Construction of Villa La Striscia started in 1500. Enlarged in 1700, it was restored a century ago by its owner, Count Pier Ludovico Occhini. The villa is in the open countryside, amongst the Aretine hills, only a kilometer away from Arezzo’s historical city center. The garden, with its pools, oriental plants and flowerbeds, is decorated in the Art Nouveau style.
Once the summer residence of the Occhini family from Florence, the villa, currently leased to a private organization, is managed by Ilaria Occhini, a well-known television and stage actress whose success was at its peak between 1960 and 1970, when she worked alongside Vittorio Gassman, Marcello Mastoianni, Paolo Stoppa and Rina Morelli and was directed by world-famous directors such as Luchino Visconti, Franco Zeffirelli, Vittorio De Sica, Dino Risi and Luca Ronconi. With the same passion she had for the stage, Ilaria Occhini dedicated herself to restoring the farm adjoining the villa, transforming it into a 5 charming apartment country inn. On the outside, the farm maintains the rustic charm of the Tuscan countryside, while the apartments’ interiors are decorated with prestigious pieces of early 19th century furniture from the villa.
The swimming pool provides guests with a unique, contemplative atmosphere. Immersed amid the vineyards and the gentle Tuscan hills, the landscape evokes the paintings of Leonardo, Raphael and Piero Della Francesca, to whom Arezzo was home.
The garden with its 16th century architecture, is decorated with pools, ornamental plants and flowerbeds; a wrought iron Art Nouveau door adorns the greenhouse. The garden has now been divided in two: the first part remains annexed to the main villa, currently leased to a private organization, while the second part is annexed to the Farmhouse. It has no service facilities, but benches, deck chairs and coffee tables are provided for the guests’ comfort, should they desire to relax outdoors. The tree blossoms, exuding a particularly inebriating scent in the spring and in September, are delightful.
THE CELLAR
The farm’s cellars are part of the villa’s basement, where wine matures in casks and barriques amid imposing walls and 15th century arched vaults.
There are 12 hectares(28 acres) with magnificent vineyards registered at D.O.C.G. Chianti Colli Aretini, and further 4 hectares (10 acres) of olive groves producing Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The vineyards were totally renewed in the seventies.
They face South East and thrive on the soil and rocks so typical of the best land in the Chianti.
The grapes are principally Sangiovese, the moderntechniques of vinoculture produce the highest quality wine. Winter pruning and careful selection ensures a special product.
The grapes perfectly matured, are placed in special vats for further natural fermentation from these vats the wine is placed in “barriques” where it remains 12 months before bottling.
THINGS TO DO
Arezzo Besides being an important art town where many initiatives such as “Il Saracino” take place, Arezzo also hosts one of Italy’s most important antique fairs, which is held on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. Its strategic location in Tuscany allows important destinations of historical, artistic and naturalistic interest to be easily reached by car or train. Florence, Perugia, Cortona, Siena and San Sepolcro are only a little more than half an hour away from Arezzo by car; Assisi, Gubbio and Urbino are an hour away, and it takes only two and a half hours to reach St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
