Villa Carmen

Can a Tuscan villa change your life? We think so. And so does Frances Mayes, author of the best-selling memoir Under the Tuscan Sun. In the book – later adapted into a film by the same name, starring Diane Lane and shot right here at Villa Carmen – Mayes purchases a charismatic but battered villa in the hilltop Tuscan town of Cortona and organizes its painstaking restoration. At the time Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed, Villa Carmen (called Bramasole in the film) was a perfect setting, with its well-aged patina mirroring the pre-renovation villa in Mayes’ story. Then, post-filming, Villa Carmen underwent its own loving restoration, so that others could have trans-formative experiences within its 17th century walls. A leisure estate comprised of a refurbished Villa, Farmhouse and Limonaia, Villa Carmen encourages a slower pace. A “paring down” of life to just a few essential ingredients: sunshine, time spent in green scenery (dappled vineyards, rolling hills, a mountain ridge, the villa’s fragrant gardens) and, of course, celebrating with family and friends over delectable food and wine.

At Villa Carmen, you can stretch out on a lounger by a pool in the gardens, on a hammock suspended between two fruit trees, or on a plush sofa underneath the Limonaia’s original, domed 17th century fresco ceiling. A hot tub bubbles in full view of sun-dappled mountains, and a game room provides billiards and board games. In-between games, nibble on some pizza fired in the authentic stone pizza oven. Each of the 10 bedrooms features its own en-suite bathroom, sweeping views across the Cortona valley and its verdant olive groves, and plush amenities like pillow-top beds wrapped in the highest thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and fluffy bathrobes and towels.

The Villa sleeps 10 guests in four large, first-floor bedrooms and one bedroom on the ground floor that’s a bit smaller. Each bedroom is infused with the subtle luxury of antique furniture and hand-woven fabrics. Four of these bedrooms feature a bathtub and shower; the other has a shower. All bathrooms boast gorgeous travertine floors and a selection of artisan, all-natural Italian grooming products.

10 BEDROOMS / 10 BATHROOMS

Features & Amenities - 

• Concierge
• Air-Conditioning 
• Fireplace 
• Wine Cellar 
• Audio System
• Balcony
• Barbecue
• Bicycle Storage
• Chef/Butler Available
• Organic Garden
• Microwave
• Olive Grove
• Outdoor Dining Area (Alfresco)
• Outdoor Spa
• Outdoor Pool
• Towels and linens
• Flat Screen TVs
• Vineyard
• Wifi
• Wood burning pizza oven

Villa Details - 

Farmhouse Bedrooms: Once a working farmhouse for holding livestock, this re-imagined building now accommodates eight guests in four luxury bedrooms. The carefully curated antique furniture and hand-woven fabrics complement the Farmhouse’s humble history. Flexible sleeping arrangements include one bed that can be separated into two twins or joined into a queen, as well as two queen-sized beds and one king. Each bedroom has garden views and its own bathroom with a shower; two of these bathrooms have bathtubs as well.

Limonaia Bedrooms: The remaining bedroom is housed in the Limonaia, where the estate previously stored its citrus trees through the winter. Take a deep breath and you may catch a hint of lingering citrus fragrance (though it may be wafting in from the garden just outside). A separate entrance, walk-out terrace with views of the valley, and a stunning 17th century fresco on the living room’s domed ceiling make this a Master suite unlike any you’ve ever seen.

Fully Equipped Chef-Style Kitchen:  Of course, we give careful attention to the cooking and eating spaces at Villa Carmen. The simple yet enchanting dishes of Tuscan cuisine deserve nothing less. Private Chefs are on hand to create culinary magic in the opulent, farmhouse-style kitchen with a grand center island. The cupboards are stocked with local, homemade products like marmalade, pasta, sauces, and oils. A year-round organic garden provides staple vegetables for our guests. When it’s time to feast, have a seat at the sprawling outdoor garden table underneath lush vines. Or, in the cooler months, tuck into the dining room table next to a flickering fire. In both dinnertime settings, wine from the stocked wine cellar is a must-have accompaniment.

Outdoor Living Areas: Dappled by lush greenery, the outdoor living areas include the estate gardens, fresh-air terraces, a farmhouse-style outdoor dining table, a Jacuzzi, and a sparkling pool. Each of these areas provides top-of-the-hill views of the Cortona valley and its mountain ridges.