Surrounded by over 5 hectares of mixed oak/chestnut forest and 120 ancient olive trees, Casa Cattani enjoys superb views and total seclusion, peacefulness and privacy. But, perched within walking distance of the village of Mercatale, it is close enough for you to feel part of village life.
From the front terrace, with its peaceful rural views over the Niccone Valley, you enter the farmhouse into the large soggiorno, (kitchen/dining room) located in the oldest part of the house (about 14th century). This room contains a full kitchen, dining area, a wood-burning slow-combustion stove, and a walk-in pantry. The kitchen is well equipped and includes:
full stove with 4-burner gas cooktop and electric multi-function oven, and extractor hood
large fridge with separate freezer
dishwasher (by 2012)
toaster, microwave, handmixer
front-loading washing machine (in separate laundry area in 2012)
walk-in pantry with stock food items
CD stereo with a small supply of both classical and popular CDs
Also on this ground floor is the modern luxury bathroom, and the second small bedroom with twin beds.
Up the terracotta stairs from the soggiorno are the two main bedrooms and the large lounge.
The enormous master bedroom, with a Queen sized bed, is filled with light. This room has ample space for use also as a study, or just for peaceful reading in the heat of the day, and enjoys panoramic rustic views south and east over the forested hillsides and the agricultural valley below.
The lounge, or salotto, opens through French windows to a small patio at the top of the recently restored external stone stairs. The salotto contains comfortable sofas, an open fireplace, bookcases, a plasma TV with satellite channels, and a multi-region DVD player.
Casa Cattani is furnished comfortably but not antiseptically like a show home - it feels like a well-loved and comfortable family home because it is one. The owners want you to feel as if it were your home for a short while, and for your stay to be relaxing and memorable.
Features
3 bedrooms
1 bathrooms
2 living areas
Fully equipped kitchen
Laundry facilities
Large paved terrace
Outdoor furniture and umbrella
Inclusions
Central heating to all rooms
Electric fan
SKY TV which includes all the main Italian channels, BBC World and the usual SKY suspects!
multi-region DVD player - so bring a few of your favourites if you wish
a selection of fiction and non-fiction books including many guides and maps to the local Provinces and towns
Guides to the extensive local walking trail network
Slideshow and Video
Please click here for a slideshow presentation on the property and enjoy this video overview of the property below.
Rental rates
(Tariff quoted in Euros)
Most bookings normally run weekly Saturday 5pm to Saturday 10am, but other periods can be catered for by special arrangment dependent upon existing bookings.
Prices:
1,000 Euros - May 28 -Sept 16 2011 inc. cleaning
900 Euros - other seasons (Spring or Autumn - closed winter) inc. cleaning
NB if you need the central heating it is 15 Euros extra per day
Summer rate in 2012 will be Euros 1,100/week.
Location
Casa Cattani is set at the head of the beautiful Niccone Valley, with its twin villages of Lisciano Niccone (in Umbria) and Mercatale (just over a kilometre down the hill in Tuscany).
There is an excellent range of shops in Mercatale - it is a real working Italian village with few pretensions, and you will find no one speaks any English. But the goods are arranged well, it is self service, prices are marked, and the shopkeepers very friendly.
The Mercatale shops include:
2 x alimentari (supermarkets) - selling a wide variety of most foodstuffs, including fresh milk, dairy and vegetables;
An excellent baker/patisserie - who also sells an excellent tiramisu - they usually have wholemeal and wholegrain bread;
3 x banks with ATMs
3 x bars - our 'local' being Bar Sheila which you can actually see from the front of the house
2 x very good butchers (the local delicacy - Porchetta - roast suckling pig is available Thursday afternoons)
Bigger supermarkets (The Co-op) are situated in Umbertide (20 mins)(market day Wednesday morning) and Camucia - near Cortona (20 mins)(market day Thursday morning), or at the largest regional shopping centre at Collestrada just off the freeway on the outskirts of Perugia on the way to Assisi.
Casa Cattani offers an ideal haven and a convenient base to explore the rich history, culture and wild landscapes of Umbria, the Marches and western Tuscany. The ancient market towns of Umbertide (Umbria) and Cortona (Tuscany) are only 30 minutes drive away, while 45 minutes drive will take you to the spectacular hilltop Etruscan city of Perugia, the Provincial capital, and the location for one of the world's premier jazz festivals (Umbria Jazz).
