{"id":107866,"date":"2025-10-22T10:22:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T10:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=107866"},"modified":"2025-10-22T10:22:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T10:22:29","slug":"villa-ardore-tuscany-christian-scali-stephen-lewis-grazia-fall-winter-2025","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/villa-ardore-tuscany-christian-scali-stephen-lewis-grazia-fall-winter-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Villa Ardore: A Tuscan Passion Project"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Villa
Villa Ardore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Words by\u00a0<\/span>Aaron Rasmussen<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Stephen
Stephen Lewis and Christian Scali<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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. \u201cThe moment we saw it, we looked at each other and said, \u2018Let\u2019s hope the other place doesn\u2019t work out. This is it,\u2019\u201d Lewis recalls.<\/p>\n

\"Villa
Villa Ardore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fortune was on their side. The Florence deal fell through, and the farmhouse\u2014and the dream it ignited\u2014was 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. \u201cWhen we found this place, we knew we wanted something more\u2014a home for family, friends, and others to share\u2014not a B&B, not a hotel, but a place where people could feel at home,\u201d Scali says. \u201cWe wanted it to be a retreat to celebrate big events and special moments, where love and togetherness come first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Villa
Villa Ardore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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. \u201cYou can literally see how each generation added to it,\u201d Lewis says. \u201cThat sense of continuity was something we wanted to honor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Villa
Villa Ardore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Several years and nearly $3 million dollars later, Villa Ardore\u2014aptly named after the Italian word for passion\u2014welcomes guests who rent the entire property to write their own Tuscan chapter. The estate comprises two buildings with eight suites\u2014six in the main villa and another two in a converted barn\u2014sleeping 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. \u201cWe agonized over every detail\u2014beds, linens, even silverware,\u201d Lewis says. \u201cEvery part of it was about creating a home, not just a property.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Villa
Villa Ardore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u2014breakfast prepared by a culinary master formerly at the Four Seasons, while lunches and dinners, overseen by Wanda Ferragamo\u2019s former private chef, feature fresh vegetables and herbs harvested from the on-site garden.<\/p>\n

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Every part of it was about creating a home, not just a property.<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And the experience at Villa Ardore is just as sumptuous as its cuisine. \u201cThe atmosphere shifts with the seasons,\u201d 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\u2019s warm, cozy vibe and savoring views that stretch across hazy hills cloaked in fragrant woodsmoke. \u201cIn winter, the spa and fireplace become the heart of the villa,\u201d Scali says of what he feels is a more \u201cauthentic\u201d time to experience the region, when fewer tourists allow for a true sense of community. \u201cIt\u2019s a time to slow down and reconnect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Villa
Villa Ardore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the days shorten, life here unfolds at a deliciously unhurried pace\u2014truffle 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.<\/p>\n

\"Villa
Villa Ardore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though the couple once envisioned Villa Ardore as their future Tuscan retirement oasis\u2014Scali currently works as an attorney and entrepreneur, and Lewis as a screenwriter\u2014opening its doors as proprietors has brought them profound fulfillment. \u201cI hope when guests leave Villa Ardore, they say, \u2018This was the time I lived in Tuscany,\u2019\u201d Lewis reflects. \u201cIt fills me with so much joy that people see it as their home too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read\u00a0GRAZIA USA<\/em>\u2019s Fall\/Winter Issue<\/a>\u00a0featuring\u00a0cover star Havana Rose Liu<\/a>:<\/strong><\/h4>\n