Casa Celestiale is a traditional farmhouse restored in 2019 to high standards. Situated up in the hills on the Umbrian Tuscan border, just beyond the hilltop town of Montone. The house is super private and quiet with panoramic views across the unspoilt Carpini Valley, providing the perfect get away for a multi generation family holiday in the green heart of Italy.
The house sleeps 12 in 6 spacious oak beamed bedrooms. With traditional cotto floors throughout and thick old stone walls summer evenings are cool with only the need for a fan on a warmer night. The main master suite has an open fireplace and new en-suite bathroom with roll top bath, separate shower and double basin vanity. There are views over the pool and french windows that open towards the south west to Mount Acuto. The second double bedroom has an en-suite with spa bath and shower and is adjacent to a twin room with its own shower room and is an excellent family suite with a door at the end of the corridor making it quiet and private. The third double has an en suite shower room and its own private external staircase entrance making it a perfect romantic hideaway. French windows look down over the pool and to the mountains in the east. The final 2 twin rooms are on the ground floor, just up some steps from the kitchen and they share a bright shower room. These rooms are an ideal teenage refuge or great for independent younger kids and our girls' favourites.
We have a travel cot and put-up bed perfect for an extra child by arrangement.
The house has 2 big living rooms - next to the kitchen and on the upper floor. Both have big comfy sofas infront of old stone fireplaces with Jøtul wood burners. There is a well stocked library (games and puzzles for all ages) a TV for watching local stations and big selection of DVD's, so there's lots to keep everyone occupied indoors.
The kitchen is fully equipped with a big ILVE 6 burner, double oven range, two dishwashers and an American style fridge/freezer. The huge marble island is perfect for pasta making and communal cooking, herbs can be picked right outside the kitchen door. We have a good selection of cook books and well stocked kitchen but it you fancy a night off, you can book a cook!
Step out of the big kitchen onto the wisteria covered loggia to eat your breakfast, wander down under the olive trees to the big salt water infinity pool (15x6m, 2m at the deep end) The Pool House has its own kitchenette with an old marble sink reclaimed from the house, glasses, plates & cutlery, a small fridge for chilling drinks & snacks to enjoy poolside on a sun lounger or on the sofas where you may find yourself later in front of the open fireplace with the glowing golden light across the valley. Days will slide by with family and friends who can take advantage of the big garden to find their own spaces - sunrise yoga poolside, doze in a hammock in the shade of the big old fig trees, read a book after a long relaxed lunch under the jasmine pergola or take a stroll through the olive grove. For the more energetic play bocce or badminton. Venture outside the garden onto the beautiful paths that lead off into the surrounding countryside to discover magnificent views and cool woodlands for wonderful walks to reconnect with the nature that surrounds the garden.
Delight in beautiful summer evenings eating around the big wooden table out under the stars with the scent of jasmine from the pergola. In June the fireflies are magical and star gazers will love the Milky Way stretching across the night sky.
For the more energetic, walkers & runners will delight in the numerous well marked white trails and may be rewarded with the wildlife to be found in the oak woods around us. Wild flowers abound in the spring and early summer months. A good walk from the house along a dramatic ridge to the 9th century Rocca d'Aries is not to be missed with views to Montone and along the Upper Tiber Valley. This takes about 40 mins to reach and is a beautiful walk.
The magical hilltop town of Montone is only 15 minutes drive away and has a good variety of places to eat, from top restaurants to pizzeria and best gelato at the Aries Bar in the piazza. Take a day trip to one of the many amazing medieval towns nearby packed with history and a multitude of churches and art galleries - Assisi, Gubbio, Perugia, Arrezzo & Cortona are only 45-60 mins away, Florence and Siena make great day trip and can be reached in under 2 hours.
Go horse riding, hiking, mountain biking, play golf or drive to Lake Trasimeno for water sports. There are many festivals throughout the year in the local towns which are not to be missed! Seasonal truffle hunting can be arranged - the big Truffle festival in Pietralunga in the Autumn is fantastic. The local wines are definitely worth tasting and visits can be arranged to local vineyards.
Casa Celestiale has something for everyone, but we, like our guests, are often most happy to just stay at the house and enjoy its seclusion and peace.
Please note that the house is very rural! The last 6km are on a ‘white’ gravel road and the last part of this is hilly so don't come in your sports car..! There are couple of rough, steeper sections but just put the car in low gear and you’ll be fine.
