Elite Traveler Summer 2019

Tuscan Chianti Estate covers 12 acres filled with olive groves, vines and pretty gardens

Tuscan Chianti Estate, San Casciano Val di Pesa, Italy Cypress trees, vineyards and lush forest define the landscape of Chianti Classico — a small hilly region considered the birthplace of Tuscan winemaking. This grand estate is in the Sangiovese-producing region, just half an hour’s drive from Florence and a 45-minute journey from the medieval Tuscan city of Siena. The 13th-century estate covers more than 12 acres of land containing olive groves, vines, private woodland and four formal gardens —Giardino Secreto, Lavender Garden, Rose Garden and Parco Romantico— featuring marble fountains, sculptures and three swimming pools with terraces overlooking the Chianti hills. One sculpture, The Horse, is a legacy of former owner and Dutch painter Karel Appel, who lived here from 1989 to 2000. Appel resided in one of the ateliers, but this is just a pocket of the sprawling estate. Covering 20,000 sq ft, the property encompasses two villas, three ateliers and the historic Fattoria Marzocca building, which houses four apartments. All interiors have been thoughtfully renovated by local artisans using fine Tuscan materials. $14.5m. Contact Georgina James, affiliate services manager, gjames@christies.com, +44 207 389 2942, christiesrealestate.com West Coast Villa, Mykonos, Greece Mykonos is celebrated for its vibrant atmosphere and sun-soaked summer months. Here, whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches and traditional fishing harbors sit alongside laid-back beach bars and luxury yacht marinas. This secluded villa is on the island’s rocky west coast, facing out over the azure sea and the neighboring islands of Delos, Syros and Tinos, has a view that’s especially memorable at sunset. The panoramic property is tucked into over 13,430 sq ft of gardens, combining traditional Greek elements of white walls and local stone with modern interiors that are flooded with light. Clean lines run throughout the five-bedroom home, and the living and dining areas continue outside to a large terrace and patio, covered seating area and infinity swimming pool. Stone steps lead you from the garden to one of the few private beaches on the island. $3.97m. Contact Christina Koutroumpa, real estate agent, xkoutroumpa@ploumis-sotiropoulos.gr, +30 210 264 3112, christiesrealestate.com

The secluded West Coast Villa sits on Mykonos’s rocky west coast

Photo Ray Main