Casa Benessere - Old Italian Farmhouse With Its Own Large Private Pool In Peaceful, Secluded Valley
Your Comfortable Home From Home In A Small Italian Community In The Heart Of Rural 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. The house 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, and is therefore a good mix of 'typical Italian farmhouse' and comfortable modern home. Guests are welcome to all the (organic) fruit and veg in our orchard (a great hit with visitors!) and in 2012 we will have our own chickens!
|
|
| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 1 June 2011 - 8 September 2011 | £1050 | - | ||
| 9 September 2011 - 30 November 2011 | £850 | - | ||
| 1 April 2012 - 31 May 2012 | £900 | - | ||
| 1 June 2012 - 8 September 2012 | £1100 | - | ||
| 8 September 2012 - 30 November 2012 | £900 | - |
Notes on prices
Small 2012 price increase due to availability of new secluded paved sun terrace with pergola and improvements to the swimming pool area.
Price includes electricity, gas, bedding, towels (including beach towels), soap and toilet rolls.
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.
Previous 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 are 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 10 a.m. and arrive after 5 p.m.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Our 1st bedroom is en-suite with a King size bed overlooking the valley; the 2nd is a large room with King sized bed; the 3rd has three single beds and its own TV for videos - especially child friendly. All bedding provided; change for stays over 10 days. |
| Bathrooms: | The en-suite is new and has a shower cubicle. There is a family bathroom with 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 but very 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 large refrigerator with freezer compartment and the iron and ironing board. Our development plans include turning the 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: |
Bedding and towels (including pool/beach towels) provided with a change for stays longer than ten days. We also provide extra items for your comfort such as soap, washing-up liquid and toilet rolls! A welcome pack includes our own cold pressed olive oil. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | 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) |
| Suitability: | pets accepted |
| Location Type: |
Notes on accommodation
Broadband wifi access is available in the living room (bring your own laptop). Music centre including iPod player in living room.
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 and mosquito-proofed window protection in each bedroom.
Supermarket five minutes away.
Our information pack has details of 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 we are on hand in the next village should problems arise.
We know how important a family pet can be so well-behaved animals are welcome.
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 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.
There is a paved sun terrace with sun loungers which overlooks the valley and has views to the mountains beyond. Includes 5' outdoor dining table, chairs, pergola and large permanent cement-built family barbecue. This is a real sun trap almost all day. The wood-burning pizza oven works perfectly for meat too!
We also have a beautiful swimming pool (30' x 10') filled with fresh mountain water provided by our own well and surrounded by a sun terrace which can be lit in the evening. There are two adult and three children's mountain bikes.
Additionally the house has a large field which grows wheat, corn and sunflowers in rotation. Claudio, our friend who farms the field, speaks some English and is always happy to stop and chat.
Coast/Beach
The beautiful mountain Lake Fiastra is 20 minutes away and very safe for swimming with a number of tiny inlet beaches. It also has kayaking and pedaloes for hire.
Local seaside resorts from the beach bars of Porto Sant'Elpidio to the elegant shopping centre at Civitanova Marche are a 30 minute drive.
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 are a 40 minute 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!
Special interest holidays
We are able to arrange walking days in the mountains, mountain bike riding, cookery courses and hot air balloon rides for you but these are with a local guide and will incur a cost. We do not make a profit from this service.
Travel
Casa Benessere is a 40 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 love the square at our local village (Ripe San Ginesio) with bar, restaurant, bakery and small supermarket - a two minute drive; or the bustle of the weekly Sunday market in the hilltop town of San Ginesio - a ten min drive.
Wander through the streets of Tolentino and watch its three-dimensional clock tick the hours away - 20 min drive. Marvel at the "Flying House" of Loretto and the magnificent church at Urbino - 50 min drive. The beautiful Frassassi caves are 55 mins away and a must-see.
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.
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 £250/€250 which reserves your preferred dates. The remainder is due six weeks before your stay begins.
Guest comments
2011 comments so far:
"Thank you for the most wonderful week at your beautiful house and for your kind attention both before and during our stay. Your attention to detail is fabulous. Words fail me to describe how lovely it is here - people must just come and see for themselves!" (Warren family, UK).
"Beautiful place, lovely house, so clean and comfortable. We felt like it was our own home! The pool is superb. Cath and Mike, you are very kind and we are very glad to know you!", ("The Fab 4", Belgium).
"Love the house, and picking fruit from the trees was bliss! We have had a lovely holiday and thoroughly enjoyed our time in Le Marche". (Smith family, London, UK).
"What a beautiful place! We had an amazing time here with this lovely house and surroundings. The pool is superb. A massive thank you to Cath and Mike ... you made us feel so welcome". Diane, Jonathan and family - Norwich, UK).
"Could this house *get* any better?" - Max, aged 8, expressing his delight!
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 five years ago and fell in love with this area when we honeymooned here - in the house just across the valley from Casa Benessere!
This is not a holiday villa but an old Italian farmhouse which is furnished as a home, not a rental property. We love it so much that ultimately we plan to move here permanently.
In the meantime, we want to share our house with you and we delight in being able to make sure that guests have as relaxed, peaceful and enjoyable a time as we ourselves did. We would like you to feel that it's your 'home away from home'.
We are never intrusive, but we stay in a nearby village so are always available should you need us.
Welcome!
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 (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.
Casa Benessere is over 100 years old and we love its history. Our olive grove has been producing the most delicious olive oil for centuries and our large field is still used to grow sunflowers and wheat.
The house is in a small, friendly valley just across from the tiny village of Ripe San Ginesio which has a church, baker, bar, small supermarket, the all important square to sit and pass the time of day, and a 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. Lying in the hammock under the cool of the the trees listening to birdsong is amazingly peaceful.
The pool is a godsend in the hot days of summer and in a fantastic position overlooking the valley. We love just floating, watching buzzards fly down the valley.
The grounds are extensive. Wander and you will see deer, black squirrels, the odd wild boar and loads of birdlife. The olive grove is equally tranquil and we give all guests some of our very own fresh organic olive oil.
In 2012 we plan to have a small "flock" of chickens which you (and your children) are welcome to feed if you want to, and all guests will be welcome to the fresh
For booking and further information
Property Ref IT1991
Contact Name:
Mike Andrews
(ITALY) +39 3208269823
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.
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.