Description
Located between Florence and Siena, on a branch of the ancient Via Francigena, the Borgo that we present to you, dominates the surrounding landscape. The hill that welcomes it, looks into the eyes of the towers of San Gimignano; we are in one of the most historically and culturally important sites of the Val d'Elsa, well known among the most beautiful and interesting villages in Tuscany. Documented since the 10th century and almost certainly of Etruscan origins, at the beginning of the 16th century it was known for being a sumptuous villa owned by the high prelate Paolo Cortesi, a humanist of great value, who made it a center of humanistic studies and his own residence with the name of "Castrum Cortesianum". Here he established a private library for public use and a cenacle where he welcomed students and scholars of the time, including Paolo and Lorenzo Dè Medici, the Dukes of Ferrara and Urbino, Pico Della Mirandola, Angelo Poliziano, Pope Paul III and Pope Julius II. It was here that Cortesi wrote and printed his valuable work “De Cardinalatu”, a cornerstone of humanistic literature. Even today, the Castrum Cortesianum is cited in Italian literature books. The real estate complex is divided into several units and has a total size of approximately 3,000 m2 in addition to the surrounding land of 58 ha, consisting of coppice, arable land, olive grove, vineyard and various crops including lavender and saffron (DOP). The most qualifying portion of the real estate complex, as it has been restored, has been used for many years as an agritourism business, the natural vocation of the Borgo. This property, which is composed of a reception facility with a roof, oven, swimming pool and solarium and the residential residence for a total cadastral area of 960 m2, has been the subject of careful conservative restoration that lasted approximately 9 years (from 1994 to 2002); carried out with particular attention to preserving the beauty and authenticity of the place, using valuable ancient and recycled materials. The restoration has kept intact the architectural structure dating back to the fifteenth century and, in some structural parts, to the Middle Ages. The property for hospitality purposes, has a surface area of approximately 530 m2 and is spread over 3 levels; the large and relaxing spaces, those of ancient country homes, with floors and ceilings in antique handmade terracotta, the Renaissance travertine staircase, the chestnut beams, the arches of the large halls, the ribbed vaults and the welcoming fireplaces, suggest the idea that time has stopped. On the top floor, in the medieval tower, the 'Cortesiana' suite welcomes us, a prestigious and panoramic room of 67 m2, including a living room with fireplace, kitchenette, large double bedroom with bathroom, equipped with a 'Devon' bathtub. All 5 double bedrooms with en suite bathroom are equipped with air conditioning/heating, mosquito nets and double glazing and enjoy a splendid view of the towers of San Gimignano. In each room there is a system that allows you to listen to diffused music. The whole thing is embellished by a garden full of flowers in spring and by the pergola near the swimming pool where you can cool off on hot summer days. The main house is spread over 2 floors with a cadastral area of 430 square meters and includes a porch and a loggia partly verandahed and supported by ancient original round columns. It was created from an ancient medieval tower house and is surrounded by a garden and overlooks a large farmyard with ancient terracotta floors of about 300 square meters; it is in excellent structural and maintenance conditions. Here too we can admire ancient details starting from the floor taken from a 1400 church, from the internal walls completely in stone, from an underground cellar where in ancient times they collected the grain and from a medieval cellar from which, as documented in some historical texts, an underground tunnel started that connected the Castrum Cortesianum to San Gimignano. Inside, the living area consists of a living room with fireplace and kitchenette, lounge and study as well as a laundry room and bathroom; on the upper floor we find the sleeping area with 3 bedrooms, one with a fireplace and the master bedroom with a splendid external loggia. The Borgo also consists of residential buildings to be renovated and collapsed annexed units such as pigsties, warehouses, direct and indirect accessory rooms and sheds for a total surface area of approximately 1500 square meters. This complex offers ample possibilities for use in a redevelopment project. Inside the real estate complex we find a further renovated building for residential use, articulated in its architectural composition as it is a deconsecrated church, of very ancient origin, with frescoes and historical finds, used as a large lounge / living room with adjoining kitchen in a former rectory and additional service rooms as well as a living area on the upper floor and exclusive garden. This is one of the oldest parts of the Borgo; the presence of a simple single-nave church is a sign of great historical and cultural importance as it identified a "people". In one wing of the village, we find another dilapidated rural building (present in the Leopoldine land registry of 1830) completely to be renovated; located in a position a little detached from the remaining compendium and has a very open panoramic view thanks to the large and flat land in front cultivated with lavender and olive trees. A restoration and redevelopment project of a rural building has been developed on this property for the creation of a hospitality facility. Imagining this village completely recovered, with the buildings with well-restored exposed facings, the appropriately paved road, the correct lighting, the enhancement of the landscape views is today an operation that is based on a concrete and desirable feasibility from an urban, cultural and economic point of view.
