View of the house from the street
Something about the Cortona area:
Siena, Perugia, Assisi, Florence, Spoleto, Arezzo, and San Sepolcro (to mention only a few) are all within about one hour drive or less. Innumerable small hilltop towns, barely known to tourists, are within easy reach, waiting for you to discover them. Rome is two hours away. (Florence and Rome are also easily reached by frequent trains).
The part of Cortona where the house is located is extremely quiet. The house can be reached by foot from the center, or driving around the ancient walls and through an etruscan gate by car; parking is always available here. Camucia, a small town at the foot of the Cortona hill, can satisfy excellently all modern necessities, and is a five minute drive from Cortona. In addition there is one market day in Camucia and one in Cortona. Camucia has a weekly market and (of course) an excellent espresso and pastry shop.
The house is centrally heated (gas furnace) and it has running hot water in all the bathrooms. Linens are provided and a cleaning service can be obtained for a fee. Babysitting, cooking and cleaning can all be arranged for, if desired. A telephone is available for use; phone calls are paid for at the end of your stay.
A manager (British) and his Italian wife live nearby and will show you the house, welcome you, and take care of any problems that might arise.
San Cristoforo is used by me when I am in Cortona. Because I wish the feel of a private home to be maintained, the house has been furnished to give a sense of comfort and individuality. The entire house is furnished with antique furniture, modern beds, and modern appliances.
Ciao,
Giovanna
The newly restored house is located right in Cortona, at the top of the hill, next to an old church and across from an ancient fountain and piazza. It is built inside the base of an ancient watchtower, though the only visible indications of this are the great views and the 1-meter thick walls. It is situated in a quiet and residential area, but is only minutes walking (downhill easy, uphill steep) from the "downtown" area (coffee-shops, museums, cinema, theatre, shops for all your needs, and a weekly market).
The town of Cortona is within convenient driving distance of the great destinations of Tuscany and Umbria: Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Assisi, Perugia, Spoleto, and many more. Florence and Rome can be easily reached by train or car in about 1 and 2 hours, respectively.
Kitchen/living room
The house sleeps 6 comfortably. On the ground floor there is a large kitchen/living/dining area, which is always the center of action. From there, French doors lead to a lovely small garden which looks out onto an expansive view of Etruscan walls and the Tuscan hills beyond. This area communicates through a wide opening with a study/living area, where there is a desk and a sofa bed. This room has direct access to its own bathroom with a small shower, toilet, sink, washer/dryer.
Stone-paved patio
On the second floor there is a living room with a fireplace, plus a wonderful large master bedroom (queen bed) which has three windows, two of which look out onto the same expansive view; there is a private bathroom (shower).
