Podere Trevinano

Come restore your senses at Podere Palazzo, a very special country villa at the border of Tuscany, Umbria & Lazio, between Rome and Florence, and situated in one of the most charming areas of central Italy. Located atop a hill with expansive views, this vacation home is surrounded by the unspoiled beauty of the rural Tuscan landscape with its magnificent oak woods, peaceful pastures, classic olive orchards and vineyards, and delightful medieval towns. Podere Palazzo has been beautifully restored in 2007 with the help of skilled local craftsmen and combines the beauty of a traditional stone farm house with the best of modern Italian design to create a unique blend of the old and the new. This spacious and airy villa can serve as a home for a family or a group of friends who want to explore the beauty and history of central Italy or enjoy outdoor acitivities.

The price of rental includes gas, water, electricity, Wifi internet, bed linens, bath & hand towels, pool towels, soaps, shampoos and detergents. It also includes final cleaning, 1 midweek cleaning, use of all appliances and equipment. All windows have insect screens.

5 Bedrooms/4.5 bathrooms

Details & Amenities

• Country villa with 5 bedrooms & 4.5 baths (3 en suite)
• Accommodates 10+2: 8 in king beds, 2 in twin beds, 2 in extra
• 3 fireplaces & central heat
• Portico, al fresco dining for 10
• Heated pool, private grounds Pond, outdoor lounges & hammocks
• Organic vegetable garden, olive & fruit orchards
• Breathtaking 360 deg. views
• Outdoor fireplace and BBQ
• Washer & dishwasher
• Gourmet kitchen with gas stove, oven, microwave, espresso machine, toaster
• Ceiling fans in all bedrooms
• Hair dryers, iron/board
• Wi fi internet, Mp3 player, TV, dvd player, stereo, speaker system, books & games
• Maid service
• Parking, wheelchair accessible

Views

Podere Palazzo sits atop a hill with 360 degree views of the complex landscape formed by a unique geological history, Etruscan settlements, and medieval towns with their rich tapestry of cultivated fields.

To the east, the lush woods of the Monte Rufeno Regional Park, composed of a mixture of oak, elm and pine trees, descend to the valley of the Tirolle River below. At the southern end of the park are working farms with olive groves and cultivated fields overlooking the valley of the Paglia River.

The view to the southeast expands dramatically across the Paglia Valley and the volcanic plateau beyond where the town of Acquapendente and the crater of Bolsena, the largest volcanic lake in Europe, can be seen. The valley is rich with vineyards, olive groves, and sunflower fields, all beautifully framed by the lush vegetation of the plateau.

The town of Proceno sits on a tufa rock directly south of Podere Palazzo, surrounded by fields typical of the Alta Tuscia region. To its west is Monte Civetta overlooking the Paglia Valley and the Roman road known as the Cassia, which is still used today as a main thoroughfare. In addition, the Via Francigena, the medieval pilgrimage route connecting Canterbury to Rome and Jerusalem, passes through the valley. Pilgrims still follow this ancient path.

Directly west of the house is a nearby hill which offers more cultivated fields and the view of other restored poderi. This strategic hilltop was the site of an Etruscan settlement.

The views to the north are unique: a picture book valley with stone farmhouses and a system of cultivated fields, pastures and oak woods, topped by the medieval town of Trevinano with Monte Cetona beyond. The serenity of this valley takes you back in time and is so soothing to the eyes that you might just want to sit down to take it all in.

House

The house, an old stone farmhouse from the late 1700’s, was part of a rich system of poderi that cultivated the land for the noble landowners from the nearby towns of Proceno and Trevinano since the middle ages. Abandoned since the 1950’s, it was purchased in 2005 and fully restored in 2006-2007 with the goal of preserving its beauty and its rightful place in the landscape, while converting it into a residence with all modern comforts. The restoration was a labor of love which combined an ambitious design with the passion and talent of local craftsmen who worked non-stop for one and a half years to bring Podere Palazzo back to life. The structure has been restored in the traditional Tuscan style reusing the original stone and other materials, complemented with new terracotta bricks and chestnut beams, all manufactured locally and by hand.

Grounds, Garden, Pool

The grounds encompass four acres carved out of several hundred acres of sheep pastures and woods. An old existing pond south of the house was restored to become an open air cistern fed by a deep well for the new irrigation system. By taking advantage of the century old oak trees around it and by creating a new gravel terrace overlooking the Paglia Valley below, the pond is now a restful and shady oasis with hammocks for relaxing on hot summer days. A newly planted olive grove, with over 60 plants right beneath the pond, restores Podere Palazzo’s former agricultural glory and beauty. Cypress and elm, wild pear and apple trees, wild plum and rose bushes define the driveway from the main road.

The pool is built with a double infinity edge to allow for the full enjoyment of the surrounding views. It measures a generous 5 x13 meters [16 x43 feet] and has a comfortable shallow area for children and non- swimmers. It is flanked by a large stone patio with comfortable sun beds for tanning, reading, or napping.

Living, Dining & Library

The main entrance to the house features arched French doors which open into a large and comfortable living room with views of the medieval town of Trevinano. It is furnished with two large sofas set in front of a large, modern wood burning fireplace and across from a credenza with satellite TV and DVD player, as well as a stereo with an MP-3 player connected to a built-in sound system.

The dining room shares its views of Trevinano with the living room and has arched French doors opening onto a patio which overlooks the infinity pool and the verdant woods of Monte Rufeno across the valley. The dining room seats twelve around a rustic table and includes a sitting area with library.

Portico & Kitchen

From the dining room, down a bright hall that accesses a portico and a powder room, there is a modern gourmet kitchen with travertine stone counters and sink, gas cooktop, oven, refrigerator with freezer, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine. The kitchen island generously provides seating for five. A set of French doors opens onto a large portico for al fresco dining. All the windows and doors have southern and eastern exposures that fill the kitchen with light throughout the day.

A special feature of the house is a 10 meter (30 foot) long portico with stunning views of Monte Rufeno and the valley of the Paglia River. The custom stone table which seats twelve is a great place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A wood-burning fireplace allows for outdoor cooking. There is also a comfortable seating area that is the perfect place for reading a book or sipping a glass of wine.