Description
Elceto sits in nine acres of countryside and has been restored to the highest standard by local craftsmen using traditional materials. Approximately a third of the land is securely fenced off and is mainly pasture aand lawns with an ancient Olive Grove containing some 70 trees. The property is totally secluded and private with access from the village of Castel Rigone 2.8km away via a country track. Inside, the house is fully furnished with three double bedrooms and three bathrooms, and is extremely well equipped with everything required for a relaxing and peaceful holiday. The 12m x 6m pool has an infinity edge looking over the valley to the south-west. The sunsets over the pool on summer evenings are simply stunning.
The local village of Castel Rigone is a typical Umbrian hill-top village of largely medieval stone houses with breathtaking views of Lake Trasimeno some eight km distant. The village contains basic amenities such as a small supermarket, pharmacy, hairdresser, pizzeria, restaurant and two bars. Nearby Passignano on the shores of Lake Trasimeno contains a range of excellent restaurants and there is a regular ferry service to the islands on the lake. In July there is the famous Palio delle barche where four teams of oarsmen representing different areas of the town compete in an exciting and frenetic race for the annual championship.
Many of Italy's most beautiful towns such as Cortona, Arrezzo, Siena, Assissi etc are within easy driving distance.
Inside the house, the ground floor is open plan with ancient marble stone flooring on the ground floor and hand made terracotta tiling to the first floor. Ceilings have traditional chestnut exposed beams and terracotta tiling above.
The kitchen is superbly equipped containing a range style cooker with gas hob and twin electric ovens, larder fridge, dishwasher, espresso machine toaster. etc There is a full range of cooking equipment, crockery and cutlery as well as an extensive range of glassware. Some recent guests hired a professional chef from Cortona for a day of cooking instruction, and he declared the kitchen perfect! Off the kitchen is a utility room containing the heating boiler and a washing machine and sink. There is a separate small bathroom with toilet, antique washhand basin and shower.
The living room has a large antique open fire, marble flagstone floor and heavy chestnut beams and terracotta tiles to the high ceiling. There are leather settees, subtle lighting, a hi-fi system, flat screen television, DVD Player and a selection of DVDs and CDs. The wi-fi router is also located in the lounge, and the speed is normally sufficient to stream live TV or movies etc.
Upstairs there are three bedrooms fully furnished, two rooms have double beds and the third twin beds which can be zipped together to form a large double. The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with antique stone sink and shower and toilet and there is a separate family bathroom with antique stone sink, bath, shower and toilet. All bedrooms have large wardrobes and more than adequate chests of drawers.
Outside of the house, there is a covered external balcony leading from the master bedroom equipped with a small circular antique table and two chairs. The front and one end of the house is provided with extensive paving with antique marble slabs reclaimed from ancient Roman roads. There is a full width verandah on one end of the house covering the terrace and equipped with a large dining table and chairs, and there is a patio with a rose covered pergola at the end of the outbuilding also equipped with a large dining table and chairs. At the back of the house is the breakfast table located to catch the morning sun.
A few metres from the house is a restored outbuilding mainly used to store maintenance and pool equipment, but there is a built in barbecue at the front of the outbuilding under cover, together with wood fired pizza oven. Wood is provided at no extra cost.
The front of the house faces South West and so benefits from full sun for most of the day. The 12 m long x 6 m wide pool is located quite close to the house, with an infinity edge overlooking the valley below. The pool surround consists of ancient stone paving reclaimed we believe from Roman roads. Below the infinity edge is a paved shelf the full length of the pool where you can sit and relax as you look over the valley below
Elceto is in a rural setting off the beaten track and it is therefore extremely quiet and peaceful. We enjoy 360 degree views and no matter how many times we go to the house we never tire of the views over the valley in front and the hills beyond. There are around 60 olive trees close to the house and a stroll through the olive grove is a very happy and rewarding experience. It takes around 10 minutes to drive up the track to the village of Castel Rigone