Long term lets (over 1 month) Short-breaks (4 days or less)
Changeover day:
Flexible
Access:
Car not necessary Nearest amenities: 0.05 km
Notes:
Sorry - no pets allowed Not suitable for children under 5 No smoking at this property Self-catering
Home description
Casa Monterchi is a beautiful townhouse with lots of character - wooden ceilings and beams, terracotta floors, wood-fired kitchen range, stone door surrounds and 19th century frescoed ceilings. The house has a wonderful balcony where you can sit looking onto the church, the Medieval archway and the fields beyond. There is also a beautiful view from the rear of the top floor out over the rooftops to the countryside below the village.
The house is ideally located in the historic centre on Monterchi, one of Tuscany's most beautiful and classic mediaeval hilltop fortified towns. Situated yards from the main square (and a fantastic restaurant, bar and enoteca where we've spent many a happy afternoon and evening in the warm summer air). The house also overlooks the church of San Simeone (originally medieval and extended over the centuries). The house is an ideal base to explore the delights of Tuscany, Umbria, the Marches and Emilia Romagna. Monterchi itself is home to Piero della Francesca's enchanting Madonna del Parto and is a fascinating must-see for any tour of Renaissance sites.
Alternatively you could take a tour of the superb enotecas (wine shops) and restaurants or walk and cycle in the hills and plains around the town. We have lots of walking and cycling maps available showing routes through the local countryside, whether for a gentle amble or challenging mountain biking for the more adventurous. Dawes hybrid bikes are available to hire at £15 per bike per week.
View from bathroom at rear
The house from San Simeone church
Monterchi - you can see the back of our house facing onto the church
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/16177
The Tuscany region
Monterchi is a fine example of a medieval hilltop village typical in this region and is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany. It is situated in the Valtiberina (high Tiber valley) area of Tuscany. This area is quieter and more unspoilt than the westerly parts and has some fantastic attractions of its own. One of these is the Piero della Francesa trail (Monterchi is key to it and houses the famous Madonna del Parto painting, reputedly a homage to Piero's mother, who was from Monterchi).
Monterchi is perfect for exploring by foot and exploring through its streets. The historical centre is small but there is plenty to see, from the church of San Simeone and the various medieval walls, to the main Piazza and the fortress at the top of the town, it won't take you long to find your bearings but you will be able to stop and admire the views from every angle. The historical centre has three fantastic restaurants and bars (our favourite is the one in the Piazza). Wandering down the steps to the park (and statue of Hercules, for whom the town is named) and the lower part of the town, there are plenty more restaurants, shops and a bank, and the bus/coach stop for Arezzo and Sansepolcro. It's also so easy to wander into the surrounding countryisde for some stunning views back to Monterchi. Further afield. there are easy but worthwhile walks to the neighbouring towns and villages.
The beautiful walled town of Sansepolcro is 15mins from Monterchi, Anghiari with its narrow mediaeval streets and pretty square is less than 5 mins and Caprese Michelangelo (Michelangelo's birthplace and now host to a museum in tribute is 15 mins. The area is also criss-crossed with the trails of St Francis, who received his stigmata nearby at La Verna. Citta di Castello is 13km away and is well worth a vist for its castles, shops and antiques and crafts markets.
This area is a fascinating corner of Tuscany, with its combination of Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Rennaissance history.
It is however within easy day trip reach of Florence (1 1/4 hrs or a stunning 1 1/2 hour drive through the rolling hills), Lucca and Pisa (1 1/2 hours), Siena (1 1/4 hours), Chianti (1 hr) and the beautiful Arno valley (30 mins). The area also has the advantage of being close to the Adriatic Riviera (1 hour +), San Marino, Umbertide, Perugia (35 mins), and Assisi. The E45 motorway which runs 10 mins from the house connects with the Bologna/Ravenna area to the north and Rome to the south (Rome is 2 1/4 hours away).
The house has the advantage of being easily reached by public transport - Arezzo has many connections throughout Italy by train including a fast train (1 1/4 hours) to Rome and to Florence. Regular coaches and local buses connect the 25km from Arezzo to Monterchi and on to Sansepolcro.
Arezzo / Sansepolcro area
Monterchi is a fantastic place to stay and savour the atmosphere of a genuine and unspoilt Tuscan hilltop village. Whether sitting on the balcony looking onto the church and watching the world go by, or wandering up and down its narrow winding streets, you can enjoy the wonderful views from every corner. The house is right in the historical centre of the village, looking onto the back of the square and the church, and out over onto the fields behind the village.
You can stay local and wander to the Enoteca and Restaurant a few steps away in the square, or wander down to the shops in the lower part of the village. Just two streets away is the museum of the Madonna del Parto and another Osteria and delicatessen where you can stop for an Italian coffee. In the main shopping area at the bottom of the hill there are more restaurants, a bar as well as a small bank, pharmacy, great fruit and vegetable shop, butchers and other shops - all run as local businesses.
Slightly further afield you can visit the other hilltop towns which you can see from Monterchi - Citerna or Santa Maria della Tiberina, or the attractions of Anghiari, Arezzo (28km) or Sansepolcro (12km).
On Sundays, the local market comes to Monterchi. Other shopping highlights are the famous antiques market in nearby Arezzo (1st weekend of the month) and the similar local markets in Citta di Castello, Anghiari and Sansepolcro.
Monterchi is an important stop on the Piero della Francesca trail and within easy reach of many of Tuscany's hidden Renaissance highlights such as Michelangelo's birthplace at Caprese.
The area is very popular with walkers and cyclists - we have books at the house showing a number which start or finish from Monterchi and we can offer the possibility of hiring mountain bikes for the more adventurous!
If you want to see more of Italy then Monterchi is ideally located. Arezzo is a beautiful city in itself and also a major travel hub (easily reachable from Monterchi by either car or bus). There are frequent express trains from Arezzo to the likes of Florence (30 mins by the fastest express) or Rome (1hr 16 mins by the fast train). Equally, if you have a car you are within easy day trip reach of all of the attractions of Tuscany, Umbria and the Adriatic coast. By car Rome is a direct route down the E45 Superstrada (2 1/2 hours), and on the way you can stop off at Perugia, Assisi or Todi.
If you don't want to venture too far then, depending on the season, you could either take a good book out onto the balcony and watch the world go by or close the shutters, light the wood stove (or turn on the heating for the less romantic!) and have a cosy and romantic night in and enjoy the peace of a perfect Tuscan village.
The area around Monterchi is a mixture of farmland (local crops are sunflowers and tobacco) and the wooded mountains of the Appenines. Popular towns include Caprese Michelangelo, La Verna, Poppi, Bibbiena, Umbertide, Citta di Castello and Gubbio. There are many natural parks within easy reach offering a vast range of waymarked walking, cycling and horseriding trails.
How to get there
Monterchi enjoys an excellent central location in northern Italy, perfect for combining Tuscany and Umbria but also within easy day trip reach of the coast and even Rome.
There are many airports within close reach. The nearest are Perugia, Bologna Forli, Ancona, Pisa and Rome Ciampino. There are numerous budget routes to those airports and any will do (although naturally we tend to find Ryanair cheapest and easiest, from Liverpool or Stansted). Any scheduled or charter airline to those airports, Florence or Rimini would be ideal.
You can get to Monterchi by public transport from most of these airports via Arezzo or Perugia but we would recommend a car if you want to see further afield and the roads are quieter this side of Tuscany. For car hire we have found Hertz (if accessed via Ryanair) cheapest.
Recently we have tended to get the fast train from Arezzo to Rome and then drive from Arezzo to Monterchi (c20mins). Alternatively, there are buses and coaches from Arezzo or Sansepolcro to Monterchi itself. We have also travelled from the UK on overnight train via Paris to Florence, which we'd definitely recommend as a fascinating alternative.
Being so close to nature at the cottage makes us very aware of the impact our travelling has. We’re trying to make the house as environmentally friendly as possible, we’re already trying to re-use, and recycle as much as we can and think about the things we buy like cleaning products and light-bulbs. The wood we use to heat the house comes from local sources and the forestry is managed responsibly.
We've also looked at carbon offsetting (originally the idea of planting new trees). Carbon offsetting is a relatively new, and controversial, area. It’s widely acknowledged that there’s no substitute for just not producing the emissions but we’d like to do what we can. Flying is the way that most of us get around Europe and it not only tends to produce high emissions but it also produces them high up in the atmosphere which causes more damage.
Frpm the information we could find it seems there is controversy over whether tree planting works. We therefore looked at something a bit broader, and which also had the appeal of a community/aid element too. For each person who books with us and gets to Italy by air we will contribute to the International Communities Portfolio from the Carbon Neutral Company. We thought this was a good way to make a positive difference to communities around the world. We’ll send you an email with the details (we thought the posting of a certificate might undo a little of the good work!)
If you’re travelling by car or train then we’ll give you a £5 discount from your bill unless you’d like us to contribute to the fund for you.
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Bologna Forli: 105 km
Railway:
Arezzo: 25 km
Ferry:
Ancona: 150 km
Activities near Arezzo
Sports: Tennis in town Watersports Horse Riding Golf within 30 mins drive Fishing
Great for: Walking holidays Rural / countryside retreats City breaks Cycling holidays
Facilities
Luxuries:
Log fire, DVD player
General:
Central heating, TV, CD player
Standard:
Kettle, Toaster, Iron, Hair dryer
Utilities:
Cooker, Fridge, Freezer, Washing machine
Rooms:
Bedrooms (2), Bathrooms (2)
Furniture:
Sofabeds (1), Double beds (2), Dining seating for 6, Lounge seating for 6, Sleeps maximum of 6
Other:
Linen provided, please check with the owner regarding towels.
Outdoors:
Balcony / Terrace, Bicycles available
Access:
Parking space
Further details indoors: The house itself is built on three storeys plus a cellar and attic. It has the advantage due to its height and position at the top of the village of great views and an open aspect.
Entering on the ground floor, there is a hallway with the kitchen (with wood burning Italian Aga-style cooker and gas cooker) and rich wooden ceiling. Across the other side of the hall is the second bathroom.
Taking the terracotta steps at the rear of the hallway leads to the first floor, with a good-sized living room and dining room, opening onto the balcony, which runs the length of the house. Both of the first floor rooms have beautiful tiled floors and C19th frescoed ceilings. The living room has a sofa bed for extra guests. There are stacks of guide books and historical books if you fancy finding out more about the area not to mention some great Italian cookbooks if you fancy cooking with some of the lovely fresh, local food from one of the many nearby markets.
A further set of wooden steps leads to the second floor, with a corridor, one double bedroom and one single bedroom with windows facing the church and village, and another bathroom with shower and a wonderful view clear over the rooftops to the Tuscan countryside below Monterchi.
The house has been completely redecorated and refitted for 2007.
Further details outdoors: Large balcony (suitable for dining for 2) with stunning view of the church of San Simeone and over Monterchi's city walls and gate to the countryside beyond.
Conditions
We ask for a £75 deposit on booking and the balance 8 weeks before your stay. Please see our personal website for further details and booking terms.
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: British £
Convert to:
Prices for group size 6
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
Summer Peak 2008
3 May 08
4 Oct 08
430£ 430
0-
0-
1 Week
Autumn Off Peak 2008
4 Oct 08
20 Dec 08
320£ 320
0-
0-
1 Week
Christmas Peak 2008
20 Dec 08
3 Jan 09
430£ 430
0-
0-
1 Week
Winter Off Peak 2009
3 Jan 09
4 Apr 09
320£ 320
0-
0-
1 Week
Easter Peak 2009
4 Apr 09
18 Apr 09
430£ 430
0-
0-
1 Week
Spring Off Peak 2009
18 Apr 09
2 May 09
320£ 320
0-
0-
1 Week
Summer Peak 2009
2 May 09
3 Oct 09
430£ 430
0-
0-
1 Week
Autumn Off Peak 2009
3 Oct 09
19 Dec 09
320£ 320
0-
0-
1 Week
Christmas Peak 2009
19 Dec 09
9 Jan 10
430£ 430
0-
0-
1 Week
83
Prices for group size 4
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
Summer Peak 2008
3 May 08
4 Oct 08
400£ 400
0-
0-
1 Week
Autumn Off Peak 2008
4 Oct 08
20 Dec 08
300£ 300
0-
0-
1 Week
Christmas Peak 2008
20 Dec 08
3 Jan 09
400£ 400
0-
0-
1 Week
Winter Off Peak 2009
3 Jan 09
4 Apr 09
300£ 300
0-
0-
1 Week
Easter Peak 2009
4 Apr 09
18 Apr 09
400£ 400
0-
0-
1 Week
Spring Off Peak 2009
18 Apr 09
2 May 09
300£ 300
0-
0-
1 Week
Summer Peak 2009
2 May 09
3 Oct 09
400£ 400
0-
0-
1 Week
Autumn Off Peak 2009
3 Oct 09
19 Dec 09
300£ 300
0-
0-
1 Week
Christmas Peak 2009
19 Dec 09
9 Jan 10
400£ 400
0-
0-
1 Week
83
Prices for group size 2
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
Summer Peak 2008
3 May 08
4 Oct 08
380£ 380
0-
0-
1 Week
Autum Off Peak 2008
4 Oct 08
20 Dec 08
290£ 290
0-
0-
1 Week
Christmas Peak 2008
20 Dec 08
3 Jan 09
370£ 370
0-
0-
1 Week
Winter Off Peak 2009
3 Jan 09
4 Apr 09
290£ 290
0-
0-
1 Week
Easter Peak 2009
4 Apr 09
18 Apr 09
380£ 380
0-
0-
1 Week
Spring Off Peak 2009
18 Apr 09
2 May 09
290£ 290
0-
0-
1 Week
Summer Peak 2009
2 May 09
3 Oct 09
380£ 380
0-
0-
1 Week
Autumn Off Peak 2009
3 Oct 09
19 Dec 09
290£ 290
0-
0-
1 Week
Christmas Peak 2009
19 Dec 09
9 Jan 10
380£ 380
0-
0-
1 Week
83
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 - PLEASE CONTACT US FOR DETAILS
Mid week or weekend bookings may be possible on request.
We are very happy to discuss discounts for multiple week bookings.
Clean bed linen will be ready for you on your arrival - what we ask is that you make your beds up when you arrive and then leave the bed linen in the laundry basket when you leave and leave the house clean and tidy. Towels can be provided on request.
Guestbook
We are proud of the house and have a policy of listing all guestbook comments in their entirety so you can see exactly what people thought. We can only put some on Holidyalettings but follow the link to our own website to see the rest. Thanks
9th-16th August 2008
Thanks so much for letting us stay in your lovely house. We have had a wonderful week, lots of rest, relaxation and great food in a fabulous setting. It's our first time in Italy and we will definitely be back! Thanks too for the great recommendations - we particularly enjoyed morning coffee and pastries at Bianchi's - what friendly people! We also managed to drive down to Castiglione del Lago and splash around in a ridiculously warm lake. Hope you like the wine (and we have also left you a few books to add to the collection)
Jackie & Rob
26th July – 9th August 2008
This is our second stay in Tuscany in Monterchi townhouse – we came back for more and stayed longer. Also our parents decided to have a holiday with us and greatly enjoyed Italy (apart from high staircases in the house, but we think a little cardiovascular would do no harm J). Thank you Rachael and David! We’ve had a lovely time.
Lyuda, Gavin, Lorraine, Geoff & Vic, England.
19th – 26rh July 2008
We have had a fabulous week here in Monterchi! Married 2 months ago this is the first (so my wife tells me) part of our honeymoon. What a place to spend Part 1! We particularly enjoyed Anghiari, which is simply stunning. The food at La Pieve Vecchia in Monterchi is a must.
It has also been fabulous to get on the bikes and ride, although it is difficult to avoid hills! A quirky, beautiful village (listen out for the snorer!). Thank you Rachael and David for letting us stay in your wonderful house. You really have thought of everything to make your guests comfortable.
Louise & Steve, Basel, Switzerland.
7th-14th June 2008
What a wonderful week we have had here in Monterchi. The mix of weather didn’t stop us enjoying all the area has to offer. Walked to Citerna and followed the route 10 walking route around Monterchi (views of the hilltop from all angles). Rides to Anghiari, Citta di Castello and Sansepolcro. Local hospitality great, especially with our 2 children (2 & 4 1/2 years). Enjoyed eating at Al Travato and the Vecchia Osteria. Great atmosphere down at the supermarket. Children enjoyed the playgrounds in Monterchi (down by the river), Anghiari and Citta di Castello (above the old towns). We’re all sad to be leaving such a welcoming, quiet pocket of Tuscany. May you all enjoy it as much as we have.
Dan, Jemma, Thomas and Yasmin Wyly, Tasmania.
September 2007 - Claire & Mark, Suffolk
We couldn’t have chosen a lovelier place to stay. We have had a fantastic week exploring this delightful part of Italy. After just one day here we found that we had completely unwound. The weather has been perfect – September seems an ideal time to visit this part of Italy. The house itself is well stocked with everything we needed.
August/September 2007 - Alex and Sue
This place will always be special to us, particularly because we got engaged at this house! We’ve had a fabulous week here in Monterchi, visiting local wineries and meeting the very hospitable Italians. The best times have been relaxing around Monterchi and enjoying the Italian life – especially the food! Wish we were staying longer… but I’m sure we will be back.
August 2007 - Yvonne, Olivier, Tiffany, Jessica
We’ve had an absolutely marvellous holiday in your beautiful house. Coming home to this peaceful village after a busy day in a large city was wonderful. We would have loved to stay another week, there’s so much to see and do. We feel we’ve just scratched the surface – we’ll just have to come back.
July 2007 - Lyuda, Gavin, Vicky and Laura
We’ve had a wonderful, most enjoyable holiday. The only mistake we made is booking 1 week only – 2 weeks would have been just perfect. Monterchi is a lovely place, very friendly people here. The house is located in a historical part of the town – it’s amazing to be part of the history (just for a short time)
July 2007 - Steve, Karin and Nia
Our first time in Eastern Tuscany and we certainly hope to return. Lovely house and village and although on Piero della Francesco trail it feels so unspoilt. So much to see nearby but also a good base to tour from. Loved having a supply of books, including the cookery ones. We made the porcini risotto from the G. Locatelli book with products all sourced locally – you can’t do that in Pembrokeshire!
July 2007 - John, Jackie and Jane
Great village with music in square in evenings, and ristorante nearby. Lbrary of books excellent, and kept us reading on the balcony.
June 2007 - Val and Ron
The perfect place to wind down and relax – a lovely house in a lovely spot. Perhaps we should have made the effort to see more ‘sights’ but we found the local pleasures and people were all we needed.
June 2007 - Claire and Kevv
We have just had the most wonderful and relaxing week here in Tuscany – Monterchi is and absolute delight – so peaceful and tranquil. An ideal, central location for touring the area.
Availability notes
To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/16177
Click to view availability for this property.
Contact owner
To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/16177
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