Air conditioned vacation rentals in Tuscany

Air conditioning is not very common in holiday homes in Tuscany. The larger hotels in the cities are air conditioned but agriturismi, country vacation villas, rural rental apartments and Bed & Breakfast holiday accommodation usually do not have a/c, for a number of reasons. For one thing, electricity is extremely expensive in Italy so that it is usually not economical to air condition a large, high ceiling villa, for example. Architectural protection regulations prohibit window mounted units, leaving only the more expensive ducted options. But perhaps most importantly, Tuscany has been inhabited for a long time and strategies for dealing with hot weather have evolved so that air conditioning is often not really necessary. Houses and, indeed, entire villages and towns are very often located quite high up on hills tops where the air is cooler and summer breezes more common. Local people living in the valleys often migrate to the hills or to the seaside during August which is the only really hot month. The walls of farmhouses and villas are very thick, usually 45 cm, and are constructed of stone and rubble so that they act as giant heat sinks, keeping the house cool during the day and warm at night. Windows are normally opened at night to let cool air in, and both windows and shutters are closed during the day to keep the heat out. Holidaymakers should follow the same procedure, but remember to adjust your mosquito net properly because letting the night air also lets mosquitoes in!

If you are sensitive to heat and visiting Tuscany during late July, August and early September, rooms and apartments directly under the roof are best avoided, as are lodgings located in valleys where air circulation is poor - unfortunately, Florence is situated in exactly this kind of valley. Or, seek out those places that have air conditioning.

Here we list a few air conditioned vacation rentals in the Chianti Classico area of Tuscany:

	Country house, Apartments and B&B Rooms - pool (near Tavarnelle) Villa Sant'Andrea is a working Chianti Classico winery covering 1300 acres near Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. Cellar visits and wine tasting are available, and splendid walking and bicycling possibilities abound. We offer Bed & Breakfast rooms and vacation apartments ranging from single rooms through apartments for up to 8 persons and a villa for 12 persons. More about Villa Sant'Andrea Tuscan vacation accommodation.
	Country Apartments - pool (near Impruneta and Florence) Podere Capiteto offers three vacation apartments for 2 (+1) persons. We are located just 3 km from Impruneta and within easy reach of Florence (20 minutes) by bus. Enjoy the tranquility of the countryside while still being able to visit the museums and churches of Florence. Horses for horseback excursions may be rented at the neighbouring property. Our olive orchard is an ideal area for children to run free in safety. More about Podere Capiteto vacation rental near Florence.
	Country B&B - Apartments and Rooms - pool (near Greve and Panzano) "Il Casello" country house Bed and Breakfast, 5 km from Greve and 2 km from Panzano, is a magical country house with 11 elegant double bedrooms for rental. In an adjacent farm building 4 beautifully furnished apartments overlook the pool and the valley. Each apartment can accommodate up to 4 guests. Meals and bar are available. Luxurious. More about Country House Bed & Breakfast "Il Casello".
	Town Apartment (main piazza of Greve) "La Piazza" Apartment accommodates 3 (+1) guests right on the main square within easy reach of restaurants and only five minutes from the bus stop to Florence. Beautifully restored and furnished - our apartment is air conditioned. Easily accessible by bus from Florence. More about Apartment "La Piazza" holiday apartment to rent.
	Village Apartments (in Chiocchio) Il Girasole Apartments for 2 to 5 persons. Each apartment is air conditioned and has a private outdoor area. Easily accessible by bus from Florence which is only 15 km away. Near Ugolino Golf Course. Special weekly rates. More about Apartments Il Girasole Il Girasole vacation apartments to rent.
	Luxury Country Hotel - restaurant, tennis and pool (near Panzano and Greve) Villa Le Barone is a romantic luxury hotel situated among beautiful gardens in the hills above Panzano in Chianti. The villa dates from Renaissance times and formerly belonged to the della Robbia family of Florentine artists. Villa Le Barone offers 28 rooms, many of them air-conditioned individually decorated with antique furniture and attractive fabrics. There is a television lounge, terraces and guests' restaurant, as well as a swimming pool and tennis court. More about Hotel Villa Le Barone.