Words by Aaron Rasmussen
When Los Angeles-based Christian Scali and Stephen Lewis imagined their future together, retiring in Italy was always part of the picture. So, five years ago, the couple of 30 years began searching for an apartment in Florence, touring dozens of properties. Then, serendipity intervened after they had agreed to purchase one: A friend mentioned a special three-acre estate hidden among the rolling hills of Chianti, about 45 minutes from the city, and everything changed.
As their vehicle crunched down the winding gravel driveway, the 16th-century farmhouse set high above the Tuscan countryside near Castellina-in-Chianti slowly came into view. Taking in the stone walls framed by pine and oak trees, with the verdant, undulating hills beyond, this scene felt instantly like home. “The moment we saw it, we looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s hope the other place doesn’t work out. This is it,’” Lewis recalls.
Fortune was on their side. The Florence deal fell through, and the farmhouse—and the dream it ignited—was theirs. Both with Italian ancestry, Scali and Lewis felt an instant bond with the land and farmhouse, a sense of belonging deeply rooted in their heritage. “When we found this place, we knew we wanted something more—a home for family, friends, and others to share—not a B&B, not a hotel, but a place where people could feel at home,” Scali says. “We wanted it to be a retreat to celebrate big events and special moments, where love and togetherness come first.”
As they started restoring the property, the pair discovered that its walls held centuries of stories. What originated as a medieval lookout tower evolved into a farmhouse, with every inhabitant over the centuries leaving a trace behind. “You can literally see how each generation added to it,” Lewis says. “That sense of continuity was something we wanted to honor.”
Several years and nearly $3 million dollars later, Villa Ardore—aptly named after the Italian word for passion—welcomes guests who rent the entire property to write their own Tuscan chapter. The estate comprises two buildings with eight suites—six in the main villa and another two in a converted barn—sleeping up to 18 guests. Rustic wood beams and stone blend seamlessly with modern elegance, each design element thoughtfully sourced, with nearly everything drawn from the surrounding area. “We agonized over every detail—beds, linens, even silverware,” Lewis says. “Every part of it was about creating a home, not just a property.”
Villa Ardore brims with indulgences: a 500-bottle wine cellar, plus a private spa tucked into the lower level of the barn complete with a 10-person whirlpool, dry sauna, and a Turkish steam bath. Mealtimes are a celebration of Tuscan tradition—breakfast prepared by a culinary master formerly at the Four Seasons, while lunches and dinners, overseen by Wanda Ferragamo’s former private chef, feature fresh vegetables and herbs harvested from the on-site garden.
Every part of it was about creating a home, not just a property.
And the experience at Villa Ardore is just as sumptuous as its cuisine. “The atmosphere shifts with the seasons,” Scali notes. Summer includes dips in the infinity pool that mirrors endless blue skies, but the cooler months are all about snuggling into the farmhouse’s warm, cozy vibe and savoring views that stretch across hazy hills cloaked in fragrant woodsmoke. “In winter, the spa and fireplace become the heart of the villa,” Scali says of what he feels is a more “authentic” time to experience the region, when fewer tourists allow for a true sense of community. “It’s a time to slow down and reconnect.”
As the days shorten, life here unfolds at a deliciously unhurried pace—truffle hunts, pasta-making classes with the chef, ceramics with a local artisan, and visits to Poggio Amorelli, a boutique winery, where guests are treated like part of the family.
Though the couple once envisioned Villa Ardore as their future Tuscan retirement oasis—Scali currently works as an attorney and entrepreneur, and Lewis as a screenwriter—opening its doors as proprietors has brought them profound fulfillment. “I hope when guests leave Villa Ardore, they say, ‘This was the time I lived in Tuscany,’” Lewis reflects. “It fills me with so much joy that people see it as their home too.”
