Holiday Rental, Le Marche, Italy.
Period farmhouse for holiday lettings with stunning views.
This farmhouse for rent in unspoiled Le Marche countryside is ideal for summer holidays. Handy for the mountains or the sea. Sleeps 10 plus.
Introduction
Le Marche is a beautiful but little-known, central Italian region. Bounded on the East by the Adriatic, and on the West by the watershed of the Appenines, Le Marche is a mountainous region of small farms and ancient hilltop villages. Less dry than Umbria and Tuscany to the West, it has been able to keep its productive small-holdings and thriving villages as well as its famous trees: oaks on the foothills and sweet chestnuts high in the mountains. Although it lacks the concentration of art treasures found in Tuscany, it also lacks the level of tourism.
Magli is a collection of about ten inhabited farmhouses spread across a south-facing hillside, under the hill-top village of Penna San Giovanni. Off the dirt road that winds through Magli - is farmhouse Guerrino. Southwest facing towards the Sibillini Mountains (7,000 ft) and overlooking a deserted valley, the house is surrounded by small, steep fields, woods and vineyards. The house has a garden with plum and fig trees, a nut orchard, and a shady oak tree. There is a large, shaded ground floor terrace with views and with tables and chairs for large meals. There is no traffic noise as the valley below has no through road and there are only 3-4 houses below. At night you can see the stars.
The farmhouse is built of stone and simply restored with original terracotta floors and beamed ceilings. The ground floor was once used for stables and is now a simple kitchen, a sitting room, a scullery (with washing machine) and a loo. On the first floor there is a twin bedroom, a winter sitting room and a large family bathroom (loo, basin, bidet and shower). The top floor has a double bedroom and a twin/triple bedroom with an extra cot. Around the back, with a separate entrance, are two bedrooms (one twin through-room, one double) a shower room, another loo and various storerooms. Altogether it sleeps 10 comfortably, plus small children if required.
It has electricity, hot water and clean sheets and is equipped and furnished simply. The house is cleaned before and after your visit.
ATTRACTIONS
Views:
From the front of the house there are grand views towards the Sibilini mountains. There are attractive views in all other directions - with no ugly intrusions.
Swimming pool:
There is an outdoor swimming pool open to the public about 5km away surrounded by trees and play area. Coffee and ice-creams available.
Walking:
Nearby are many small tracks through fields and woods. In the Sibillini mountains (a National Park), there are all types of tracks - some marked, mostly not - which are almost totally unused except by shepherds.
The Sea:
The sea is 27 miles on a good road. Porto San Giorgio is an Italian resort with deck chairs and umbrellas for hire; sandy beaches, shallow water, fish restaurants and gelateria, swings and slides. .
Lake:
As well as the sea there is an indoor pool at Sarnano and a lake -Lago di Fiastra -in the mountains, about 40 minutes drive away.
The river:
15 minutes walk down to the bottom of the valley (30 minutes back) is a shady stream, big enough to dip in most summers. Never a person in sight.
Villages:
Practically any village on the map is worth a visit - they are nearly all on hill tops and have fine churches and fabulous view. Penna San Giovanni, directly above Magli, has perhaps the grandest views and nearby Servigliano is an 18th century model vilage built by Pope Pius XII. S. Vittoria has a number of fairly grand palazzi. Nearby Monte San Martino has a small church full of Crivellis.
Towns:
Sarnano: (20 mins) medieval market town with churches, palazzi, views etc.
Ascoli Piceno: (1 hour) Very beautiful, marble-floored Piazza del Popolo. Municipal art gallery. Roman bridge. Medieval Town.
Fermo: (40mins), cathedral, roman baths etc.
Macerata: (45 mins) Provincial capital with opera festival in August
Camerino: (45 mins) university town on hilltop with quads and views.
Norcia: (2hours) Walled medieval town - birthplace of St. Benedict.
Urbino: (2 hours)
Assisi: (2 1/2 hours)
Perugia, Spello, Spoleto, Bevagna, Monfalco (2 1/2hours)
Food:
Many restaurants, normally with a small selection of local dishes - very simple but very good; the emphasis is on fresh and seasonal ingredients. Local specialities include: Olive Ascolane - stuffed olives; Salsiccia di fegato - liver salami; Porchetta - slices of whole roast, stuffed pork bought from travelling vans or from the market; pecorino - sheep's cheese.
WARNINGS and POTENTIAL DRAW-BACKS
The house is a family holiday house and not designed for letting (e.g. no matching curtains and duvet covers). You may find it a little eccentric.
There is NO SWIMMING POOL - (although there is an inflatable pool suitable for children - it needs a bit of looking after - try your luck). There is also a long plastic sheet which, when rolled down the hillside and hosed down makes a very good water slide.
There is no bath - only showers (and large plastic tubs)
No TV or phone.
There may be insects, mice, owls, foxes etc. in the ground floor barns - although because of the altitude there are very few mosquitoes.
COST
July/august: £700 per week
Other times by agreement.
Changeover is normally Saturdays.
Please call us on +44 (0)1258 471461 to book.or
Our address in England:
Manor Farm House, West Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0LJ.
From the front of the house there are grand views towards the Sibilini mountains.
There are attractive views in all other directions - with no ugly intrusions.