Villa Cetinale...Life Inside...

I have been posting this week about Villa Cetinale... If you would like to start at the beginning click here.

After seeing pictures of this magnificent estate in two other posts I thought you would enjoy some pictures of how the "gentry" who owns Villa Cetinale lives when in residence. I have to admit.......seeing this pictures...make me green- yes Tuscan green- with envy!

Here is "Ned"  (aka) Edward Richard Lambton, the 7th Earl of Durham with his new younger bride Marina Hanbury. They are officially known as The Earl and Countess of Durham.



Upon his father's death Ned inherited Villa Cetinale and 7,000 acres in England. He surprised his social circle in 2010 by marrying longtime family friend Marina Hanbury who is 20 years younger than his 51 year old self. She comes from an old brewery family in England and used to visit regularly as a young girl with her parents Emma and Timothy Hanbury, friends of Ned's.

Their daughter... Lady Stella.... on quite the grand bed ...(pictured in my first post) for such a little lady (pun intended)...




 (Remember? Here is the bed)





Here is a little "Downton Abbey" twist. Ned has 5 older female sisters (who based on the English practice of primogeniture) were all bypassed in this inheritance....as an interesting side note...three of his sisters are threatening to sue Ed at the moment to change this ruling. Can you blame them?


Countess Marina carrying baby Stella on the grounds...with her mother Emma.

Guests...British actress Lily Robinson and French model Leah DeWavrin jumping into the pool...

Lily in one of the bathrooms I also featured in my first post.

Here it is...

Here is Countess Marina Lambton (on the right) with former Prime Minister Tony Blair and her sister Rose at Villa Cetinale in 2005. 

Kate Moss touring the grounds in 1998...

Ned with guests in that beautiful dining room...

Here is that dining room featured in Part One.




The dining room ready for a dinner party...

Family and friends enjoying a meal within the portico at Villa Cetinale...

Countess Marina surveying the gallery of cypress trees from an estate window....SIGH...can I just say that I love that in Italy you don't need screens on your windows? What a lovely way to live....

                                        (Merci': All Images and Information: Vanity Fair Magazine)

I hope you enjoyed this three post tour of what has to be one of the most beautiful estates in Italy! Have a beautiful weekend no matter where you are! XO

La Cerbaia! Part "Due" of Villa Cetinale....

"La Cerbaia" is a farmhouse at the foot of the 'Montagnola Senese' on the Villa Cetinale estate. This is my second post in a three part series on this heavenly spot! Click here for "Under the Tuscan Sun" Villa Cetinale.

"La Cerbaia" is situated at the end of a private road between the "Thebaid" (Holy Wood), and the Villa gardens.

I would be just as happy to stay in this little haven as I would in the "big house"...in some ways I would prefer it....where would you stay if you could choose?




La Cerbaia is entirely independent with its own garden and terrace and a large swimming pool equipped with umbrellas and sunbeds.




What was once a pigsty has been converted into a huge well equipped kitchen, dining room with a table that seats up to 16 and a living room with a fireplace. There is also a pizza oven and ping pong and the house has satellite tv, a dvd player and stereo. The farmhouse sleeps twelve comfortably.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to peek into the lives of the people who are actually lucky enough to live on this glorious estate!

 

 

 

Under the Tuscan Sun! Villa Cetinale

I have found paradise...I am tempted to write to Edward Lambton, the 7th Earl of Durham (known to friends as Ned)... who just inherited and completed a five year renovation of the entire Villa Cetinale estate... to ask if I can PLEASE come for a visit (with a big discount on the hefty pricetag of a rental)...I am actually a bit obsessed actually....this is a place definitely on my bucket list!!! I can't believe I lived in Florence and never made my way here....oh my...(big sigh)...

Villa Cetinale is a 17th century villa in the Ancaiano district near Siena, Italy. Designed by the architect Carlo Fontana, in the Roman Baroque style, the villa was built in 1680 by Cardinal Flavio Chigi for Pope Alexander VII — Fabio Chigi.

Can you imagine a wedding on the property?

The gardens at Villa Cetinale are renowned as being amongst the most beautiful in Italy.The Cetinale gardens are filled with climbing roses, lilies, irises, and vine-covered pergolas. In the spring months the wisteria covers the Villa walls and walkways in a sea of purple. Fields of poppies and wild flowers contrast with cypresses, olive trees and vineyards, and geometrically shaped flowerbeds lined with box hedges surround the citrus garden.

I love all the bathrooms...there are 12 of them!

 There are 9 double bedrooms, 2 twin bedded rooms, 1 single, and a dormitory for 4 children, plus accomodation for ample extra persons (ie staff) at extra cost.....

 

Within easy reach of Florence, Siena, Pisa, Rome, Villa Cetinale is ideally situated for sightseeing, shopping, eating out or just relaxing in the beautiful Tuscan landscape. Garden visits are Monday to Friday 9.30 – 12.30 by appointment only when Ned and his family or rental guests are not in residence.

What's included in your rental?

Chef, Linens, toiletries, staff. Not inclusive of food and drink, and airport transfer, which will be added to the bill. Staff: Daily cleaning service, chef, 5 gardeners, house manager. Person who can help with serving food and drinks. Any reasonable request considered.



Tomorrow I am going to feature the Farmhouse on the Estate (also for rent) and you don't want to miss it! It's incredible...I would graciously accept an invitation there as well...Ciao for Now!