Neighborhood Notes
The estate may be vast but civilization is on its doorstep—Radicondoli, a walled town perched on a hilltop, is a 15-minute drive away. Siena, famed for its art galleries, museums and Palio horse race, is 16 miles away.
Agent: Daniela Sprea, Tuscany Sotheby’s International Realty
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