Home from home:
This is our family home which we have lovingly restored over twenty years. Originally this was five small farm cottages that have been combined to make a home where one room just flows into the next. At the lower end of the house, a new three story addition was added, with an atrium giving height and space for entertaining. There are panoramic views across the valley where the sun rises on a landscape which has not changed for 200 years. This is the perfect spot for a relaxing holiday reading and eating and drinking well. The house has a very well stocked library of English books, all your favorite vinyl records from the 60s, lots of games and jigsaws and space for dancing and entertaining as well as TV, DVDs etc. We hope that our guests will enjoy the amenities and will respect that this is not a rental house, this is our home. It has been featured in Architectural Digest and also in Tricia Guild's Book, Painted Country.
The garden and environment:
The house is surrounded by magnificent scenery, which may be explored on foot or by car. Below the house are terraces of olives, roses and fruit trees and a large infinity swimming pool with a large rock for divers. There are sunbeds around the pool and a shaded area under trees. Many varieties of birds and wildlife are to be found here; a hoopoe was born in early summer and we have even had otters swimming in the pool! There are glorious walks all around, and outings for cappuccinos and ice cream to local villages such as San Casciano dei Bagni where the luxurious Fonte Verde Spa has reopened with hot thermal baths and spa treatments. In the village is a fashion outlet where designer brands can be found at bargain prices. Nearby Cetona is a favorite haunt for weekending Romans with good restaurants and a Saturday market.
Tourist attractions:
For those who want to see what else the area has to offer, the house is in a great location for exploring Tuscany and Umbria, with the Autostrada exit not far away and Chiusi Railway station within twenty minutes for trains to Rome or Florence. Across the beautiful Val d'Orcia, visits may be made to the vineyards of Montalcino and Montepulciano. Art may be seen in Museums and churches in Siena, Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto, Cortona, Todi, all within about one hour's drive. Summer music festivals are held in Spoleto, Cortona and at La Foce as well as musical evenings in the villages. Tuscany is a way of life and the house is the perfect place to experience it. We have a guide book with listings of our favorite restaurants and outings and when you arrive home tired, our Philippina maid will give you a relaxing massage.
