CasaFontana-Mimosa

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Apartment |1 bedroom |Sleeps 4

Tavernelle di Panicale in Lake Trasimeno

From £347 per week

1 night minimum stay

Changeover Saturday

Be the first to write a review

Key info  Swimming pool, beach or lakeside relaxation, balcony/terrace, car essential, no pets allowed

About the home

Comfort, beauty and practicality – these were our aims when we designed this holiday apartment during the recent refurbishment of our old Umbrian farmhouse. An aim more than fulfilled, judging by all the positive comments from our guests last season.

A large patio ensures privacy for outdoor wining and dining or just sitting with your feet up. Indoors Mimosa is decorated in traditional Umbrian style, hand finished by local craftsmen. Its oak beams, terracotta tiles and white walls are complemented by stylish interior furnishings. Washing & Ironing kit, Cot etc, video/DVD available on request. Fax and internet as necessary.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
The lounge area has two deep armchairs that convert into comfortable beds and a dining table with four chairs. The kitchen is fully equipped with everything from dishwasher to salad crisper. To help you set up your self catering arrangements, your fridge and cupboard will contain breakfast basics and some condiments, though we also offer a full shopping service if you wish to get stocked up prior to arrival.

The bedroom has a large built in wardrobe and a substantial chest of drawers. We can provide a double or two single beds, please indicate your preference. The bathroom has a shower so spacious that we jokingly call it “the honeymoon shower”, a basin, a bidet and a lavatory. Plenty of towels (including pool towels) are provided as well as bed and kitchen linen, freshly changed weekly.

On the day of your arrival you will find a complimentary bottle of wine and an invitation to join us for welcome drinks. We shall be delighted to help you with tips and suggestions, such as forthcoming local events, to help ease you into a successful and happy holiday.

Further details outdoors:
Pool and Grounds
Pool

The pool is set on the first terrace behind the house and is a good size at 5x12 metres and 1.6 metres deep at the far end. Semicircles of Roman steps allow easy, shallow access to the water. There is a pergola with table and chairs for poolside refreshments (there is a cool-bag and plastic utensils in your flat). Plenty of loungers, cushions and shades make the pool the centre of recreation in the summer. You are truly part of nature here – do not be surprised if you are joined by a thirsty butterfly or a swift during your swim!

Grounds

Your apartment is part of Casa Fontana, a converted Umbrian farm house that sits in five acres of olive groves. We have not yet been able to make an exact count but we think we have somewhere in the region of two hundred olive trees. That’s a lot of Martinis!

The grounds are a series of terraces, climbing ever higher to provide increasingly panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. There is a copse of oaks that give shelter to wild boars in the winter and porcupines in the summer. In the spring bright yellow broom and wild flowers of every hue cover the slopes. There are plenty of edibles too, from wild asparagus to sweet golden figs. In the distance you can see huge birds wheeling lazily in the sky.

Summer Food and Art Tour 1 to 7 June guided and catered - gourmet

Summer nights are wonderful at the Casa. There is hardly any light pollution, affording a stupendous view of starry skies – a magnet to romantics and amateur astronomers alike. The moon is almost bright enough to read by, certainly suitable for a night walk! Perhaps the loveliest sight comes in May and June when hundreds of fireflies float and pulse all around the house at night, giving the trees and bushes a magical air.

Late Summer Food & Art Tour guided and catered -sumptuous

Autumn is a particularly cheerful time of the year, offering plenty of sunshine, strolls though golden forests and sumptuous seasonal specialities, such as game and truffles.

November is olive picking time, nature is generally kind and gifts us great weather so that the pickers often strip to T-shirts in the sun and we can have great picnic lunches sitting on the grass. There is nothing to compare the taste of freshly pressed olive oil: take a piece of crusty bread, dribble a little of the dark green oil on it and enjoy the peppery, nutty flavour. In the fullness of time the oil will mature, change colour and acquire a smoother, rounder flavour. The taste may change somewhat but one thing is certain – our oil has never met a chemical either during its tree life or during processing. It is full of antioxidants and other health giving goodness. Casa Fontana’s cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil is as good as it gets!

We offer short break ‘Olive picking Course’ and experience. Pick your break during 10th to 20th Nov.
Covers training, use of equipment, alfresco lunches, visit to olive press, tutored oil tasting, NEW pressed oil to take home (New Pressed oil is very different from the mature oil we are used to = more green, more peppery. Very different and only possible in the 4 weeks following pressing. Normal apartment rentals with picnic lunch included for the 'pickers'

Further details

Though unheated, the swimming pool is generally usable from mid-May to late September.

The grounds are terraced, very peaceful but not manicured to give shelter to wild flora and fauna. Suitable footwear is recommended.

Conditions

Conditions

A non refundable deposit of 30% is required on booking.
Full payment is to be received six weeks before the rental date. At that point you will receive your Welcome Pack containing directions, practical suggestions and a What’s On list.

Cancellation Policy
100% payable if you cancel less than six weeks before your holiday

Photos

 

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Hills to east from front of house

 

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Casa Fontana - west end and Mimosa Entrance

 

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CasaFontana (re-paved)Pool on the Terrace in the Grove

The Umbria region

The Umbria Region

“Cuore verde d’Italia” or the“Green Heart of Italy” is how Italians call Umbria. Here the harsher, drier landscape of Tuscany gives way to forest covered hills and mountains, the lower slopes dotted with vineyards and olive groves. The whole of the region seems like one great natural park, where human architecture has not so much intruded on the landscape as enhanced it. It is still very much the landscape you can see in the paintings of the great Renaissance artists, from Perugino to da Vinci.

Avenues of cypress trees lead to farmhouses hewn from local stone. Medieval towns perch precipitously on top of hills. They are great repositories of art and culture.

Though steeped in history, Umbria is very much a vibrant region of today with traditional events such as the Palios and the festas as well as the rather more modern Umbria Jazz and numerous contemporary art exhibitions.

Nowhere are regional traditions more jealously guarded than with regards to the local cuisine. Umbrians tut-tut at those pretentious Romans and Florentines, they much prefer honest local food prepared according to age old custom. Honest and local it may be, but Umbrian cuisine is certainly not lacking in sophistication, based as it is on truffles, game, guinea fowl, forest mushrooms and a great variety of vegetables. Umbrians lay claim to producing the best olive oil in the world and who are we mere foreigners to contradict them? To crown it all the slopes and valleys of the region nurture a good variety of grapes, producing some excellent wines.

The Lake Trasimeno / Tavernelle di Panicale area

Lake Trasimeno / Tavernelle di Panicale Area

Covering an area of 128 sq km, Lago Trasimeno is the fourth largest lake in Italy. It is a 15 minute drive from your apartment. There are some breathtaking views of its green blue waters from the high hills surrounding much of the lake. A popular pastime is to take a small ferry to one of its islands for lunch. For the more active, the lake offers a variety of water sports, such as sailing, windsurfing and diving. The centre of these activities is the lakeside spa town of Passigano. There are various beach resorts dotted around Trasimeno, the best being on the uninhabited island of Polvese.

The countryside around the lake is harmoniously shared between nature and agriculture. There are thick forests above the vineyards and olive groves which remain untouched except for the locals foraging for mushrooms, herbs, wild asparagus and other bounties of nature. They teem with wild boar, rabbits, and song birds of all kind. Even the rare porcupine and hoopoe bird can be glimpsed on occasion. There are many paths crisscrossing the area, suitable for gentle walks or long hikes. Mountain biking is popular, though you need to be super fit to cope with the steep climbs!

This is a wonderful centre for discovering art and architecture. In fact, according to a recent UNESCO survey, some 20% of the world’s cultural heritage is within a hundred km radius of the Trasimeno area! Florence, Perugia, Siena, Arezzo, Assisi, Orvieto, Gubbio, Spoleto, Chiusi, Cortona are all a comfortable daytrip from here. Apart from some of the best in medieval and Renaissance architecture, you can see works by such outstanding artists as da Vinci, Michelangelo, Piero della Francesca, Signorelli, Perugino and many others.

Those interested in good quality cuisine at reasonable prices will enjoy trying out the many excellent restaurants in the Trasimeno area. Most offer traditional cuisine, with dishes such as wild boar salami, truffles grated over fresh pasta, or crisp lamb on a bed of ruccola,. For wine lovers, there are the Strade del Vino or wine routes. It takes you past vineyards that offer tastings of the reds and whites typical of the area. Salute!

One of the great pleasures of the region are the many festas happening from spring to late autumn. This is an outdoor dinner and entertainment. The food is prepared by the locals and is invariably delicious as well as being extremely cheap. Some have a theme and all are a charity event manned by volunteers. The proceeds are used for a local community project. Some of the more notable ones are:
FESTIVAL OF THE TULIP (April)
ASPARAGUS FESTIVAL (April)
FISH FESTIVAL (June)
PALIO OF THE BOATS (July)
PALIO DEI TERZIERI (August)
WINE FESTIVAL (September)
FESTIVAL OF THE CHESTNUT (October)
FISHERMEN’S FESTIVAL (December)

Your Welcome Pack will contain up-to-date information regarding all our local village 'Festas' ( i.e. outdoor dinner and entertainment) that take place during your stay.

How to get there

CasaFontana-Mimosa What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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By Air: We are approx. 30 mins from Perugia airport (RyanAir via Stanstead). Also only 2 hours drive from 7 other airports with direct flights from the UK - Rome Ciampino, Rome Fiumicino, Pisa, Florence, Bologna & Bologna Forli and Ancona.
With Hertz and Avis Car hire in Chiusi and good train services from Rome and other cities. It is possible to avoid the motorway driving.

Car: It is essential to have a car when staying at Casa Fontana. Though there is a village within easy walking distance, there is no public transport.

The Casa is only half an hour from the A1 motorway exit or a little less from the mainline station at Chiusi

Activities near Lake Trasimeno

Guestbook for CasaFontana-Mimosa

“When booking on the Internet, you can never be sure the accommodation will be as described, but Casa Fontana more than met our expectations. Thank you for making us welcome, we would certainly recommend it to others and hope to be back one day” Kim and Neil, Blackheath

"The apartment is most comfortable and so well equipped, with a real attention to detail”
Diana and John, Cheltenham


We would love to return for more of the same.” Hank and Daphnis, Spokane, WA, USA

“Your beautiful home in its idyllic setting has given us a wonderful week.” Hector and Aileen, Paisley

“We are sad to leave this beautiful part of Italy and hope to return one day.” Alma and Kevin, Port Melbourne, Australia

Rental prices

Prices for group size 4
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Early Spring'12	7 Jan 12	31 Mar 12	347£ 347	0-	4747	Flexible
Later Spring	31 Mar 12	19 May 12	387£ 387	0-	0-	3 Nights
Early Summer '12	19 May 12	2 Jun 12	407£ 407	0-	0-	4 Nights
Full Summer '12	2 Jun 12	1 Sep 12	507£ 507	0-	0-	1 Week
Late Summer'12	1 Sep 12	13 Oct 12	407£ 407	0-	0-	3 Nights
Autumn & Olives'12	13 Oct 12	15 Dec 12	347£ 347	0-	4747	Flexible
Xmas'12 NewYear'13	15 Dec 12	5 Jan 13	417£ 417	0-	0-	3 Nights

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

In this current turn arround economy we recognise people want good prices. That's what we've done, also tried to make relaxing short breaks possible.

RyanAir, with Stanstead to Perugia flights on Fri and Sun make weekends practical, we're only 40 minutes from Perugia airport. (you could even try Assisi the afternoon you land, you can see the abbey from the airfield)

Group Bookings

2 apartments add prices together and deduct £50

All 3 apartments add prices together and deduct £110/

Also £100 OFF for holidays in April and October - now that is special

Half board 5th to 20th Nov if helping with Olive Picking

Mid week bookings available in Spring & Autumn.

Extra discounts available for bookings of over two weeks. - Please contact for details.

You can pay by £ cash or cheque into HSBC or by credit card via PayPall

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Contact the owner

* Required fields Please check the following errors: First name * Last name * Email *   Did you mean ""? Yes / No Phone number Arrival date Departure date   Ignore calendar - enquire anway No. of adults No. of children Message * Email me special offers and holiday ideas T&Cs

6 years listed You are contacting George Cockbill Landline +39 075 093 Mobile +44 07736 453038 Payment accepted Credit cards accepted PayPal accepted Languages spoken The owner is based in Italy and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2006. This apartment has so far received 0 reviews.

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