Location:Torre Alfina, Italy
Bedrooms:4 Bathrooms:3 Property Type:Vacation Home Sleeps:8
Amenities:CD Player, Cable/Satellite TV, Computer Access, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Full kitchen, Hair Dryer, Internet Access, Iron, Jacuzzi, Laundry, Linens, Microwave, Non-Smoking, Oven, Phone, Shower, Swimming Pool, TV, Towels, Wireless Internet AccessActivities:Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Restaurants, Sailing, Swimming
Description:This villa rental in Lazio is the perfect base for exploring the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside-- or as a quiet retreat after visiting nearby Rome or Florence. Spacious, comfortable, meticulously furnished, and centrally located, this Italian villa is your home away from home. Of course, we're guessing your real home doesn't have a view like this...! Whether you're exploring the Umbrian hill towns, tasting at Tuscan vineyards, or simply sitting under your own pergola enjoying la dolce vita, this Tuscan villa rental with a castle view is the place for you. n n[2,500 m2] Built in the 1920's, this villa rests on the edge of the medieval village of Torre Alfina, overlooking the Monte Rufeno Nature Reserve. At an elevation of 620 meters, the air is crisp and fresh, and the entire area enjoys wonderful views of the countryside of Latium, Umbria, and Tuscany. The house itself is surrounded by a garden, described as wild, yet contained. Here you will find mature trees, lavender, and grapes-- all blended together with colorful bursts of flowers. Depending on the time of year, the gardener/caretaker of thirty years will share fresh garden vegetables, and in the winter you can gather chestnuts to roast from the 150-year-old tree in the yard. The focal point of the garden is really the pergola, overhung with grape vines and providing an oasis of shade and hospitality. Here you can relax at the outdoor dining table [seats 12] and listen to the sounds of birds, braying neighborhood donkeys, and church bells tolling in the piazza. The garden also includes a wisteria-covered gazebo and a wine house with cellar. This villa also has access to a hotel pool located nearby. n n[275 m2] Inside this lovely villa, antiques lend old-world style and elegance, while plush imported mattresses and linens provide all the comfort you want on your holiday! Relax in the living room with Italian and English satellite TV or congregate in the dining room around the table and fireplace. You’,ll find yourself at home anywhere in the Villa. nGround Floor: In the comfortable living room you will find a couch and two overstuffed armchairs, along with Satellite TV and a DVD player with a small film library. The large dining room has a fireplace and a long table with seating for 12. A fully equipped kitchen includes a cook top, electric oven, microwave, and dishwasher. Also on the ground floor you will find one bedroom containing two single beds. Next to it is a bathroom with a sink, toilet, and shower. nFirst Floor: Upstairs there are three bedrooms, all of relatively equal size. The first bedroom has a 180 cm king-sized bed and an en suite bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower. The second bedroom has a 160 cm queen-size bed, and the third room contains two single beds. The second and third rooms share a bathroom with two sinks, a toilet, and a Jacuzzi tub with a handheld showerhead. n nThis villa sits virtually in the shadow of an impressive medieval castle in the village of Torre Alfina, located in the middle of the Etruscan Highlands. The village is built around the castle, which belonged to the Monaldeschi and Bourbon del Monte families in turn, until it was purchased by Edoardo Cahen in 1880. The village has excellent views and two wonderful restaurants that are very traditional in style. There are also two small groceries, two cafes, and a gelateria. Traditional festivals are held throughout the year [see Nearby Attractions, below], and something is always in season: flowers, vegetables, grapes, chestnuts, and pinoli [pine nuts]. This is also a great central location, convenient to many of Italy's best known destinations-- and some of its best kept secrets! It sits on the northernmost tip of Lazio [in Viterbo], a point that pushes right between Tuscany and Umbria so that all three regions are right at your doorstep. The villa borders the Monte Rufeno Nature Reserve, a vast expanse of forests and nature trails, great for walking or horseback riding. Just a few kilometers away you will find Lago di Bolsena, Europe's largest volcanic lake. Here you can participate in freshwater fishing, sailing, swimming, and sunbathing. A drive of a half hour to an hour will bring you to the towns of Civita di Bagnoregio, Orvieto, Pitigliano, Sorano, Sovana, and Viterbo, as well as the thermal springs of San Casciano dei Bagni. A larger radius of 165 km [75 miles] will put you within reach of Assisi, Florence, Gradoli, Gubbio, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Perugia, Pienza, Rome, and Spoleto. If you feel like a jaunt to the seaside, the Argentario, Capalbio, and the islands of Elba and Giglio are a little over an hour away. nFlorence: 173 km nRome: 156 km nAssisi: 110 km nSiena: 105 km nPerugia: 71 km nMontepulcian 66 km nSan Casciano dei Bagni: 35 km nLago di Bolsena: 25 km nOrviet 18 km nTorre Alfina: 50 meters n nAvailable Amenities: Complimentary local red or white wine, satellite TV, shared use of hotel pool, microwave, dishwasher, electric oven, washer, dryer, steam iron, 220v hair dryer in each bathroom, DVD player with small film library, CD player, international direct-dial phone, 2 cell phones for guest use [prepaid phone cards can be bought in tobacco shops and bars in town], linens and towels changed Wednesday and Saturday, Wednesday maid service, firewood as needed. A computer with wireless internet access is available for no extra charge. nUtilities included in the price of rental: Autonomous heating, water, electricity. nExtra Services: The following are listed as an aid for trip planning, the services and prices are approximate and cannot be guaranteed by Rentvillas. All extra services are payable locally in cash. n* Babysitting: on request n* Internet connection: on request n* Complete laundry service [wash, dry, iron]: 8 Euros/hour n* Daily maid/laundry service: 8 Euros/hour [min 2 hours/day] n* Various activities and excursions can be arranged with the on-site property manager. nNearby Attractions: Medieval castle, hiking trails, spa towns, Lago di Bolsena, Florence, Rome, small villages. nFestivals of Torre Alfina: n* Festa di S. Antonio, January 17 n* Festa di S. Barnardino da Siena, third Sunday in May n* Festa del Gelato, last week of July n* Festa Bucolica, first week of August n* Sagra delle Pappardelle al Cinghiale [Bowtie Pasta with Wild Boar Sauce], second week of August n* Festa della Madonna, first Sunday in September n* Santa Cecilia, November 22 nPlease Note: This is a non-smoking residence. nMinimum Stay: 7 nCheck-In: 4:00pm - 7:00pm