Spacious 17th Century Hillside Villa Farmhouse with Private Pool and Stunning Views
Surrounded by 2 Acres of Mature Landscaped Gardens and Tuscan countryside
Sleeps 8 (4 Bedrooms)
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Fontemaggio is a 17th century stone farmhouse villa or 'Casa Colonica' on a hillside, surrounded by 2 acres of mature landscaped gardens that merge into the sunflowers, vines, olives, pine and cypress trees beyond. There are terraces on all sides, each with its own dining table and breathtaking views of a landscape that seems to have changed little throughout the centuries, including a lake and a Renaissance castle on a hill. Sympathetically restored, the house retains a wealth of terracotta floors and chestnut beams. The 30ft diameter circular pool, surrounded by fragrant rosemary hedging and lemon trees, benefits from the sun for the entire day. Set amongst mature pines, cypress and olives, it enjoys tranquil views of the Tuscan and Umbrian hills in complete seclusion. The medieval hilltop village of Monterchi, featured in 'The Most Beautiful Villages in Tuscany', by Thames and Hudson, is close by. You will find Casa Fontemaggio a blissfully relaxing holiday rental.See our website.
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 29 October 2011 - 23 December 2011 | £950 | 7 | ||
| 24 December 2011 - 6 January 2012 | £1750 | 7 | ||
| 7 January 2012 - 30 March 2012 | £950 | 7 | ||
| 31 March 2012 - 25 May 2012 | £1500 | 7 | ||
| 26 May 2012 - 29 June 2012 | £1750 | 7 | ||
| 30 June 2012 - 31 August 2012 | £2050 | 7 | ||
| 1 September 2012 - 28 September 2012 | £1750 | 7 | ||
| 29 September 2012 - 26 October 2012 | £1100 | 7 |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK Pounds, but payment in Euros is accepted.
Negotiable discounts for long lets.
Changeover day
Changeover day is Saturday. This may be flexible outside of the main season. We ask guests to arrive from 3pm onwards and to depart by 9.30am, to allow the house and pool to be thoroughly cleaned and prepared.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1: double bed; walk-in wardrobe; hairdryer Bedroom 2: twin beds; hairdryer Bedroom 3: twin/double;walk-in wardrobe;extra bed on request;hairdryer Bedroom 4 double bed in spacious suite with living room and additional independent access outside. |
| Bathrooms: | En-suite bathroom to bedroom 1: with bath, shower, basin, wc Bathroom to bedroom 3 and 2: with bath, shower, basin, wc En-suite bathroom to bedroom suite 4: with shower, basin, wc Bathroom with basin, wc. |
| Kitchen: | Cooker with electric oven and duel fuel (gas/electric) hob with 6 burners, microwave/ grill, fridge-freezer and bar fridge, dishwasher, toaster. |
| Utility Room: | Washing machine, laundry basin, iron and ironing board, washing stand. |
| Living Rooms: | The dining room has an original inglenook fireplace and chestnut refectory table. The adjacent sitting room with library includes a TV, DVD, video, CD hifi system and discs and tapes. The sofas are three seater and the furnishings are in neutral tones. |
| Other: | The spacious bedroom 4 suite, consists of a bedroom and en-suite shower room, with adjacent sitting room, opening on two sides with French windows. It is ideal for a couple requiring privacy and quiet away from the rest of the group. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Bedlinen and both bath and pool towels are included. These are changed every 7 days. The property is cleaned prior to and on departure and a mini-clean is carried out weekly for stays of two weeks or more. Extra maid service is available at 12 euros p/h. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove oven fridge/freezer fridge microwave dishwasher washing machine iron/ironing board satellite tv tv internet access central heating room fans cot high chair barbecue private pool (for sole use of guests) |
| Location Type: | rural |
Notes on accommodation
Fontemaggio is spacious, airy and has a feeling of a well cared for and elegant family house. The furnishings are neutral toned throughout. Although the thick stone walls ensure the house is cool in summer, there are fans in each of the bedrooms. All bedrooms overlook the gardens and have views to the surrounding landscape. The kitchen and breakfast room, that opens on two sides to terraces, is a blend of modern convenience and tradition. There is a separate laundry room. The staircases are child-safe. Guests find it a perfect home from home. Central heating is available, on request, at extra cost (recommended from October to April). The internal stairs are child safe and there are toddler gates available in the kitchen.
Outside
The 30ft diameter circular pool, surrounded by fragrant rosemary hedging and lemon trees, benefits from the sun for the entire day. The sun loungers and pool terrace dining furniture are teak. Set amongst mature pines, cypress and olives, the terrace enjoys tranquil views of the Tuscan and Umbrian hills in complete seclusion. There is a barbecue in the adjacent olive grove. The gardens and grounds have been professionally landscaped and contain planting typical of Tuscany. Trees include some very old umbrella pines and almonds, pencil cypresses, olives, acacias, oaks, figs and lemons in terracotta pots. There are box, lavender and rosemary hedges. The terraces have pergolas covered in vines, wisteria, Chilean bell-flowers, and roses climb on the house walls. The 'castle view' terrace includes a dining/ breakfast table. A wisteria entwined tiled loggia provides a shady retreat and alternative place to eat. The tranquil sound of running water is provided by a fountain.
Golf
There is a golf course 15 mins by car.
Special interest holidays
Activities that can be booked for you include: wine tour and tasting; olive oil tour and tasting; cookery class(es); language classes; horse riding; mountain biking.
Travel
Airports - Perugia 45 mins, Florence 1.5 hrs, Rimini 1.5 hrs, Pisa 2.25 hrs, Bologna Marconi 2.5 hrs and Rome 3 hrs.
Nearest railway station: Arezzo: (25 mins) connections to Florence (35 mins) and Rome (1hr 50mins); Eurostar to Paris and UK.
Car hire is available locally if preferred.
Taxi transfers can be arranged for you on request.
Distances
The local village of Monterchi is in the historic and desirable S.E. corner of Tuscany near the border with Umbria and is therefore an ideal location for visiting the key attractions of both regions. It is within easy reach of several international and budget line airports and motorway routes.
Monterchi 3km/5 mins by car. Lippiano 2km/20 mins on foot/5mins car. Sansepolcro 12km/15mins. Arezzo 25 mins. Cortona 45 mins. Perugia 45 mins. Assisi 1hr. Gubbio 1hr. Florence and Siena 1.25hr.
Further details
Although private and peaceful, Casa Fontemaggio is not remote. It is well placed to either luxuriate in the excellent cuisine and wines of the region or take trips to the historical and cultural sites of both Tuscany and Umbria. Florence, Siena, Cortona, Arezzo, Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio are all within easy reach.
The timeless hill top village of Lippiano, crowned by the castle that can be viewed from Fontemaggio, may be walked to for breakfast or a drink at the friendly bar. On Saturday evenings watch (or join!) the locals as they perform serious waltzes and foxtrots in the piazza...
3km away, the local hilltop walled village of Monterchi, a tiny triangle of medieval perfection, with its intriguing arches and alleyways, is Roman in origin. It is the birthplace of the mother of the famous Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca. His fresco the Madonna del Parto can be seen in the old schoolhouse museum. The landscape that appears in Piero's works is clearly recognisable in the views around Fontemaggio.
You will find the local community in Monterchi welcoming and friendly, particularly at the general store run by Marcello and his family. There are a post office, two banks with cash machines, free internet access, bars and good restaurants serving local specialities. The local fruit and veg shop offers excellent produce and specialises in truffles and wild mushrooms. There is a market on Sunday mornings and in the summer there are delightful (and free!) outdoor concerts followed by a complimentary buffet and wine.
Anghiari, made famous by Leonardo da Vinci's drawing, is a gem of a hill town only 15mins away. At Sansepolcro you will find supermarkets and a market.
We will send information on local facilities and recommendations for eating out and excursions. These are supplemented by a large file of brochures and maps at Casa Fontemaggio, where further research can be carried out in the extensive library of books on the art and culture of Tuscany.
Booking notes
Our terms are 33% payable as a deposit, the balance due 8 weeks prior to arrival. On receipt of the final payment, we will send you a guide that includes information on travel directions, key collection, your local contact/ housekeeper, property facilities and local shopping, eating and leisure recommendations.
Guest comments
Fontemaggio was even more beautiful than both the description and photos and the surrounding countryside was spectacular. The villa offers a magical escape with miles of walks and views as well as being set in an area that is rich in history, art, fabulous food and wine. We were given a lovely welcome basket on arrival and never stopped feeling overwhelmed by the attention and care with which the villa had been designed and decorated both inside and in the surrounding gardens. The excursions and restaurants in the visitor's booklet were exceptional and we were grateful for and learned to depend on all the recommendations.
Not only would I highly recommend a stay at Fontemaggio to everyone but I would happily return anytime. When I asked a travelling companion if she wanted to contibute to the description she said that "beyond my wildest dreams" pretty well sums it up.
S. Bertmount:Toronto, Ontario, Canada.June 2008.
See our website link below for further guest reviews.
For booking and further information
Property Ref IT2407
Sylvia Levy-Nichols
Tel: (UK) + 44 (0)1323 423 122
Tel: (Italy) + 39 (0)57 570 122
Mob: (UK) + 44 (0)7816 872 993
Mob: (Italy) + 39 331 544 5107
Owners Website: Click here
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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in December 2007,
and has advertised this property with us since July 2008.
Property Ref IT2407
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