Casa Benessere - Old Farmhouse with its own Private Pool in peaceful, secluded valley
Your home from home in a small Italian community in Le Marche
Sleeps 7 (3 Bedrooms)
|
|
We would like to share Casa Benessere with you so that it becomes your home from home in Italy. Tranquillity is its main feature; the only sounds you will hear while dozing among the olive trees or barbequeing in the garden are the local church bells or farmers ploughing the fields. Your home on holiday was home to our friends the Pioli family until late 2007 and will eventually become our retirement home. Until then, we would like to share it with you. This is not a luxury villa but a family home, which is the way we want it to stay. It is thoughtfully and comfortably furnished, with all the facilities we ourselves would like to find on holiday. The house was partly modernised by the Piolis for their mother Annita, who lived there until early 2007. We are developing that potential year on year and welcome the views of guests about what should come next. We would like you to share an involvement in our home and see it develop into the stunning property it will one day become.
|
|
| Rental periods | Price per week | |
| 2009 (all year) | £700 / 850 euros | Single all year round rate |
| 2010 (all year) | £950 | Single all year round rate |
Notes on prices
2010 price increase due to availability of new private 30' x 10' swimming pool overlooking olive grove.
Price includes electricity, gas, bedding and towels (including beach towels).
We fell in love with Le Marche when we spent our honeymoon here - so we also offer special rates to honeymooners - contact us for details.
2008 / 09 guests - contact us for special 'friends' rates!
Changeover day
Arrival and departure day is usually Saturday but because flights can be cheaper on weekdays we can be flexible about start and end days. Just ask!
So that we can prepare the house well for you, we ask all guests to leave by mid-day and arrive after 2pm.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Our 1st bedroom overlooks the orchard, has a King size bed and is en-suite; the 2nd is a large double (with a huge, comfortable feather bed) and the 3rd has three single beds and its own TV for videos - especially child friendly. All bedding provided. |
| Bathrooms: | The en-suite is new and has a shower cubicle. There is a bathroom with small bath on the first floor and on the ground floor another shower room which also houses the washing-machine. All towels (including beach towels) are provided, as is guest soap! |
| Kitchen: | The kitchen is on the ground floor and has a gas cooker. It is small and basically (but well) equipped. There is a door to the outside sitting area - most Italian families eat outside during the summer - we have a wood-burning pizza oven in the garden! |
| Utility Room: | There is a small room off the kitchen which houses pots and pans, a brand new large fridge with freezer compartment and the iron and ironing board. Our development plans include turning the old garage into a huge, stunning kitchen - see what you think! |
| Living Rooms: | As is traditional with Italian farmhouses the living room is on the first floor with the bedrooms. It is a comfortable area, cool in summer, with an open log-burning fire for the winter months. It seats seven comfortably and has views to Ripe San Ginesio. |
| Other: | This accommodation is mainly on the first floor. Our development plans will transform the ground floor - the old 'stalla' (animal barn) into a huge living room and the room which is currently the 'cantina' (the family made wine here!) into a dining room. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
For stays longer than ten days a change of bedding and towels is provided. We also provide extra items for your comfort such as washing-up liquid and toilet rolls! Additionally, you will find a basket of goodies on arrival to welcome you to our home. |
Notes on accommodation
Broadband Internet access is available in the living room (bring your own laptop) and an iPod player in kitchen - bring your own music in case you don't share our taste!
We do ask you to observe our strict no smoking policy please.
For (not very frequent!) rainy days, or days when it's just too much trouble to go out, there is a wide selection of books, DVDs, videos, CDs, jigsaws and board games, suitable for both adults and children.
Please note that we do not have satellite TV - local Italian channels are available. Enjoy a holiday without television! The TV in the triple bedroom plays videos only.
Fans provided in each bedroom.
There is a file packed with information on local places to visit and eat, festivals to enjoy, bike rides to try and mountain walks to wander. We provide details of local doctors etc and of an English-speaking contact available locally to help with any difficulties.
We know how important a family pet can be so well-behaved animals are welcom
- hob/stove,
- oven,
- fridge/freezer,
- microwave,
- washing machine,
- iron/ironing board,
- tv,
- internet access,
- central heating,
- room fans,
- cot,
- barbecue,
- private pool (for sole use of guests),
- pets accepted
Accessibility
Unfortunately at the present time the house is not suitable for anyone for whom stairs are a problem as there is a staircase to the living room and bedrooms - we hope to provide ground floor facilities within the next two years.
Outside
You are welcome to make use of the extensive grounds attached to the house including an olive grove, fruit and vegetable garden including peach, apricot, cherry, fig, apple, plum and walnut trees, and an extensive woodland with black squirrels, deer and hundreds of small birds. Lie in the hammock between two shady firs overlooking the valley and listen to their song!
There is a sun terrace with sunloungers, 5' outdoor dining table, chairs, parasol and barbeque - this is a real sun trap almost all day. The wood-burning pizza oven works perfectly for meat too!
In 2010 we will have a swimming pool (30' x 10') filled with fresh mountain water provided by our own well and complete with water wings and infant's safety chair. Two adult and three children's mountain bikes are also yours to use.
The house has a large field attached worked by Claudio, a local farmer. It has in recent years grown wheat, corn and sunflowers. Claudio speaks some English and is always happy to stop and cha
Coast/Beach
We like:
Swimming in the clear waters of Lago di Fiastra and soaking up the sun on one of its many tiny beaches -a fifteen minute drive;
Exploring the seaside resorts from the beach bars of Porto San Giorgio to the elegant shopping centre at Civitanova Marche -a forty minute drive;
Having lunch at one of the chic restaurants or tiny pizza bars on the square at Sirolo, overlooking the cliffs, golden beaches and clear blue waters of the Conero peninsula -an hour's drive but well worth it.
Golf
There is a renowned golf course on the Conero peninsula an hour's drive away with an 18 hole Championship course and 9 hole Executive course - complete with water obstacles. It also has a driving range, a putting green and lessons available from a teacher of the Federazione Italiana Golf. Tee times can be booked in advance to ensure availability.
Combine a round with a trip to the restaurants of Sirolo or some relaxation on the nearby beaches.
There is also a smaller course available locally at the Abaddia di Fiastra - a ten minute drive away.
Skiing
Skiing is available in the Monte Sibillini which is about a forty minute drive. Details available if required. One of our favourite pastimes is sitting in the square of the pretty mountain village of Sarnano drinking hot chocolate (or in Mike's case, wine!) and watching those more energetic holidaymakers skiing down the mountains opposite!
Travel
Casa Benessere is a 45 minute drive from Ancona Airport, mostly by major roads. Alternatively, it is 2-3 hours from Rimini, Bologna, or Rome airports - all easy and scenic journies on good roads, often through lovely Appennine villages. Cheap flights are available to Ancona from Stansted, and to the others from most British airports with Ryanair.
A car is essential in Le Marche. Cheap car hire is available from Cardelmar.com - friendly service and the cheapest prices we have been able to find
Distances
We like:
Sitting on the square at Ripe San Ginesio, listening to the out of tune church bells and watching the world go by - a two minute drive; or the bustle of the weekly Sunday market in the hilltop town of San Ginesio - a ten minute drive.
Wandering through the back streets of Tolentino and watching its famous three-dimensional clock tick the hours away - a twenty minute drive.
Marvelling at the "Flying House" of Loretto and the magnificent church at Urbino - a fifty minute drive.
Further details
We fell in love with Le Marche when we stayed there on our honeymoon (in fact the house we rented is just across the valley from Casa Benessere - it was meant to be!). Here's some reasons why:
Sit back, relax, and imagine...
Imagine the Cairngorms crossed with Cumbria. Now make the peaks a little higher, and the valleys a little steeper.
Imagine the old bits of Bath, York and Chester that you love. Now dot them in hilltop villages every five miles or so.
Imagine large old farmhouses of Cotswold stone. Now bathe them in the warmth of a gentle golden sun and add sunflower fields around them.
And to finish your picture - transport the whole thing to the hills of rural Italy, take away the crowds, put down the umbrellas, feel the sun on your face and add a large splash of warm Italian hospitality ...
This is why we fell in love with Le Marche. This is why we are sure you will too.
This is not an area for nightlife! -it's a rural, Italian setting with all the fresh food you can eat available from local shops or village markets.
You may not feel like doing anything but relaxing around the house, or wandering round local villages sipping cappuccino and watching life pass by.
If you want to be part of Le Marche life there are opportunities throughout the year to join in with local village communities in one of their many festas - summer palios and saints' days, winter Christmas markets when families open their homes and sell local crafts, autumn festas of white wines or "Vino Cotto" - literally "cooked wine", and a local speciality, if you know where to get it - which you will!) of asparagus or chestnuts, wild boar or parmegiano cheese; of truffles or potatoes - festas basically celebrating everything good about life and Le Marche!
We can also arrange various activities such as guided mountain walks, horse riding, wine tasting or a relaxing massage. We do not make commission from this - we just want to make sure you enjoy your holiday to
Booking notes
We believe that families with children should not be disadvantaged by soaring costs during school holidays so we try to keep our prices low throughout the year. The price also reflects the fact that you will be staying in a comfortable family home - not a luxury villa.
We ask for a deposit per booking of £200/€200 which reserves your preferred dates. The remainder is due six weeks before your stay begins.
Guest comments
'What a joy! - a great place to relax, enjoy and discover the delights of Le Marche. A particular favourite was the Sibillini mountains - just fantastic... the colours of the valleys and the houses will live long in the memory' - Jack and Tina, UK.
'Lovely house, beautiful surroundings, the locals are extremely friendly and helpful. Had a brilliant two weeks. A great place to stay. Highly recommended' - Lynne, Adrian, Charlotte and Francesca, Paris, France.
WE LOVEEEEEE THE HOUSE. It's roomy, BEAUTIFULLY done and there is space for everyone. Mark (who's from a farm) loves all the old stuff - under the house. He's fascinated and was able to explain to Jock how the cows would have fed from the stalls. It's just lovely, and so us! Thank you so much for your lovely welcome. I can't say enough how comfortable I feel here - and we will look after your very special place as if it were our own. Bless! And thanks. - Sue, Mark, Jock, Matthew and Fiona, New Zealand.
Owner profile
Our wedding photo at the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
About the owner
We are Cath and Mike Andrews and we love Italy, all things Italian, and Le Marche in particular. We were married in Rome three years ago and fell in love with this area when we honeymooned here - in the house just across the valley from Casa Benessere!
We were both lucky enough to be able to take early retirement in 2009 and now plan to move permanently to our home in Italy in 2010.
In the meantime, we want to share our house with you and we delight in being able to make sure that guests who stay here have as relaxed, peaceful and enjoyable a time as we ourselves did.
Why the owner chose a home in this location
We love this area because it's a great mix of peaceful and accessible. There are no crowds here (unless you count sheep!) but within forty minutes it's possible to be down on the coast with the Italian holiday makers, or up in the mountains doing some serious (or not so serious) walking or skiing.
Our house is in a small, friendly valley just across from the tiny village of Ripe San Ginesio which has one church, one baker, one bar, one small supermarket and the all important square where people sit and pass the time of day. Oh and a newly opened, tiny restaurant serving the most delicious local produce.
What more could we want?!
Unique benefits of the property
Within minutes of arriving here we feel relaxed and guests have consistently told us they wind down from the stresses of everyday life very quickly. The pool is a godsend in the hot days of summer and the log fire a wonderful welcome in the cold of winter.
We're incredibly lucky to have made brilliant friends here - some Italian, some not - all of whom are happy to talk to guests about the local area, where to go and what to see - or to leave people alone if what you want is total peace and quiet.
The grounds are extensive enough to wander and you will see deer, black squirrels and buzzards.
Here's how special it is - the other day we were sitting in our olive grove when a herd of goats - complete with Italian goatherd - stopped in for a chat.
For booking and further information
Property Ref IT1991
Cath and Mike Andrews
Tel: (UK) + 44 (0)775 335 5812
Send an email to owner
This form may only be used for genuine enquiries about renting this property.
Use of this form for other purposes including unsolicited commercial marketing is strictly prohibited.
Your message will be sent by email to the property owner.
Owners Direct also retains an archive copy for the property owner to refer to.
If you do not receive a reply to this email within 2 or 3 days, please try contacting the owner by telephone.
Your email address will be added to our mailing list, for receipt of occasional newsletters and holiday information.
If you do not wish to be added to this mailing list, please uncheck the box above.
Please refer to our privacy policy.
International Dialling Access Codes:
From Europe dial 00 in place of +
From USA dial 011 in place of +
If phoning from outside Europe or USA please consult your telephone directory for international dialling access codes.
This advertiser joined Owners Direct in February 2008,
and has advertised this property with us since February 2008.
Property Ref IT1991
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on Owners Direct Website.