|
Air conditioning is not very common in holiday homes in
Tuscany. The larger hotels in the cities are air conditioned but agriturismi,
country vacation villas, rural rental apartments and Bed & Breakfast
holiday accommodation usually do not have a/c, for a
number of reasons. For one thing, electricity is extremely expensive in Italy so
that it is usually not economical to air condition a large, high
ceiling villa, for example. Architectural protection regulations
prohibit window mounted units, leaving only the more expensive
ducted options. But perhaps most importantly, Tuscany has been
inhabited for a long time and strategies for dealing with hot
weather have evolved so that air conditioning is often not really
necessary. Houses and, indeed, entire villages and towns are very
often located quite high up on hill tops where the air is cooler
and summer breezes more common. Local people living in the valleys
often migrate to the hills or to the seaside during August which
is the only really hot month. The walls of farmhouses and villas
are very thick, usually 45 cm, and are constructed of stone and
rubble so that they act as giant heat sinks, keeping the house
cool during the day and warm at night. Windows are normally
opened at night to let cool air in, and both windows and shutters
are closed during the day to keep the heat out. Holidaymakers
should follow the same procedure, but remember to adjust your
mosquito net properly because letting the night air also lets
mosquitoes in! (Info
regarding bugs and mosquitoes in Tuscany.)
If you are sensitive to heat and visiting Tuscany during late July,
August and early September, rooms and apartments directly under
the roof are best avoided, as are lodgings located in valleys
where air circulation is poor - unfortunately, Florence is
situated in exactly this kind of valley. Or, seek out those places
that have air conditioning.
Here we list a few air conditioned
vacation rentals in the Chianti Classico area of Tuscany:
|
 |
Country Apartment
and B&B Rooms - pool (near Greve)
Le Cetinelle is a
beautiful Tuscan farmhouse situated high up in the Chianti
hills surrounded by vineyards and forest. This B&B offers
six double air-conditioned bedrooms with en suite
bathroom and breakfast, plus an apartment
for 5 (+1) guests. An ideal place to stay in
Chianti during the hotter months of summer when cool breezes
and a swimming pool are important.
More about
Le Cetinelle Agriturismo Bed and
Breakfast accommodations. |
|
 |
Luxury Country Hotel - restaurant, tennis and pool (near Panzano and
Greve)Villa Le Barone is a romantic luxury hotel situated among beautiful gardens in the hills above Panzano in Chianti. The villa dates from Renaissance times and formerly belonged to the della Robbia family of Florentine artists. Villa Le Barone offers 28 rooms,
many of them air-conditioned individually decorated with antique furniture and attractive fabrics. There is a television lounge, terraces and guests' restaurant, as well as a swimming pool and tennis court. More about
Hotel Villa Le Barone. |
|
 |
Country B&B -
Rooms and Apartments - restaurant, pool (near Greve)
"Corte di Valle" villa Bed and Breakfast
and apartments, is a winemaking estate located at
Greti, a short drive from Greve in Chianti. It is also
easily accessible by SITA bus from Florence and Greve.
Unlike many B&Bs, most of the 13 double rooms are in
the main villa and are hence spacious and cool.
Nevertheless, air conditioning is available for those who
want it. The large number of rooms plus a private
restaurant make Corte di Valle ideal accommodation for
wedding guests. More about
Corte di Valle Bed and Breakfast rooms, vacation apartments in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy.
|
|
 |
Country Apartment and Rooms - air conditioning - pool (near Lamole and
Greve)
Azienda Agricola Il Santo vineyard, run by the Turchi family, is situated in the Chianti Classico hills between Florence and Siena, 1 km away from Greve in Chianti. An agriturismo immersed in nature amongst vines and olive groves, it offers
rooms with kitchenette and bathroom, and an apartment for 2 and 3 persons (kitchenette and bathroom).
More about "Il Santo"
Tuscan vacation rooms and apartment.
|
|