Sleeps | 7 |
Bedrooms | 4 |
Bathrooms | 2 |
Space | 1,614 sq. ft. |
Property type | villa |
Minimum Stay | 1 - 14 nights |
Enjoy a Tuscan experience on our organic farm, enchanting and cosy, it is nestled in the olive groves on a south-facing hillside, on the edge of the Apennines. During warm weather, stroll outside in the garden to sip your morning cappuccino and enjoy an amazing view of the lush Tuscan landscape. Sweet fragrant lavender, rosemary and thyme fill the air, find a comfy corner to sit and absorb the beauty around you and the sounds of the church bells pealing in the distance. In the summer months soak up the sun or enjoy the large pool. The facade of this three-story ancient watermill is built from the local sandstone, ‘Pietra Serena’ with it's soft ochres and greys. Lovingly kept, the villa retains its rustic charm. Your own private ground floor entrance leads into the two-story home. Try our prize-winning extra virgin organic olive oil made from our own hand picked olives.
We have solar panels that heat your hot water.
The rental property is spread out on 2 floors. Three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs and the kitchen, sitting room, master bedroom and bathroom on the lower floor. The semi basement floor is not included in the rental.
As the owners of an organic olive farm, we combine love of the land with the skill of artisans to produce award-winning organic extra virgin olive oil. Italy has been our home for many years, patiently spent restoring this property.
Louise is a qualified tour guide and offers visitors an authentic experience exploring the Tuscany and Umbria, she has been called a "renaissance woman" more than once, because of her passion for Italian history and culture. Winfried a retired teacher and an intrepid trail finder and can plan your stunning walks into the tuscan countryside.
We look for a profound understanding of the peoples who have inhabited this part of the world for thousands of years. Knowledge of conservation inspire us to keep our property an authentic tuscan home for our guests to enjoy.
Louise purchased this villa in 1970
Our view is particularly beautiful, we see olive groves in every direction that have given inspiration to many visiting artists and sculptors.
Our property has been in the family since the 70's and was bought as a family holiday home before deciding to it open up to guests. We have lovingly restored the house over the years with thought and care. It used to be a water mill that was used throughout the year to grind wheat for flour and the olives for oil,using a small horizontal water wheel under the house where part of the stream used to flow.
We have tried to keep all the old authentic features and blend them into the modern. Our sitting room still has its amazing, original open fireplace and stone kitchen sink! It is actually a heritage building.
A perfect balance between being close to shops and and feeling hidden away amongst the olive groves. There is a sense of feeling at home in a comfortable and cosy atmosphere where you can really enjoy your stay and live your Tuscan dream.
Unique benefits of our property
Our home is a working organic farm that considers the preservation of the environment a priority. Planting trees, mulching and a constant water conservation policy are among various eco friendly projects underway. We handpick our olives in October and November and always try to live harmoniously with Nature. We want to contribute to a green and sustainable environment for present and future generations.
With our very open and friendly attitude we hope to make you feel totally welcome and particularly cherish returning guests.
We run a working farm that takes the preservation of the environment very seriously. Planting trees and water conservation are among various eco friendly projects underway.
'Fantastico bellissmio.'
'Our third visit and it gets better every time!'
'Great house, great food and great weather.'
'We love your house and your hospitality, we will be back'
'We had such a wonderful stay at the Mulino. You have a beautiful home! Thank you for our tour! We enjoyed it so much. We will miss the horses and dear Coco the dog! .......I'm already planning my trip to come back.' Leslie & Matt
This lovely farmhouse within an organic olive farm makes for an idyllic Tuscan holiday. If you want to experience Tuscany and all it has to offer, this is the place to go. In addition to the charming house with the benefit of a pool, the picturesque views make for an amazing holiday. Louise and her daughters are fantastic hosts, they are truly accommodating and helpful. We had a wonderful holiday here, and were able to appreciate the wonders Tuscany has to offer, helped by Louise's amazing knowledge and hospitality. We can't wait to come back!
A special thank you to Louise Maciejewski and her English and Italian family that made me feel so at home. Lovely countryside scenery and villas can be found dotted around Tuscany but in the end it was the kindness, helpful assistance of the villa owners and the experiences with the people I met that made my trip a lifetime experience to treasure.
We very much enjoyed our stay in this lovely old house surrounded by beautiful Tuscan countryside. We woke to birdsong every morning and enjoyed dinners under the starlight. The pool was a great plus! There was plenty of room for a party of 7 (6 adults) and this was a great place to discover the region from. Louise was an attentive and helpful host.
The location, a short distance from Cortona, is absolutely wonderful. Surrounded by the lush hills of Tuscany, one quickly forgets the daily grind back in England. With beautiful walks all around, I was just as happy staying local as I was going into town, or further afield to Sienna or Perugia. There's a Spar shop at the end of the road, and a bar just across from there. We popped in a few times for a change of scenery. The house itself has all the basics you could need, with more than enough space indoors and out to never feel crowded. In fact, the grounds for the house itself are very spacious indeed. Oh, and there's a pool! The owners are lovely genuine people, and completely trustworthy. I heartily recommend staying here. Simply beautiful!
We couldn't have found a nicer place to stay for our short holiday in Cortona. Louise was very friendly and helpful and made us feel at home at once.
The house is beautiful, very clean and was perfect for us. The kids enjoyed the pool very much and had great fun.
It didn't feel like a holiday house, it felt like a real home and it was very well equipped with everything you might need.
Unfortunately our stay was too short this time, but we will sure be back!
I can recommend this quiet and welcoming house to everyone, both young and old!
We booked this rather late in the season and were incredibly lucky with the weather; it was warm and sunny all the way into November. The house is big with its own pool and olive groves above and below and stunning views. It’s tucked away so you get that ‘far from the madding crowd’ feeling but also a short work to the nearest pizzeria and 4 (ish)miles to Cortona, next door is Camucia where there is a direct train to Florence (in under an hour). There are lots of things to do and see – you don’t need a car as there is a bus at the bottom of the hill . . . . . but I’d advise hiring one. The owner Louise and her daughters made us incredibly welcome – they were in the midst of olive picking which they did by hand and, despite my botched attempts to help, they were kind enough to share some of this liquid gold with us! They made us feel totally at home and the house is a put your feet up and relax place, no pretentions, it feels like a home from home that has grown organically over time as opposed to a ‘rental’ place with no character. This is an ideal place to do as little or as much as you like. I’d highly recommend it and am returning in September 2014 for a fortnight. Thank you Louise and family.
Special interest holidays:
We have had years of experience organizing outings and entertainment for our guests. Day trips to cities include Montepulcino, Montalcino, Pienza, Siena, Assisi, Florence, Gubbio, Arezzo and Sansepolcro and are all close enough to explore. For shoppers, the large Valdichiana outlet village famous for it's Italian designer retailers and the gold factories (in Arezzo) are 35 mins away. We offer to arrange the following activities or services - horse back riding, guided tours of the area and neighbouring towns, day trips out hiking in the Apennines or by the lake, wine tasting, olive oil-tasting and a visit to a traditional olive oil mill. An experienced chef can be booked to prepare a traditional Tuscan meal for you and cooking lessons too. Guided tours of local museums. It can all be tailor made for you! How about Yoga lessons in your garden at sunset? All on request and subject to extra charge. Why not get married in Cortona - We can arrange weddings for couples in the exquisite town hall.
Coast/Beach:
2 hours drive to the sea. 35 minute drive from the beaches on Lake Trasimeno where you can enjoy the beach or try a boat ride to the islands for the day!
Travel:
Car hire is strongly recommended but shopping and eating out can also all be done on foot so intrepid walkers can do without. Perugia 45 mins, Florence 90 mins, Pisa 120 mins, Rome 120 mins.
Distances:
Cortona 5km, Lake Trasimeno 10km, Arezzo 20km, Montepulciano 30km, Montechiello 35km, Pienza 40km, Lucignano 40km, Siena 55km, Florence, 85km.
Further Details:
Once part of the Etruscan kingdom of Etruria, this is countryside steeped in mystery. The Tuscan Umbrian border area still holds secrets that archaeologists and historians are still unravelling. Due to recent finds Cortona, our nearest town, has become home to the biggest Etruscan museum (the MAEC) outside the Villa Giulia in Rome. We are close to Lake Trasimeno where Hannibal the infamous Carthaginian general had his famous victory over the Romans in 217 B.C. Today the lake is a delightful place to visit for picnics and boat trips to the Islands. Just outside Cortona lies one of the most precious medieval monasteries built on the rock cave where Saint Francis sought shelter during his numerous trips through Cortona. The local, supermarket, pizzeria, restaurant, bar and clothes shop are within 10 minutes walk. The closest banks are in Cortona or Camucia, a 10 minute drive away. Things To Do in Cortona. Cortona offers a huge variety of cultural events such as:
“The Archaeological Week” includes guided tours, theater, plays and evening events. The “Cortona Dance Vintage Festival” is dancing in the piazza. “Festival di Musica Sacra” is classic organ music set in our beautiful churches as well as a few yearly Gospel concerts. "Cortona on the Move" is a very extensive photographic yearly event with shows and workshops.
There are always new Art shows in the local galleries too.
Fees | No additional mandatory fees |
Refundable damage deposit | $245.76 |
Stay tax | $2.46 per night, per person. This amount will be due to the owner upon arrival. Does not apply to children under 12 years. |
Changeover Day:
Arrival departure day Saturday though we are very flexible! Check-in between 16.00-21.00pm. Check-out before 10.00am (all unless otherwise agreed).
Notes on prices:
Winter lets are negotiable according to the length of the rental period. Prices are for the property per week in Euro. There is a 10% discount for booking more than 2 weeks.