How LA Attorneys Transformed a 16th-Century Tuscan Farmhouse into an Exquisite Luxury Villa
Stephen Lewis and Christian Scali transformed a 16th-century Tuscan farmhouse into a breathtaking luxury villa With meticulous attention to detail, they preserved the authentic Tuscan charm while elevating it to the highest standards Now available as a rental, this dream retreat promises an idyllic countryside experience with stunning views
Stephen Lewis and Christian Scali first met in the traditional way, as Scali affectionately refers to it: at a Starbucks in the West Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles.
This encounter took place in the spring of 1997, when Scali, a law student, was immersed in his books, and Lewis, then working in private practice, was engrossed in The New York Times while also discreetly observing a fellow patron.
While I was studying, he noticed the books and approached me with a smile," Scali recalls. "I was instantly attracted to him."
The rest is history: The pair began dating, eventually cohabitated, and in August 2023, they commemorated their 15th wedding anniversary.
They are now entering an exhilarating new phase of their lives as proud owners of a 16th-century farmhouse in the renowned Tuscany province of Italy, which they acquired in 2021 and subsequently transformed into a deluxe, eight-bedroom villa that welcomed guests this summer. The villa is open for exclusive full-property rentals, but Scali and Lewis also frequent the location when they are in Italy—and eventually intend to reside there permanently in retirement.
Stephen Lewis, left, and Christian Scali made a dream come true with their luxurious Tuscan villa renovation project.
Courtesy Villa Ardore
What if we lived in the countryside?
For Scali, whose grandfather hails from Reggio Calabria in Italy, the concept of purchasing a property in his family's ancestral home had been on his mind for some time. Growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland, he was surrounded by a large Italian family. "My grandparents had eight kids, and I have about 50 cousins," he recalls, all of whom would gather on Sundays for meals prepared by his grandmother.
"She had her own garden and made her own sauce," he recalls. "All the neighborhood kids would come over and we'd have a great time."
However, after moving to the West Coast, Scali, who only had one cousin nearby, found himself yearning for the lively family gatherings from his childhood. "Growing up with that, I later missed it when I moved away," he reflects.
In 2016, he started Italian classes to enhance the four years of college courses he had taken. He and Lewis also started to travel frequently to Italy, particularly to the Tuscany area. Their trips sparked the idea of owning property and eventually retiring there, although it took Lewis some time to fully embrace the idea.
"It was really Chris' dreamI would have been happy to just rent," he says. "But I supported it because it was important to Chris. When we started to explore potential properties, I became excited about it too."
The couple began actively searching for properties in Florence in 2019, initially looking for an apartment big enough for visiting family and large gatherings. However, they soon realized that finding such a property in town, even with a budget of $1.5 to $2 million, was unfeasible. This led them to consider living in the countryside, particularly in the Chianti region.
The setting sold the couple on the farmhouse tucked among vineyards.
Villa Ardore, known for its beautiful towns, ancient castles, and vineyards producing some of the world's most revered wines, became the new focus of their search in Italy. However, in early 2020, their plans were disrupted by the pandemic. Lewis, who was not an Italian citizen, was not allowed to enter the country to join Scali, who had been granted citizenship through his family in 2019.
Scali was able to secure permission for Lewis to come to Italy through the Italian consulate. In the spring of 2021, they began a six-week journey to find their ideal property and reimagined their plans for it. They ultimately decided to rent it out and enter the hospitality industry as owners, not just guests.
A really stunning view
After visiting almost 30 properties, they came across one that appeared to have potential: a multi-bedroom estate with a pool, guesthouse, and on-site vineyard. However, there were significant issues to consider, such as the impractical layout of the house, the extensive size of the property, and an unpermitted guesthouse.
The couple soon learned about another property for sale: a 16th-century stone farmhouse, which used to be a lookout post for the valley between Siena and Florence, set on a 1.2-acre lot with a pool and separate guesthouse. Situated on a hillside about 45 minutes outside of Florence, the property, formerly known as Antico Podere Marciano, had been a charming, family-operated bed-and-breakfast.
"This house immediately captivated us," Scali remembers. "When you look out, you see beautiful vineyards, castles, towers, and stone houses scattered across the hillside. In the distance, you can even see the towers of San Gimignano [a nearby medieval town]. It’s simply a breathtaking view."
The property's asking price of $1.95 million fit perfectly within their budget. Meanwhile, negotiations for another property were complicated due to an unpermitted guesthouse that needed to be demolished for the sale to proceed. As Scali puts it: "So we politely declined."
After ending negotiations, they focused on purchasing the farmhouse property and eventually settled on a final price of $1.7 million. The closing process, which took about six months, was much longer than the quick transactions they were accustomed to in California, but was considered fairly fast in Italy, according to Scali.
Subsequently, they acquired a dilapidated Italian castle and renovated it into a lavish retreat.
Keep the original Tuscan charm
Upon receiving the keys, Scali and Lewis decided to rename the property as Villa Ardore, a name that holds deep significance as Scali explains, "Ardore represents the Italian word for ardor, which generally means loving passion, and Ardore is the name of the small town my grandfather Scalis family came from in Reggio Calabria. It has a special meaning for us because it captures both our family history and our feeling for the place."
Despite their excitement, the couple felt overwhelmed by the extensive scope of work that needed to be done, including property-wide upgrades for electrical and plumbing, gutting the kitchen and bathrooms, rebuilding the pool, adding air conditioning throughout, and upgrading to a high-speed internet system. They also transformed a former barn into a private spa with luxurious features, such as a 10-person whirlpool, lounging beds, dry sauna, and Turkish steam bath.
The cost of these extensive renovations, which totaled approximately $2.5 million, far exceeds the price tag of many property ownership opportunities in Italy, such as the popular one euro home schemes launched by small villages across the country in recent years. These efforts were made in hopes of revitalizing the local economy.
Lewis and Scali were committed to retaining the farmhouse's Tuscan charm.
Villa Ardore's owners, Lewis and Scali, are proud that they chose not to seek investors for their project. They wanted the freedom to retire in their own house without any complications from outside investors. Scali's commitment to the project led him to invest his own money from his firm as seed money.
The couple brought their vision of "keeping the original Tuscan charm of the place, yet modernizing it" to life by hiring a prominent architect from Florence, Massimo Pierattelli, as well as a contractor and crew, Scali said. However, they remained hands-on throughout the process, ensuring that one of them was always on site to keep everything on track.
Exacting standards
Scali and Lewis, who had previously renovated three properties in Los Angeles, were familiar with the challenges of the task ahead. However, they faced an additional obstacle in navigating the cultural differences during the extensive renovation.
They soon experienced the Italian cultural concept of "piano, piano" firsthand, which, as Scali describes, emphasizes taking things step by step. This approach truly reflects the Italian lifestyle, where there is no rush to get things done unless there is a justified pressure.
Scali and Lewis had to shift their expectations and mindset, particularly their "American, especially Californian, thinking," Scali notes.
"What's intriguing here is that no one takes responsibility for their actions, and they refuse to do so. When we tried to point out their mistakes, as lawyers do—presenting the facts and the law—they immediately shut down," he says. "We approached our contractor with this mindset, and he responded by calling us jerks and refusing to engage with us."
Francesco Goracci, a longtime Italian friend of theirs, stepped in as an intermediary to communicate with the contractor, which smoothed things over.
The property sleeps up to 18 guests.
Courtesy Villa Ardore
Lewis also mentions the initial challenge for workers to meet their high standards. He remembers a humorous incident where workers accidentally broke a double sink and then replaced it with one that had drains in different locations. These incidents required them to redo the process. He emphasizes that there were many small issues, such as doors not opening properly, that needed to be addressed to ensure that guests would not face any difficulties.
Were living somebody elses life
After 18 months, the project was completed, and Lewis noted that the workers were filled with pride as they saw the final result of their hard work. He remarked that even if a light switch was not perfectly straight, he didn't need to point it out, showing the level of dedication and ownership the workers had towards the project.
During the entire process, the couple remained steadfast in their dedication to sourcing as much as possible locally, from the artwork adorning the walls (all of which is available for purchase) to the intricately handcrafted wood furniture and even the light fixtures in the bathrooms.
"If we couldn't locate something, we made sure it was produced locally," Lewis explains. "Only a few items were shipped from the US."
Along with maintaining the traditional Tuscan design of the property, the couple's dedication to sourcing local materials and their ability to speak Italian have also played a significant role in their integration into the local community.
Lewis elaborates, "I spoke with a man who owns an art gallery and other businesses in Castellina. He expressed the local community's frustration with foreigners in Tuscany who have purchased properties but remain disconnected from the surrounding area, merely coming and going without truly engaging with the community."
Villa Ardore has a pool and a spa.
Courtesy Villa Ardore
By contrast, the connections he and Scali have made help create an unforgettable experience for their guests, whether its a local wine tasting or al fresco lunch in town.
"[Locals] see our guests as friends or family and treat them with the same warmth," Lewis explains. "I've been deeply touched by how open and welcoming the people we've connected with are to our guests. It's shown me that our bond with them is real, as they extend their hospitality to others."
A stay at Villa Ardore is a highly sought-after experience for many. Prices vary, but typically start at around $6,900 per night for the entire property, which can accommodate up to 18 guests. Rates increase for customized packages such as cultural and architecture-based trips or "La Dolce Vita," an expertly curated itinerary for passionate car enthusiasts. The villa is also available for weddings or small corporate retreats, and Goracci is able to craft itineraries and activities tailored to guests' desires, whether that's a pizza-making class on the property's outdoor patio or a scenic driving tour of the rolling hills of Chianti in a vintage Fiat 500.
Lewis and Scali, who both grew up in families facing financial struggles, find it surreal to see their shared dream becoming a reality. "My mother was on food stamps and working a third shift at a factory for a while, and Chris' background is not too different," Lewis explains. "My life could have been completely different."
As they were getting ready for bed one summer evening after the finishing touches were in place and their first guests had just left, Lewis recalls a particular pinch-me moment.
Lewis expressed his astonishment, "We're living someone else's life. We have a beautiful home in L.A., an incredible villa in a stunning location, surrounded by people who love us. How did this come to be?"
