Villa Le Contesse sleeps 6+2 people in three bedrooms with three bathrooms and another four people in two annexes (Serenella & Limonaia), each with it's own living room, kitchenette bathroom and bedroom. It nestles in the immediate out skirts of Cortona, one of the many fabulous villas and stately mansions built in this prosperous part of Tuscany in the preceding centuries.
Protected from above by Etruscan walls, Villa Le Contesse, with its 250 square meters of living space, looks down upon the Ghibelline battlements of the tall tower of the princely renaissance estate of Palazzone and then out over the immense Val Di Chiana.
The feeling of the villa can be summed up by the plaque that lies at the foot of the well in the entrance courtyard. It says 'Salve' which in Italian means a friendly but polite hello.
ACCOMODATION: The main villa is approached by a long gravel drive lined with mature Laurel hedges. It has rows of French windows with long dark green shutters that open to the garden at all sides. Carved Pietra Serena surrounds the doors and windows and the plastered face of the villa is set with 10 grinning gargoyles that benignly observe the surrounding garden.
Inside the villa one encounters the staircase to the upper floors and to either side the various sitting rooms and dining room that all open on to the garden via the French doors and are open plan one to the other. All the down stairs rooms have beautiful chestnut beams in the ceilings.
The small sitting room has a huge fireplace and several armchairs with tables that would be perfect for playing cards or taking tea. The other has more comfortable sofas, a glass coffee table, a Persian carpet and the television. It is also graced with a recently hand painted Fresco. It leads directly through to the dining room, which in turn leads to the kitchen.
From the kitchen one does a U turn through the maid's room (no longer in use) to a bathroom with gold plated taps and very impressive burgundy tiles. Every bathroom in the house has been designed with a luxurious feel.
The kitchen makes extensive use of marble and has a dishwasher, electric oven, full size fridge/freezer and a toaster. The coffee is made Italian style in a stovetop mocha. There is a breakfast table.
Upstairs the floors are wooden parquet. There are more French windows that open directly on to the back garden taking advantage of the steep incline. The stair case divides mid way, to the right one finds a double bedroom with large bathroom with shower. To the left are two double bedrooms sharing a bathroom with a bath. One of these bedrooms has a large walk in changing room/wardrobe and a small fireplace.
All the rooms are decorated in a rustic but elegant style in harmony with the age of the villa and it's location, there are many antique pieces through out.
The Annexes: Are each set into the hill facing the sunset view and have their own private out door eating area.They each have one bedroom and bathroom and a combined kitchen /living area with French doors to a terrace. They are furnished in traditional rustic style with some antique pieces and share the grounds, pool and laundry with Villa Le Contesse.
PLEASE NOTE: the outbuildings can be rented (with an additional cost) together with the villa for a total of 10 people. Alternatively they can be rented separately sharing some outdoor spaces, including the pool.
GARDEN & SWIMMING POOL: The grounds are extensive, comprising 2 hectares of mature and well-tended garden and parkland with small fountains, niches with classical statuary and overlooks hidden in unexpected places. The moss-covered walls are sprawled with creeping vines and ivy and terracotta urns on pedestals overflow with brightly coloured geraniums. Steeply terraced, there are shady lichen covered staircases giving way to olive groves and vineyards.
The pool (9.5 x 4.5, depth 1.30 meters) has been constructed down the hill on it's own terrace so that people playing noisy games will not disturb those taking a siesta in the villa or in either of it's annexes. It is approached by a graceful sweep of wide but shallow steps and has the same fantastic views as the rest of the property.
Attached to the end of the main villa but accessed from the garden is a laundry with washing machine and ironing facilities.
