This immaculately presented castle dates back to 1210, when Count Alberti of Certaldo, head of the ruling Lombard family that dominated the nearby Val d'Elsa, ordered the building of Caput Aulae as the center of his court. Of the original fortified castle of the thirteenth century, remain the square brick watchtower and the defensive walls next to the villa. Of the same period, a consecrated chapel dedicated to Saint Bartholomew is currently used for the celebration of weddings and private ceremonies. The Alberti family owned the castle until the 17th century. Then, the estate was acquired by the Brandini family. In 1900, Alice Brandini married the entrepreneur Cesare Puccioni, the current owner's grandfather. The property remained the hunting residence of the Puccioni family until 1999. In 2000, Cesare Puccioni decided to carry out major renovations and make modern systems, including air conditioning in all rooms, to enter the complex in the circuit of tourist rentals. The first guest of the villa was the actress Julia Roberts with her family. The interiors are very bright, with terracotta floors and wooden beamed ceilings. Worthy of note is the beautiful marble staircase that connects the two levels of the building. The villa opens onto a large panoramic garden with spectacular views of the vineyards and the rolling hills below; on the horizon, the city of San Gimignano. In front of the lemon house, a lounge area to relax. A staircase leads to the swimming pool, surrounded by a large lawn. The sale includes approx. 117 hectares of land: 4 hectares are vineyards on a calcareous soil at 200 meters above sea level, with south-southwest exposure. Sangiovese, with small quantities of Canaiolo and Merlot. The vineyards have a density of about 5000 plants per hectare, mostly raised with spurred cordon. Below the castle is a small cellar in a cave dug into the tuff, which enjoys an almost constant temperature in summer and winter. There are eight hectares of olive grove, with Frantoio, Leccino, Pendolino, and Moraiolo varieties, from which an extra virgin olive oil rich in flavor and personality is obtained. Other 70 hectares of fields are sown mainly to wheat and sunflowers. There are four wells and an artificial pond.

PROPERTY Ref: FIR2427Location: Castelfiorentino, Province: Florence, Region: Tuscany.Type: villa on two levels of 1020 m2, with garden, swimming pool, farmhouse complex of 6115 mq /65821 sq ft+ landAnnex: former pigsty convertible into residential for a volume of 1310Condition: good. The complex was completely renovated in 2000Land/Garden: the land sold together with the properties has an area of approximately 117 hectares. It includes a garden, 4 hectares of vineyard (with a density of approximately 5000 plants per hectare; the varieties, trained using spurred cordon, are 90% Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Merlot); 8 hectares of olive grove with different varieties including Frantoio, Leccino, Pendolino and Moraiolo; 70 hectares of arable land, currently cultivated with wheat and sunflowers; 29 hectares of forestSwimming pool:  m 10 x 5 Layout:
Villa:
Ground Floor: large hunting room with fireplace, library, corridor, spacious and fully equipped kitchen, guest bathroom, dining room with access to the courtyard, 1 bedroom with en-suite bathroom with Jacuzzi
First Floor: landing and corridor, 1 double bedroom with en-suite bathroom and hydromassage tub, 1 double bedroom with balcony and with en-suite bathroom and Jacuzzi, 2 double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, laundry room with wardrobe room
Barn A
Apartment 1: Ground Floor: living room with fireplace, kitchen, bathroom with shower, closet; First Floor: 1 double bedroom, 1 twin bedroom, bathroom. Outdoor patio in front of the house with dining table
Apartment 2: Ground Floor: living room with fireplace, kitchen, bathroom with shower, closet; First Floor: 1 double bedroom, 1 twin bedroom, bathroom. Outdoor patio in front of the house with dining table
Barn B:
Apartment 3: Ground Floor: living room with fireplace, kitchen, 2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with shower equipped for disabled people, external patio in front of the house with dining table
Apartment 4: Ground Floor: living room with fireplace, kitchen, 2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Farmhouse:
Apartment 5: Ground Floor: living room/kitchen with large fireplace, 3 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms with shower
Apartment 6: First Floor: living room with fireplace, large kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with shower. Outdoor patio in front of the house with dining table
Apartment 7: First Floor: living room/kitchen with fireplace, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with shower. Outdoor patio in front of the house with dining table
Apartment 8: First Floor: living room/kitchen with fireplace, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with shower
Cottage house: First Floor: living room/kitchen with large fireplace, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with showerDistance from services: 6.8 kmDistance from main airports: Florence 37 km, Pisa 67.5 km, Bologna 127 kmUtilities:
Landline telephone network: available
Wi-Fi: available
Heating: autonomous 
Wells: 4 
Water: municipal water network. There is an artificial lake
Electricity: active
Sewers: municipal water network
Air conditioningProperty registered in the name of an individual
The location, for privacy, is approximate
All measurements shown are approximateEnergy Efficiency Rating: G