Overview
On the green hills high above Florence
This accommodation offers both: rural peace and quiet but also proximity to Florence. The property is located in the green hills only 8 km east of Florence.
The extensive property consists of four houses, lawns and a pool. Three houses are inhabited by the family of the owner (also one small dog and two cats live on the property); furthermore, there is a guest house, which is offered here.
The independent little Girasole cottage is located close to the pool and is at a good distance from the other houses. It is perfect for a family with two children.
The interior is simple, solid and functional. There is a light-flooded, completely glazed kitchen offering views from every angle. The house is equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV, dishwasher and washing machine. Downstairs there are two bedrooms with garden access: a bedroom with a double bed for parents and a room with trundle beds ideal for children or teenagers.
The floor, where the kitchen is located, opens to a private terrace equipped with table, chairs and parasol for al fresco dining. The terrace boasts wonderful views: The town is way down in the valley, the silvery Arno river meanders through it and the cathedral dome can be clearly seen, standing out against the rest of the town.
The garden is spacious. Lawns surround the various houses, the lawns gently merge into the olive groves. The pool at the far end of the garden also offers the magnificent view: through olive trees, the view sweeps over the valley to Florence. The pool is shared with the owners. The property can be reached via a 100 m long, narrow, unpaved road.
Villetta Girasole is located close to Bagno a Ripoli, just 15 minutes by car from the center of Florence. A grocery store is within easy walking distance (300 meters), and the nearest bus stop is a five-minute drive from the house. A pizzeria/restaurant is nearby - just walk 1 km down the hill.
In the nearby village of Bagno a Ripoli (about 2 km) you will find more restaurants, bars, a bank, post office, pharmacy, grocery stores and a bus stop, which is pleasant to get to Florence without a car: you can park your car in Bagno a Ripoli and then continue by bus to Florence.
Bagno a Ripoli is not only close to Florence, but also offers easy access to the Chianti region, so you can alternate trips to the Uffizi and the Duomo with excursions to the vineyards and hilltowns ofTuscan countryside. And after a long day filled with art you can return easily to your villa, where you can enjoy the rural setting cooling off and having fun at the pool.
Guests Reviews
Our Guests Reviews
Unbeatable panoramic view - during our short stay we’ve seen, the rain, the sun, the misty dawn and the glorious dusk. Close to Florence. Great pool.
Angela, June, 2024
Beautiful location with amazing views, beautiful house with everything one might need. Spending time on the terrace enjoying the panoramic view was just so nice. Thanks Monica for everything!
Kristoffer Gustav, October 2023
Good morning,
I spend two weeks in Italy in this wonderful place thanks to your organisation. I thank you very much!
A. Bailly, September 2014
Hello Monica,
We would like to thank you for making our holidays at your house Girasole a wonderful stay - even more as we did not have the opportunity to meet you personally. Also thanks a lot for the wine provided - we bought some bottles for at home.
All the best to you
July 2019
Our stay at Girasole was perfect. The house is beautiful and its setting amongst olive groves on a hillside above Florence, could not be better. We found it very private but if we needed any local knowledge we could always find Monica who was always friendly and incredibly helpful. I know this is a place we will love to return to.
All the best,
Roger, October 2018
We booked the Girasole house for almost a month late last year knowing that there is so much to explore in Florence, and explore we did. From the Uffizi (the most famous) to La Specola (which was amazing but very few either know of it or take the time), and so many others. Art is everywhere in Florence, so sometimes just walking around feels like you are in a museum.
The owner, Monica, is such a gracious host. She informed us on all the workings of the apartment, which are quite different than we have here in the states. It is “the” place to stay and feel at home, for however long you stay.
The apartment is in a perfect location for all the you could see and do. You can easily get back after a long day of sightseeing, rest up and then go out again for the evening. We even cooked in a few times, having made several stops at local stores for items like cheese, wine, and all that one needs to eat in true Italian style.
We cannot thank you enough, for making us feel so welcome and all that you did to assist us in making this our unforgettable Italian adventure.
K. Chua, February 2018
Fabulous location, amazing views, lovely villa, narrow road...
Left on Sep 11, 2014 for a stay in Aug 2014
Fantastic set up on an olive grove; Girasole is a perfectly-equipped villa and the pool is in very close proximity. Perfect for a family. The views were spectacular and the owners and their family are lovely. The nearest restaurant, 2 minutes' walk up the hill, was very welcoming and serves great food. The villa's proximity to Bagno also makes it very well situated for trips to Florence by bus (buy your tickets at the supermarket) and for trips further afield. Tip, however; if you're hiring a car, make sure it's not a long, wide one as the drive to the villa is via the back of the main house down an ungravelled path with high, immovable walls on either side. This made us, as a result, not as adventurous as we would otherwise have been with a smaller car. There is a high value deposit, in cash, which was a pain, and the additional cleaning fee also felt exorbitant: having been around, however, when the villa was cleaned mid-stay and discovering that this would be done again after our departure, it actually felt OK value. Would have preferred to have paid this in advance, however, with our booking rather than in cash on arrival. Other than that, an idyllic holiday.
Greetings
We stayed in Girasole nearly 4 years ago when we lived in Germany & I was pregnant with the youngest. We had a great holiday & are looking to do something last minute in August. Thank you.
A. Spuck, July 2008
Liebe Frau Röhrig,
wir sind ja nun etwas über einer Woche hier in Villetta Girasole und wollten Ihnen eine kurze Rückmeldung geben: Es ist unfassbar schön hier, das Haus, der Pool, der Blick auf Florenz, die Landschaft - wirklich der perfekte Urlaub! Die Inhaber sind aktuell selbst in Urlaub, aber jeder Kontakt bisher war extrem nett und zuvorkommend. Wir sind sehr glücklich, dass wir während unserer Urlaubsplanung per Zufall auf Ihrer Internetseite gelandet sind!!!
Herzliche Grüße
Jan A. September 2022
Liebe Frau Röhrig,
wir sind ja nun etwas über einer Woche hier in Villetta Girasole und wollten Ihnen eine kurze Rückmeldung geben: Es ist unfassbar schön hier, das Haus, der Pool, der Blick auf Florenz, die Landschaft - wirklich der perfekte Urlaub! Die Inhaber sind aktuell selbst in Urlaub, aber jeder Kontakt bisher war extrem nett und zuvorkommend. Wir sind sehr glücklich, dass wir während unserer Urlaubsplanung per Zufall auf Ihrer Internetseite gelandet sind!!!
Herzliche Grüße
Jan A. September 2022
The cottage is cozy and charming, surrounded by and with expansive views to the beautiful Tuscan countryside. It's an easy drive to the historical center of Florence and also works as a convenient base for exploring other parts of Tuscany. Monica is a kind and attentive host who always answered messages quickly. Highly recommended!
Juliette, September 2024
Liebe Frau Röhrig,
wir sind zeitgerecht in Unserem Domizil angekommen. So freundliche Menschen und solche professionelle tolle Küche, wir waren total beeindruckt. Ach unser Zimmer, alles top. Ja und dann Häuschen bei Monica. Die ganze Anlage ein Traum. Unsere Behausung so sauber und gemütlich. Wir sind immer noch hin und weg. Waren gestern auf dem Berg gegenüber, solch tolle Eindrücke. Heute waren wir in Pisa und es regnete, aber nicht schlimm. Danke für diese schöne Location. Freundliche Grüße,
Bernd, September 2025
Non posso dire abbastanza buone riflessioni su Monica e sul nostro soggiorno. La posizione è bellissima e proprio vicino a Firenze, non potrei pensare a un posto più pittoresco. La casa è spaziosa, pulita ed esattamente come descritta. Abbiamo sicuramente in programma di tornarci, si spera presto!
Carla, ottobre 2019
Bella
Left on Sep 22, 2013 for a stay in Aug 2013
Two weeks looking over the most beautiful city (in my opinion!) in the world. Well equipped and pool lovely. Only a couple of things could have made our stay more pleasant and that would be for the villa to have shutters as the main house, we arrived during a 2 week heat wave and although there was a mobile air con unit this could not cope with the intense 40' heat. The excessive cleaning and deposit was unnecessary-have never had to pay such a ridiculous amount, especially the price we paid during peak season!! Very friendly owner and beautiful location.
Amenities
Holiday Home Amenities
- Pool: 6 x 12m / shared pool
- Air conditioning
- Internet WIFI connection
- Satellite TV
- Fridge with freezer
- Stove with oven
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Panoramic terrace
- Electronic entrance gate
- Parking
- Barbecue grill shared with the owner
Touring ideas
Grocery shop 300 m
Pizzeria/Restaurant 1 km
Bus stop 2 km
Bagno a Ripoli 2 km
Florence 8 km
Golf Ugolino 13 km
Siena 70 km
Photos
Activities
According to statistics produced by UNESCO, 60% of the world's most important works of art are located in Italy and approximately half of these are in Florence! The city lies on the Arno River and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. A centre of medieval European trade and finance, the city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance; in fact, it has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages. It was long under the de facto rule of the Medici family. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The historic centre of Florence continues to attract millions of tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Strolling through the centre of Florence is a pleasure, the characterful narrow streets which are mostly closed to traffic are full of surprises and temptations.
A good starting point is the Piazza della Signoria, it's the heart of Florence's historic centre and an open-air art exhibit. The Loggia della Signoria, which sits on the square, contains a collection of some of the most valuable artworks in the world.
Head down Via Borgo San Lorenzo and you will find il Duomo, probably Florence's most popular tourist attraction. The given name is Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. Brunelleschi designed the Dome (il Duomo), which highlights the stunning Chiesa Santa Maria del Fiore, and many climb the 463 steps to the bell tower to enjoy the panoramic view over Florence. The cathedral is also a treasure trove of art with contributions from Michelangelo, Donatello and Brunelleschi.
The Baptistery of St John the Baptist lies in front of the Duomo. It was built on the foundations of an ancient Roman temple and the golden doors which face the cathedral are replicas of an original set by Lorenzo Ghiberti (extensively copied - including the entrance doors to St Peters in Rome) and termed by Michelangelo as the “doors to paradise”.
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest and most important Renaissance art galleries in the world and is only outdone by the Vatican museums. Its impressive collection of artworks from the Renaissance period includes Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and art by Giotto, Lippi, Botticelli, Da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo. Most of the work was commissioned by the Medici family.
The Galleria dell'Accademia, contains one of Florence's most renowned symbols, Michelangelo's original statue of David, and an impressive collection of artwork from the 13th-16th centuries including a collection of musical instruments, from the Medici family.
Ponte Vecchio, lucky to have survived WWII, it's one of only 3 bridges in the world that houses shops.
For the best views over the city of Florence take a walk from Porta Romana to Piazzale Michelangelo and then onto San Miniato, one of Tuscany's most beautiful Romanesque churches and the oldest standing in Florence.
Eating out: Prepare to be overwhelmed, Florence abounds with excellent restaurants serving traditional Tuscan and Italian cuisine. The Piazza Santa Maria Novella and the alleyways which run from it are very popular and have an array of culinary options to satisfy all tastes. The best value for money will be found at the Trattorias and Pizzerias, in addition your best chances of finding great value authentic cooking in a family environment will be at a Trattoria.
Shopping in Florence! Florence has some of the most exciting shopping in Europe, and is really an adventure rather than a commercial outing. Artisans crafts like leather goods, gold and silver smiths (see Ponte Vecchio) jewelry, art, handbags etc. will surprise down almost every alleyway.
The informal morning markets which sell food, clothing, accessories, arts and crafts, etc. are an invaluable and fun insight into Florentine culture.
Map
Please note: the Google Maps are only approximative, the exact address will be given after finalized booking.
Choose your holiday home
VILLETTA GIRASOLE
- Sleeps 4 Guests
Main floor (access to the terrace):
- Spacious, fully glazed kitchen with dining area and sofa
Basement (access to the garden):
- Double bedroom with French door opening onto the garden
- Room with 2 beds and French door opening onto the garden (the beds are not of the same height/pull-out bed; this twin bedroom has a sliding door opening directly onto the hall); this room is perfect for kids or teenagers.
- Bathroom (shower)
Outdoors:
- Private terrace
- Shared pool in the garden
- Parking
19 Sep 2026 – 19 Dec 2026
1460 EUR €
29 Aug 2026 – 19 Sep 2026
19 Dec 2026 – 02 Jan 2027
1680 EUR €
1880 EUR €
Weekly rates in €
| Villetta Girasole | 01 Jan 2026 – 04 Apr 2026 19 Sep 2026 – 19 Dec 2026 |
04 Apr 2026 – 20 Jun 2026 29 Aug 2026 – 19 Sep 2026 19 Dec 2026 – 02 Jan 2027 |
20 Jun 2026 - 29 Aug 2026 |
Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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VILLETTA GIRASOLE
4
PAX 4
|
1460 EUR € | 1680 EUR € | 1880 EUR € | N/A | Request Booking VILLETTA GIRASOLE |
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RENT INCLUDES
- Bed, bath and kitchen linens
- Electricity
- Air conditioning
- Internet WIFI connection
- Pool cleaning
- Garden maintenance
EXTRAS
- Heating (if required): metered
- Final cleaning: EUR 120
- Small dog (only on a leach) perhaps allowed on special request upon booking: EUR 50 domestic pet supplement
SECURITY DEPOSIT
EUR 400 cash deposit are due on arrival.
SERVICE ON REQUEST (please enquire with us when booking)
- First grocery shopping
- Transfer service with Van CNC Mercedes from and to the airport; excursions for wine tastings to Antinori, Frescobaldi, Banfi
NOTES
- Reservations from Saturday to Saturday are preferred, but also flexible travel dates are considered: please enquire. Minimum stay 4 nights: prices on request.
- Pool opening dates: May 23rd - 30th September
- Upon request and approval of the owner a late arrival is possible between 7 and 9pm for an extra fee of EUR 50.