Singer Sting is throwing open the doors of his 16th century Tuscan estate to visitors. The only caveat is that it will cost you. The 61-year-old former Police frontman is offering rented accommodation in six cottages on Il Palagio, his 900 acre working farm 45 minutes south of Florence, at a rate of €7,000 a week – each.

The estate, deep in the Chianti region, is already generating an income from its produce of honey, olive oil and a biodynamic wine that has been critically acclaimed and has even made it into some Dublin restaurants. Previous guests – who we can only presume weren’t charged for the pleasure – are reported to have included George Clooney and Bill Clinton.

Now Sting and his wife Trudie Styler are offering the villa – which takes 200 guests – for wedding parties. Up to 50 guests can stay in the idyllic cottages for a week for €42,000 (not including the cost of the wedding), and for that they can use the large swimming pool, a giant chessboard in the garden and dine in Sting’s wine cellar.

A spokesman for Italian estate agents Immobilaire – who are handling the lettings – says the move by the couple may have been prompted by the introduction of a hefty Italian property tax last year.