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Casa Benessere and some of its land
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The house in the hamlet in the valley
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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.
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Sunny bedroom with huge feather bed!
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The orchard - a lovely place to sit and dream
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Rental periods |
Price per week |
| 24 May - 14 September 2008 |
£500 / 663 Euros |
| 15 September 2008 - 5 April 2009 |
£400 / 530 Euros |
Notes on prices
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.
As we add to the house year on year based on both our own vision of the kind of home we want it to become, and the vision of our guests who we hope will add their own ideas - prices are likely to rise. However, those guests who have been with us from the start and who have become part of our home-making project will always be offered special 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, we ask that you leave the house by mid-day and arrive after 2pm.
| Accommodation |
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| Bedrooms: |
Our first bedroom has a double bed, is en-suite and overlooks the garden; the second is also a large double (with a huge, comfortable feather bed - you will not want to get out!) and the third can be either two singles or bunk beds. 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 and changed weekly. |
| 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 and a brand new large fridge with freezer compartment.
Our development plans include turning the old garage into a huge, stunning kitchen - see what you think of our architect's design! |
| 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 six 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 'stalle' (animal barn) into a huge living room and the room which is currently the 'cantina' (the family made wine here!) into a cosy study. |
Cleaning/towels/
linen/maid service: |
The house will be cleaned each week at no extra cost. Bedding and towels are changed weekly. We provide extra items for your comfort such as washing-up liquid and toilet rolls! You will also find a basket of goodies on arrival to welcome you to our home. |
Notes on accommodation
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 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!
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 pet can be so well-behaved animals are welcome. However please note that along with the house we inherited two cats - Katz and Koshka. They are very friendly but live outside all year. If you want their company they will be pleased to stay around you, but if you ignore them they will go off on their travels!
| Amenities/Facilities provided |
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| hob/stove |
oven |
fridge/freezer |
washing machine |
| iron/ironing board |
tv |
central heating |
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 full use of the extensive grounds attached to the house including an olive grove, a fruit and vegetable garden including peach, apricot, cherry, fig, apple, plum and walnut trees, and an extensive woodland with dozens of small birds (there are also birds of prey nesting nearby).
There is a sun terrace/BBQ area 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 cooking meat too!
We have an above ground circular swimming pool 14' by 4', filled with fresh mountain water provided by our own well and complete with water wings and infant's safety chair.
The original family swings and two adult and two 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 a little English and is always happy to stop and chat!
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.
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 a 2.5 - 3 hour drive from Rome airport - an easy and scenic journey through lovely Appennine villages, on major roads.
Cheap flights are available to Ancona from Stansted, and to Rome 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 five minute drive;
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 full of nightlife! - Casa Benessere is in a small, rural, Italian setting. You may not feel like doing anything but relaxing around the house, or wandering round local villages sipping cappuccino and watching life pass by.
And if you want to be part of Le Marche life there are many opportunities throughout the year to join in with local village communities in one of their many, many fiestas - the summer palios and saints' days, the winter Christmas markets when families open their homes and sell local crafts, the autumn fiestas 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, of wild boar or parmegiano cheese; of truffles or potatoes - festas basically celebrating everything good about life and Le Marche!
And if, like us, you fall in love with Le Marche and want to buy your own home there, we can provide details of local people who can arrange for you to see what's available and guide you through the buying process.
Enjoy!
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 £150 which reserves your preferred dates. The remainder is due six weeks before your stay begins when we will ask for the balance plus a refundable deposit of £100 to cover any damage.
For booking and further information
Cath and Mike Andrews
Tel: (UK) + 44 (0)787 326 3692
Email: Click here
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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in February 2008,
and has advertised this property with us since February 2008.
Property Ref IT1991
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