Beautifully Restored Tuscan Farmhouse with Pool
Peaceful location, close to historic towns and local amenities
Sleeps 8-10 (3 double rooms, 1 twin, 1 sofa bed)
|
|
This 100 year old detached farmhouse has been restored to a very high standard, with terracotta tile floors, restored wooden beam and terracotta ceilings and modern bathrooms, kitchen and heating. Outside there is a shady pergola and a large sun terrace, leading directly to a 12x6m swimming pool. Set in 2 acres of olive groves, fig trees and cherry trees, 'Covivoli' boasts magnificent views across rolling hills to Michelangelo's birthplace. Near the historic towns of Caprese Michelangelo, Anghiari and Sansepolcro, it makes a perfect countryside retreat from which to explore. Choose from site-seeing in Assisi, Perugia, Sienna or Florence, a trip to one of the local markets or a night out any of the numerous superb local restaurants, or simply relax on the terrace, soaking up the views, the sun and a bottle of the local vintage. Covivoli is in eastern Tuscany near the border with Umbria.
|
|
| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 3 September 2011 - 22 October 2011 | £1450 | 7 | ||
| 22 October 2011 - 29 October 2011 | £1650 | 7 | ||
| 29 October 2011 - 11 February 2012 | £1250 | 7 | ||
| 11 February 2012 - 18 February 2012 | £1450 | 7 | ||
| 18 February 2012 - 31 March 2012 | £1250 | 7 | ||
| 31 March 2012 - 14 April 2012 | £1650 | 7 | ||
| 14 April 2012 - 2 June 2012 | £1450 | 7 | ||
| 2 June 2012 - 21 July 2012 | £1650 | 7 | ||
| 21 July 2012 - 1 September 2012 | £2250 | 7 | ||
| 1 September 2012 - 27 October 2012 | £1650 | 7 | ||
| 27 October 2012 - 3 November 2012 | £1850 | 7 | ||
| 3 November 2012 - 5 January 2013 | £1250 | 7 |
Notes on prices
Prices shown are for the property per week in pounds sterling (euros also accepted) and include electricity, gas and water, welcome pack, weekly maid and pool service. Special prices available for lets longer than 2 weeks, for last-minute bookings and out-of-season short breaks. Please contact us for details.
Changeover day
Saturday to Saturday. Arrival after 4pm. Departure by 10am.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 with double bed. Bedroom 2 with twin beds. Bedroom 3 with double bed. Bedroom 4 with double bed. Second living room with double sofa bed. |
| Bathrooms: | Bathroom 1 with shower, wash basin, wc & bidet. Bathroom 2 with bath/shower over, wash basin, wc & bidet. |
| Kitchen: | Fully equipped modern kitchen with electric oven, microwave oven, gas hob, fridge, freezer, dishwasher and dining table for upto 10 (see photo) - access to terrace. |
| Utility Room: | Washing machine, iron and ironing board, gas combi boiler, additional storage. |
| Living Rooms: | Living room 1 (see photo): corner sofa, hifi (with iPod/iPhone dock/charger), games - access to terrace. Living room 2: double sofa bed, TV & DVD, library - access to bedroom 4. |
| Other: | Entrance lobby with pizza/bread oven (not currently in use). |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Linen plus bath and pool towels provided, all changed weekly. Property cleaned weekly. Extra maid service available. Fernanda is an experienced cook. She can prepare meals or give cooking and pasta-making lessons. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove oven parking fridge/freezer microwave dishwasher washing machine iron/ironing board tv central heating room fans cot high chair barbecue private pool (for sole use of guests) |
| Location Type: | rural |
Notes on accommodation
Covivoli is ideal for adults wanting a private house with pool in a beautiful, tranquil setting. It's also great for families with kids. There are lots of toys and games (including boules and an outdoor table tennis table), a paddling pool for smaller children, and a double swing amongst the trees. The grounds and surrounding countryside offer lots of space to play and explore. Our housekeeper and her husband, Fernanda and Mario, live half a mile down the lane. They keep a low profile (unless you're lucky enough for Fernanda to bring you one of her wonderful apple cakes, or you've asked her to cook for you) but they are always available should you need any help or advice.
Accessibility
Movement between the middle floor (with main entrance, second living room and a double bedroom), upper floor (with three bedrooms) and lower floor (with kitchen/diner and living room, and sun terrace and pool) is via a staircase that also gives access to the two bathrooms at mezzanine levels. However, access between the middle floor and the lower floor and terraces is also possible using the sloping path around the house.
Outside
There is a private swimming pool (12m x 6m) surrounded by a large sun terrace with 8 sunbeds and a parasol. Adjacent to the house, a pergola gives good shade to a second sun terrace with outdoor tables and chairs (ideal for al fresco dining) and level access to the pool. Pool and terrace areas offer fantastic views of the countryside and mountains. The farmhouse is set in two acres of olive groves, fig trees and cherry trees, and there are some old vines too - feel free to help yourself to our fruit if it is in season.
Coast/Beach
West and East coasts reached in under two hours, Lake Trasimeno in an hour.
Golf
There are several golf courses within easy reach of Covivoli, eg near Perugia, about 45 mins away.
Special interest holidays
Great location for walking, climbing and cycling holidays. Cooking and pasta making courses are available from our housekeeper Fernanda, who is also an experienced cook.
Travel
Use of a car is pretty much essential, although there is public transport (trains to Arezzo, buses to Anghiari and Caprese). Suitable airports include: Perugia - 1 hour; Rimini, Ancona & Bologna - all around 2 hours; Pisa - 2½ hours; Rome - 2½ hours; and Venice - 3½ hours.
Distances
Caprese Michelangelo 3km. Pieve 10km. Anghiari 15km. Sansepolcro 20km. Perugia 90km. Siena 100km. Assisi 100km. Rimini 110km. Florence 120km.
Further details
Caprese Michelangelo has a small supermarket, pharmacy, doctor’s surgery, post office, bars, pizzeria, police station, bank and some fantastic restaurants. Pieve has a decent supermarket and Sansepolcro has a much wider selection of supermarkets and good shops and restaurants. In fact, there are many very good local restaurants within 10-15 minutes drive from the house. Several local markets can be found in local towns, our favourite being Anghiari on Wednesday mornings, but there are bigger ones further afield. Look out too for the various music, food and artisan festivals, farmers markets and antiques fairs that take place throughout the year in many of the local towns.
Booking notes
Up-to-date pricing and availability details can be found on this website, but feel free to contact the owners via email or telephone for more information. A signed contract returned with a 30% deposit will secure a booking, with full payment to be received not less than 2 months before the booking date.
Guest comments
"On behalf of my whole family I wanted to thank you for providing us with the opportunity to stay in your beautiful Tuscan home. While we were aware that the house, pool and garden would be no doubt special from the photos you had provided, we certainly weren’t prepared from what awaited us on arrival last Saturday. We all had such a lovely week, and Fernanda and Mario were so helpful, friendly and generous."
"We had a fantastic time at your lovely villa, we're all in agreement it was one of our best vacations ever! So thank you for that. A special thanks to Fernanda and Mario of course where you have truly found some marvellous people looking after your house and your guests."
"We are just back from Italy. We stayed a fortnight in your lovely house and we had a great time there. We enjoyed the fantastic views and loved the complete silence. Fernanda was so kind, her apple cake was great and her tiramisu just perfect. We definitely will recommend your house to our friends."
House swap
House swaps considered.
Owner profile
Kate and Gareth
About the owner
Kate and Gareth live in Bristol with their two young children, Mathilda and George. Kate is a graphic designer and illustrator, and has her own successful business selling greetings cards and children's colour-in products. Gareth is just a boring old IT manager!
We bought Covivoli in July 2003, seduced as much by the location as the potential of the house itself. With Mathilda just a toddler and George only 3 months old, we moved to Italy in 2004 to spend some six months overseeing the complete renovation of both farmhouse and grounds. In 2005 we returned to England (to friends and family - and work), but we spend as much time as we can in Tuscany, visiting friends, enjoying relaxing holidays and organising further improvements to the house. Our favourite months are May and June.
Year purchased: 2003
Why the owner chose a home in this location
We loved Covivoli from the moment we set eyes on it. Yes, the house was falling down, but its location, set in olive groves with fantastic views across the valley, secluded yet close to local amenities, made it ideal. We already knew the region well, having enjoyed many holidays in Tuscany, but we both agreed this was our favourite part. It has everything: lovely countryside, historic towns, great restaurants and friendly people, and although well known to Italians, it sees few foreign tourists, which somehow makes it feel even more authentic and special. Nine years later, after all the hard work renovating the house, re-landscaping and building the pool and pergola, our enthusiasm for Covivoli, the area and its people, has not deminished. In fact, the more we go, the more we love it.
Unique benefits of the property
We've probably said enough already, although feel free to contact us if you want to know more. All we would like to add is a big thank you to Fernanda and Mario, who look after Covivoli for us. They are amazing. As the guest comments above make it clear (and these are typical of the enthusiastic feedback we frequently get), Covivoli would not be the same without our dear friends, Fernanda and Mario.
For booking and further information
Property Ref IT333
Contact Name:
Gareth Edmunds
(UNITED KINGDOM) +44 01179277747
Home
Alternate Contact Details:
(UNITED KINGDOM) +44 07725273228
Mobile
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 May 2005,
and has advertised this property with us since May 2005.
Property Ref IT333
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on Owners Direct Website.