Overview
Ambassador is a charming house standing on its own on the edge of the hamlet, surrounded by a garden and wide stretching views onto open fields and the Monte Amiata in the background.
The entrance over the terrace with pergola and dining table leads straight into the large living room with a large fireplace and open plan kitchen. The room is generously furnished with two large sofas and a dining table. French windows lead onto the terrace to one side and into the garden to the other side of the room. A few steps lead down to the two bedrooms and bathrooms. These rooms can be turned into doubles or twins (please indicate when booking if you don't wish twin bedded rooms, but beds pushed together). Both bedrooms have French windows into the garden.
The shared saltwater pool lies at less than 200 m from the house. It is reached down a path that runs along the orchard of the estate. The pool area is surrounded by old walls and accessed through a gate (and therefore safe for small children).
The Castle of Vivo d'Orcia lies in the widespread Orcia valley in southern Tuscany, 60 km south-east of Siena, near to Arezzo, Perugia, Orvieto and Assisi and such cultural jewels as Pienza, Montalcino and Montepulciano, to name but a few. The hamlet lies at an altitude of 900 m above sea level. The particular combination of altitude and Mediteranean climate creates an unusual whealth of flora and fauna. Many wild animals such as deer, wild boar and foxes as well as the most deliscious truffles call the Monte Amiata their home. The castle boasts a long and fascinating history. It has been in the same family since 1534 and since then the property has not changed hands. Up till today the owner spends most of the summer months in residence in the Castello del Vivo.
In the past the hamlet housed the peasants and their families. Today the hamlet is let to friends of the property owner from Florence and Rome, who come down for the weekend. There are four houses available for travellers, three of which are offered here: Ambassador, Casa di Giulia and Casa di Piero. Century old chestnut trees cast their shade in the gardens of the houses, ideal for al fresco meals outdoors.
A romantic retreat in the hills
Guests Reviews
Our Guests Reviews
Hallo Bettina,
vielen, vielen Dank an den Vermieter. Wir erinnern uns gern an unseren schönen Urlaub.
W. Löwe, Mai 2018
I`ve stayed at Ambassador before and LOVED it. Is it still available 8/22 through 8/29 2009?
M. Thompson, June 2009
I thought while still fresh from our stay at the Ambassador, we could provide some feedback. The property was beautiful, and very quite. Kitchen had everything we needed, and while the home was a bit cold, the heat worked perfectly.
The hosts were great, the owner was on site the first day or two! Actually him being there was fortuitous as for some reason, the request for dinner to be delivered the first night appeared to be a surprise! The owner though responded quickly and arranged for a dinner, and he hand delivered it!
The only other item I feel mentioning is while the village is close, it is up a 100 meter hill, so really a difficult walk. And if course after the summer season, the two restaurants were closed during our stay. The market was very limited, so we drove to the next town for significant grocery shopping.
Please though overall very good experience! So many great villiages to visit!
Thank you
Robert, October 2022
Amenities
Touring ideas
Restaurant, bar, grocery in Vivo d'Orcia 1 km
S. Antimo 23 km
S. Quirico 30 km
Montalcino 30 km
Pienza 35 km
Montepulciano 45 km
Monte Uliveto 50 km
Siena 70 km
Orvieto 70 km
Seaside 80 km
Arezzo 90 km
Florence 140 km
Rome 190 km
HOLIDAY HOME AMENITIES
- Pool: 10 x 6m / shared pool
- Salt water pool
- Pool area is fenced
- Internet WIFI connection
- Fireplace
- Bose Bluetooth loudspeaker
- Satellite TV
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Fridge with freezer
- Stove with oven
- Microwave
- Toaster
- Blender
- Electric kettle
- Electric filter coffee machine
- Iron and ironing board
- Hair dryer
- Jacuzzi style tub in one of the bathrooms
- Terrace with dining area
- Garden
Photos
Activities
The village: Vivo d'Orcia is a 10 minute walk from the house. A quiet village which furnishes basic requirements - small supermarket, bank, pharmacy, post office, news agent and your bar for delicious cappuccinos. About 15 km in various directions you'll find other charming alternatives for daily shopping and stopovers at a bar, some also have foreign newspapers (list in the house).
Food and wine: Varying seasons bring varying menus. The quality of the produce is what one identifies with cuisine in Tuscany: fresh vegetables, crisp salads, aromatic tomatoes, porcini (wild mushrooms), tartufi (truffles), home-made pasta or polenta, tortelli filled with spinach and ricotta, wild boar stew, grilled meats and venison, wild strawberries, raspberries, chestnuts, and many delicate herbs which join together to produce the exquisite meals you will enjoy, enhanced by the superb red wines from nearby Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. We have compiled a list of restaurants we can recommend in the immediate neighbourhood (list in the house).
History: The Castle of Vivo d'Orcia boasts a long and fascinating history. In 1002 a hermitage was founded on this spot by camaldolese monks close to the source of the Vivo river - which means alive - a vital site as it also supplies the city of Siena with water. The monastery and the surrounding land were sold in 1534 to the later Pope Marcello II, who adapted the Castello del Vivo with the help of the famous renaissance architect Antonio da Sangallo, renowned for the palazzi he built in Siena and Rome. Since then the property has been in the family.
Next to the castle there is an arched stone doorway leading down to the hamlet which in the past housed the peasants and their families. An agricultural estate like this once used to be completely self-sufficient and provided itself not only with food and drink, but also had ist own carpenters, potters, weavers, metal forgers and glazers on the premises. In fact, hidden in the woods below the nearby Casa del Contadino you will find ruins of what used to be the mill and the forgery in the 18th century. The small romanesque church of S. Marcello near Casa di Piero deserves a notice. The familiy chapel, also romanesque, stands in the woods nearby.
Sight-seeing: Pienza, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Sant'Antimo, Monte Oliveto Maggiore and San Quirico are precious stones set in Tuscany and rate top of the sight-seeing list. The seaside near Grosseto is an hour in the car. Florence and Rome are a comfortable two hours by car. Arezzo, Orvieto, Perugia and Assisi and so many others are day-trip distance. Famous private gardens are open to the public once a week and are well worth a visit (list in the house).
The hot springs: Tuscany is famous for its hot springs, the most spectacular beeing Saturnia at an hours drive. Close to Vivo are Bagno Vignoni (remember Nostalgia by Tarkowski?) and Bagno San Filippo where in the midle of the woods the warm water has carved natural pools into the rock.
Nature: If you spend your holiday here you might also want to explore the unusual wealth of flora and fauna which is to be found here due to a combination of altitude and Mediterranean climate. The woods around the houses with streams and dappled sunlight offer wonderful treks. In spring and summer an abundance of wild flowers and herbs can be found, and many wild animals including foxes, deer and wild boar make the Monte Amiata their home.
Map
Please note: the Google Maps are only approximative, the exact address will be given after finalized booking.
Choose your holiday home
Ambassador
Ground floor:
- 1 large living and dining room with open plan kitchen
- 2 twin bedrooms
- 2 bathrooms (one with shower, the other with a Jacuzzi style tub)
Outdoors:
- Table and chairs for al fresco dining
- Fenced pool can be reached in 2 minutes by foot and is shared with other tenants
06 Sep 2025 - 25 Oct 2025
1400 EUR €
30 Aug 2025 - 06 Sep 2025
1640 EUR €
1990 EUR €
2290 EUR €
Weekly rates in €
Ambassador | 01 Apr 2025 - 22 May 2025 06 Sep 2025 - 25 Oct 2025 |
22 May 2025 - 28 Jun 2025 30 Aug 2025 - 06 Sep 2025 |
28 Jun 2025 - 12 Jul 2025 |
12 Jul 2025 - 30 Aug 2025 |
Availability | |
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Ambassador
4
PAX 4
|
1400 EUR € | 1640 EUR € | 1990 EUR € | 2290 EUR € | N/A | Request BookingAmbassador |
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RENT INCLUDES
- Bed, bath and kitchen linens
- Pool towels
- Electricity
- Internet WIFI connection
- Pool cleaning
- Should you have rented the accommodation for more than 1 week, the house will be cleaned on Saturdays and the linen will be changed.
EXTRAS
- Heating (if required): metered. Please be aware that central heating is very expensive in Italy. The average cost for one week in winter varies according to the outdoor temperature and the amount of time the heating is turned on. In the mid season the cost is accordingly lower.
- Wood for fireplace: EUR 35 per basket
- Gas: the house has one gas meter for the consumption of hot water and heating. Gas is included up to 3 units per week (should be more than enough for just hot water), the excess is charged at EUR 6 per unit. Given the uncertainty of prices this rate cannot be guaranteed.
- Baby bed with linen and high chair available. Baby bed: EUR 40 per week. Baby bed can be booked for children up to their 2nd birthday.
- Final cleaning: EUR 90
- Pets allowed: EUR 70 domestic pet supplement per week
SECURITY DEPOSIT
EUR 250 cash deposit are due on arrival.
SERVICE ON REQUEST (please enquire with us when booking)
- Domestic help (house cleaning, washing and ironing): EUR 19 per hour
- Dinners on request: The estate can order dinner from a local restaurant which prepares delicious Tuscan meals (every evening, except on Tuesday). The maid will lay the table (only for dinner on arrival day) and the restaurant will deliver the dinner directly to your house around 7.30pm. The dinner should be paid in cash directly to the person who delivers it. Once you have booked a dinner, please do not change the date. 3-course meal including wine from EUR 35 per person for 3 or more people, and EUR 40 if for one or two people. A vegetarian option is available.
- First shopping: EUR 85 (expenses for a few basics and shopping time included). The following items are included: Bread, butter, jam, eggs, cheese, milk, 1 packet black tea, 1 packet coffee, natural yoghurt, orange juice, pasta (noodles), tomato sauce, 1 piece fresh parmesan cheese, salad and tomatoes, beer.
NOTES
- Reservations from Saturday to Saturday during high season
- During other seasons the house can be booked for a minimum stay of 5 nights: prices on request (except for 21 June - 30 August when the minimum stay is 7 nights).
- Availability only during the above mentioned dates
- Pool opening dates: beginning of June - end of September
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