Cortona holiday farmhouse rental, Mercatale di Cortona with walking, beach/lake nearby, disabled access, balcony/terrace, rural retreat

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Casa Cattani (farmhouse)

Home description

This charming south-facing historic stone farmhouse dates back over 700 years when it formed part of the estates of the Castello di Pierle. Surrounded by over 5 hectares of mixed oak/chestnut forest and 120 ancient olive trees, Casa Cattani enjoys both superb views, and total seclusion, peacefulness and privacy, despite being so close perched above the village of Mercatale that one feels part of village life. Below, at the head of the rural and tranquil Niccone Valley, lie the twin villages of Lisciano Niccone and Mercatale, with all the facilities one needs in a holiday. Distant views extend across the forested hills of Umbria and Tuscany to the hilltop towns of Castel Rigone and Preggio.
Activities suitable for your stay at Casa Cattani can include:
• property based explorations of the woods, the terraced olives, the ravine with its delightful waterfall (at times), including encounters with the local wildlife such as birds, badgers, deer, hedgehogs and, in early summer, myriads of fireflies at dusk;
• reading, painting and generally just unwinding with a glass of cold Orvieto Classico;
• explorations further afield to ancient narrow-street hilltop towns of Tuscany and Umbria;
• excursions (train is recommended) further afield to Orvieto, Rome and Florence;
• drives and walks into the Green heart of Umbria and the wilder parts of the Appennines;
• soaking up sunshine, water and gelati at nearby Lake Trasimeno (Italy’s second? largest lake), or taking the ferry to its fascinating and historic islands;
• or take some of the many music and cultural festivals that are taking place in virtually ever village and town throughout summer; and,
• sampling the mouth-watering local cuisine and visiting vineyards.

Casa Cattani	Approach to Casa Cattani with olive pickers
Front terrace looking over to wooded hills	Lounge and main living area

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/30096

The Tuscany region

Casa Cattani is located in the headwaters of the beautiful and peaceful Niccone Valley, on the borders of Tuscany and Umbria. This narrow agricultural valley is glorious in late summer with the dark green of the tobacco crop contrasting with the pale yellow of the wheat and the deep yellow of the sunflowers, while the steep slopes of its sides are clothed in oak and chestnut woodlands. While sited in the countryside, thus ensuring peace and tranquility, Casa Cattani looks over the nearby small village of Mercatale,which can be reached by a short walk of one and a half kilometres.

The lands upon which Casa Cattani stands, once formed part of the estates of the Pierle Castello, and were farmed by 'contadini' (tenant farmers) since the 13th century. Olive groves are commonplace, and one frequently sees flocks of sheep kept mainly for their milk which produces the excellent local 'pecorino' cheese. The retreating German army at the end of the 2nd World War passed right past Casa Cattani, to avoid travelling up the main Tiber Valley to the east held by the Allies.
Florence is about an hour's drive away, but parking is a nightmare so we recommend taking the train from Terontola (15mins from Casa Cattani), leaving the car there safely, and being hassle-free in Florence. There are wonderful old convents in the centre of Florence where good quality en suite accommodation can be obtained very cheaply (talk to the owners for more info).
Rome is further afield, but would again recommend going by train, a two and a half hour journey, from Terontola.

Cortona / Mercatale di Cortona area

The whole region is full of fascinating ancient hilltop fortified villages and towns, most within a comfortable hour or two's drive. Most of these towns and villages have wonderful small restaurants to sample to local Tuscan and Umbrian fare (In Italy, unlike many countries, what you get in the countryside is only the cuisine from that region). Our website provides a local restaurant guide.

Mercatale di Cortona, and its sister village of Lisciano Niccone acroos the river in Umbria, are unprepossessing but genuine Italian working villages, inhabited almost totally by locals. Our website gives you detailed information on the amazing range of shops and services available in such small villages.

Local market towns are Umbertide (in Umbria, a short 20mins drive down the beautiful Niccone valley) or Cortona (in Tuscany a 20 mins drive in the opposite direction). Cortona is ancient and quaint and absolutely packed full of American tourists in summer. But good value can be obtained from the local very large weekly market in the adjacent town of Cammucia (down in the valley of the Val di Chaina below Cortona), where all the locals shop. Umbertide's market is also excellent and cheaper - as are most things in Umbria as compared to Tuscany.

Perugia is our nearest city, about 45 mins drive away along the autostrada (either the one going north-south down the Tiber valley - access point Umbertide: or the east-west one running along the northern shore of Lake Trasimeno - access point Tuoro). This is a wonderful hilltop city dating back to Etruscan times (whose relics can be seen in the city walls or in the subterranean catacombs) with all the style and elegance of any major Italin city. Fabulous restaurants, great views, great art collection, churches etc - and the Annual internationally renowned Umbrian Jazz Festival every July. An event not to be missed with world greats playing.

Lago di Trasimeno is Italy's second largest lake and a popular location for summer tourists with boating, sandy beaches and lots of cafes. The ferry rides to the interesting islands, famed for their artisanal lace work, are highly recommended.

How to get there

For UK holidaymakers I suggest Ryanair to Perugia where usual car hire companies can supply - or to Rome, thence hire car or alternatively by train to Perugia station where car hire is available (at least Maggiore - the major national Italian car hire firm).
For Australians I strongly recommend RenaultEuroDrive who supply brand new cars at a fraction of normal hire prices BUT must be booked and paid for in AUD$ in advance in Australia. Pickup and dropoff is free from French cities (Nice is nearest), but there are charges for pickup/drop from Milan or Rome.

Activities near Cortona

Facilities

Further details indoors:
Turning one’s back on the bucolic vista from the front terrace, one enters the farmhouse under an ancient vine into the large living room located in the oldest part of the house (14th century). This large room contains the kitchen, the dining table and comfortable lounge seating. Also on this ground floor is the fully modern luxury bathroom (with shower, bath, WC, bidet and washbasin). Next to the bathroom is the smaller twin-bedded bedroom. Up the terracotta stairs lies the enormous master bedroom with queen-sized bed. Filled with light, this room has ample space for use also as a study or studio for those artistically inclined, or just for peaceful reading in the heat of the day, and enjoys panoramic views south and east over the hillsides and to the villages in the valley below. Casa Cattani is furnished extremely comfortably but not like a show home – it feels like a family home because it is one. We want you to feel as if it were your home for a short while, and for your stay to be totally relaxing and immeasurably memorable. We ask all visitors to restrict any smoking to outside. The remainder of the house has been restored but is currently unfurnished: sole occupancy is assured.

Further details outdoors:
Large terrace with mountain and forest views.
Outdoor table, chairs and loungers and umbrella all available
Walks through olive grove to woodlands, hillsides and waterfall close by

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Summer	30 Jul 08	28 Sep 08	850£  664	0-	0-	1 Week
Winter	28 Sep 08	25 Apr 09	750£  586	0-	0-	1 Week
Summer	25 Apr 09	3 Oct 09	900£  703	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.

Shorter periods (i.e. weekends) available by prior arrangement

payment by direct transfer to Italian account or other means by arrangement

Availability notes

To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/30096

Contact owner

To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/30096

Contact details for home 30096 Please mention Holiday Lettings
Name:	John Hibberd
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Advertiser joined: 7 Jun 2007 This property added: 7 Jun 2007

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