Excellence Luxury Villas · San Miniato
Luxury Villa Rentals in San Miniato
Country villas and estates with pools in the truffle hills between Florence and Pisa
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A hill town between Florence and Pisa, with truffles underfoot
San Miniato runs along a narrow ridge above the Arno valley, roughly halfway between Florence and Pisa. It is a town of brick palazzi, steep lanes and a cathedral square with long views, and the tower of Frederick II stands at the top of the hill. In the Middle Ages it was the seat of the emperor's vicar in Tuscany, which is why it was once known as San Miniato al Tedesco. The Via Francigena pilgrim road still passes through.
These days the town is known for something that grows underground: the white truffle. Our 50+ properties are mostly in the hills around it. You will find restored farmhouses and stone villas with pools, apartments within larger country estates, and historic houses with up to 16 bedrooms for a family gathering.
Here is a guide to the town, the countryside, the cities within reach and the truffle season.
San Miniato at a glance
- Villas
- 50+ villas, farmhouses and estate apartments, sleeping up to 33 guests
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,200 to £7,700 a week, from around £2,500
- Best areas
- The old town ridge, and the hills around La Serra, Balconevisi and Corazzano towards Palaia and Montaione
- Best time
- May, June, September and October for the pool and walking; November for the white truffle fair
- Getting there
- Pisa and Florence airports, each around 45 minutes to an hour by road
Browse all 50+ villas in San Miniatoor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Calandrina San Miniato: Luxury 8-Bedroom Apartment with Private Pool & Air Conditioning – San Miniato8 bedrooms
Villa Garbino San Miniato: Luxury 11-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in San Miniato – Tuscany11 bedrooms
Palazzo Orciatico San Miniato: 8-Bedroom Apartment with Pool – San Miniato8 bedrooms
Casa Montanina San Miniato: Luxury 5-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview – San Miniato5 bedroomsWhere to stay in San Miniato
The ridge-top old town for evening walks and trattorie, the truffle hills of Balconevisi, La Serra and Corazzano for quiet country villas, and Florence, Pisa and Lucca for day trips.
A ridge, a tower and a pilgrim road
San Miniato is long and thin, and it follows the line of its hill. The Prato del Duomo, with the cathedral and the diocesan museum, looks out over the lower Arno valley. Above it, at the top of the hill, stands the tower of Frederick II. It was blown up in 1944 and later rebuilt, and Frederick's chancellor Pier delle Vigne, whom Dante placed in the Inferno, was once held prisoner there.
Walkers on the Via Francigena still come through the town on their way to Siena and Rome. It is a pleasant place to spend an evening, with a passeggiata along the main street and a truffle menu on most tables in autumn.
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Farmhouses, oak woods and long views
Most of our properties are in the country to the south of the town, where the land rolls away in vineyards, olive groves and the oak and poplar woods where truffles grow. Villages such as Balconevisi, La Serra and Corazzano are small and unhurried, and each has its own truffle feast in autumn. The hills carry on towards Palaia, Montaione and the restored borgo of Castelfalfi.
The properties here range from farmhouses for a couple or a young family to large historic estates, some with apartments let separately and some taken as a whole house for a big group.
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Florence, Pisa and Leonardo's village
San Miniato's position is its quiet advantage. Florence and Pisa are both within about an hour, Lucca and its walls are a straightforward drive, and Volterra and San Gimignano are close enough for lunch. Vinci, where Leonardo was born, is just across the Arno.
Trains on the line between Florence and Pisa stop at the station in the valley below the town. That makes it easy to see the Uffizi or the Leaning Tower without worrying about city parking.
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White gold in November
The National White Truffle Fair is held in the old town over the last three weekends of November, with stalls, tastings and restaurants serving truffle shaved over tagliolini and fried eggs. Balconevisi and Corazzano hold smaller fairs in October. Local lore is proud of a truffle found near Balconevisi in 1954 that weighed more than two and a half kilos and was sent to President Eisenhower.
For a pool holiday, May, June and September are the most comfortable months, and high summer is hot. Our concierge can arrange a morning with a truffle hunter and his dog, wine tastings, a private chef and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in San Miniato
Fattoria Balcone San Miniato: Spacious 8-Bedroom Luxury House with Pool – San Miniato8 bedrooms · sleeps 13From £8,183 a week
Villa Collina San Miniato: Luxury 6-Bedroom Apartment with Pool & Countryside Views – San Miniato6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £7,924 a week
Villa Levante Cigoli San Miniato: Luxury 6-Bedroom Apartment with Pool – San Miniato Tuscany6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £7,805 a week
Villa Alba La Serra San Miniato: Spacious 6-Bedroom Villa with Pool & Hot Tub – San Miniato6 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £7,700 a week
Villa Sasso San Miniato: Spacious 10-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Pool – San Miniato Tuscany10 bedrooms · sleeps 22From £7,560 a week
Villa Oliveta San Miniato: Luxury 2-Bedroom Villa with Pool & Hot Tub – San Miniato2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £7,553 a week
Fattoria Cucciano San Miniato: Spacious 8-Bedroom Villa with Pool – San Miniato Tuscany8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £7,329 a week
Villa Smeraldo Montefoscoli San Miniato: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Pool – San Miniato Tuscany4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £7,161 a weekWhy book your San Miniato villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
San Miniato's villas are scattered across the hills on all sides of the town, and we know which are a short drive from the old centre and which are hidden down long white roads in the truffle country. With 50+ properties in San Miniato, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Truffle hunts with a local hunter and his dog, tables during the November truffle fair, wine tastings, private chefs, day trips to Florence and Pisa, car hire and airport transfers. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay around San Miniato?
Stay in the hills to the south, around La Serra, Balconevisi and Corazzano, if you want space, a private pool and quiet. Choose somewhere close to the old town if you would like to walk or take a short taxi in for dinner. Both put Florence and Pisa within about an hour.
When is the San Miniato white truffle fair?
The National White Truffle Fair takes place in the historic centre over the last three weekends of November. Smaller truffle fairs are held in nearby villages such as Balconevisi and Corazzano in October. Book early for November, when the area is at its busiest.
Is San Miniato a good base for exploring Tuscany?
Yes. It sits between Florence and Pisa, with Lucca, Volterra, San Gimignano and Vinci all within a comfortable drive. It is quieter and less visited than Chianti.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in San Miniato?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in San Miniato cost?
Across our 50+ villas in San Miniato, weekly rates typically range from £3,200 to £7,700, with the most affordable from around £2,500 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to San Miniato?
Pisa and Florence airports are each around 45 minutes to an hour away by road. San Miniato also has a station in the valley on the line between Florence and Pisa. Our concierge can arrange car hire or private transfers.
Are there villas in San Miniato for large groups?
Yes. Our San Miniato collection includes properties with up to 16 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in San Miniato
50+ villas in the hills of San Miniato, booked direct with our concierge on hand