Casa Singerna

Villa Rental in Tuscany

Accommodations

The villa has been converted from a 300-year-old stone barn. Although it has come a long way from its humble beginnings, original features have been retained and materials reused wherever possible to preserve its original character - chestnut beamed ceiling, hand-made pianelle ceiling tiles, cut stone door and window surrounds, wrought iron railings and hardware.

The interior boasts high ceilings and open spaces filled with natural light. Windows are generous, and afford sweeping views of the surrounding countryside that are never short of breathtaking. Mature oak trees surround the house and provide welcome shade on hot summer days.

The design, restoration and selection of materials were overseen personally by the owners who took a hands-on approach to the project and did a lot of the actual work, from the reclaiming of ceiling tiles to the building and installation of windows and doors. Casa Singerna has been carefully finished by hand, and it is this resulting individuality that lends the building its specific character.

The house is on 2 levels and is positioned on a hillock so that both floors have ground level access. The main entrance is on the upper level, where there is parking for 4 cars, a wide terrace with a pergola and tables and chairs adjacent to the pool.  On this upper level occupying the four corners of the house are four bedrooms. The remaining bedroom is on the lower floor with direct access to the rear terrace with tables and chairs.

Rooms upstairs radiate off of a central hallway with an impressive four-meter high chestnut beamed and terra cotta tiled ceiling. Furnishing and decorating has been executed with taste throughout the house in a style that is casual and uncluttered. All bedrooms have hand made beds of wood or wrought iron furnished with comfortable firm mattresses, tasteful furniture and some beautiful antiques. The bathrooms are spacious and offer good natural light.

The open plan space on the lower floor serves as dining area, sitting room and kitchen. The focus of the room is on the grand archway with glass doors that frames a view of the lake. A long, sturdy, hand-made table of chestnut wood with seating for 10+ is well positioned to enjoy the view. Sofas and chairs in the opposite corner surround a wood-burning stove. The kitchen is fully equipped for preparing and serving, and features top of the line stainless steel appliances and a granite work surface. Arched glass doors lead to the spacious rear terrace paved in stone and tile. Ample seating on wooden chairs is provided for outdoor dining in the shade of an oak tree and for enjoying the fabulous view of the lake and surrounding countryside. There is a 2nd refrigerator, a dishwasher to free you from washing up, and a washing machine for your private use. There is also a BBQ on the back terrace.

• Take a tour of Casa Singerna, with a look at the floorplan, photographs and descriptions of all the rooms.
  
• The villa is featured on A1Vacations.com web site:
  Casa Singerna vacation rental villa.
• Also featured on HolidayLettings.co.uk:
  Villas in Arezzo to let.

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Swimming Pool

Wide roman stairs descend into the shallow end of the 6 x 12 meter (20 x 40 foot) private swimming pool located a short distance from the house. The ample surrounding terra cotta paved terrace (200 square meters) offers seating in sun and shade.   There are also pool lounge chairs.

An array of solar panels, discreetly positioned so that it is not visible from the pool, house or gardens, heats the pool so that it is always an excellent swimming temperature ranging from 25 - 31 centigrade*. As a result, the swimming season at Casa Singerna extends from April through October, longer than elsewhere in the region.

*May to September; otherwise, weather permitting.

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Additional Accommodations

If your party is larger than 10 people, or if you wish to have guests visit with you for part of your stay, up to 6 additional people can be accommodated at the nearby farmhouse, Casa Consoli, located on the same property.

To respect your privacy, these rooms are available only to the party booked at Casa Singerna and are not otherwise let out.

Casa Consoli is just down the hill from Casa Singerna. The owner of Casa Singerna reside here in a separate apartment on the lower floor. It was previously run as a Bed & Breakfast and is well set up for receiving guests.

The stone farmhouse has been upgraded to offer modern comfort while maintaining its rustic charm. A cavernous stone fireplace dominates the main floor sitting room. There are wooden beamed ceilings throughout and floors of terra cotta or terrazzo tile. Upstairs are three double bedrooms and three bathrooms that can be reserved for the duration of your stay or on a nightly basis. Indoor and outdoor dining facilities at Casa Singerna are adequate to serve these extra numbers as is the pool and surrounding terraces. See booking terms and conditions for rates.

Camera bianca, and camera castagna
Two hand hewn stone steps lead down into this pair of spacious rooms, each with dimensions of 11 x 21 feet, located in the oldest portion of the house at the end of a long hallway. The high peaked ceilings have beams of local chestnut and hand made pianelle tiles line both the ceilings and the floors. Exposed stone surrounds the blue shuttered windows. Camera bianca faces the lake and mountains in the east; camera castagna looks to the northwest along the beautiful Singerna river valley.

The shared three-piece bathroom is just a few steps down the hall; a large room with beamed ceiling and terracotta tiled floor. The spacious tiled shower stall has glass doors, temperature controlled water and adjustable height shower. There is also an additional two-piece bathroom for guest use.

Camera rosa
Double room with wood beamed ceiling and terracotta tiled floor and a view of olive groves and the front terrace. Private en-suite bathroom with sink, wc, bidet and tiled spacious shower stall.

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Food and Local Dining

Restaurants
There are many excellent and affordable restaurants within 15 minutes of Casa Singerna, particularly in and around the town of Caprese Michelangelo. Italians flock to the area to take advantage of the well prepared meals at sometimes unbelievable prices. Several establishments offer traditional Tuscan lunches that carry on for hours through course after course -- antipasto, several pasta dishes, meats and vegetables, selection of deserts, unlimited wine and water, and topped off with liqueurs -- all for a low price per person. There are also restaurants offering more upscale and imaginative cooking in the towns of Anghiari and Sansepolcro.

Meals at the villa
To enjoy the pleasure of eating at the villa without the trouble of preparing the food, meals can be arranged for you. The focus is on home-style regional cuisine. Pricing is roughly EUR 25 - 30 per person depending on the number of people and the selected menu. Please inquire for more details.

Local Markets
Each day of the week you can visit the market at a different neighbouring town. Monday in Pieve Santo Stefano, Tuesday in Sansepolcro, Wednesday in Anghiari ... the towns come alive on market day! These markets offer local produce, clothing, household goods, etc., and are a great opportunity to experience the real Italy.

Groceries
The nearest grocery store is 2 km away, and is conveniently open on Sunday during the months of July and August. There are several large supermarkets in Sansepolcro which is a 15 minute drive. There are markets on each day of the week in neighbouring towns where you can purchase excellent local produce.

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Activities and Amenities

Besides relaxing by the pool or enjoying the view from the terraces, there are a many activities on the property, or not far away, to entertain you during your holiday.

Cooking Classes
Cooking classes can be arranged locally for groups of 2 - 4 people. Courses are taught in English and concentrate on general principles and traditional but relevant foods. Menu options can be arranged with the instructor ahead of time. The course ends with a luncheon 'in famiglia' where you can enjoy the fruits of your labours. The course can include an excursion to the market to gather your fresh ingredients.

Wine Tours and Tastings
Your host at Casa Singerna is happy to arrange for excursions to local wineries or for tastings either at the villa or in an enoteca (wine bar).

Cycling and Walking
Three bicycles are available for on or off road cycling. There are hundreds of kilometres of marked trails in the area. For the more adventurous there are trails that extend great distances across the mountains. Or you can simply enjoy the paths that begin directly at your door and lead through the vineyard, by the creek and into the forest.

Boating
A short walk down a private road on the property brings you to the shores of the Singerna River and Lake Montedoglio, a large man-made body of water. There are 2 canoes with life jackets available for guest use.

Tennis and Table Tennis
Tennis courts can be booked in Caprese Michelangelo, a 10 minute drive from the villa. Table tennis (ping-pong), archery and badminton on site.

Golf
There is a golf course outside of Perugia, an hour's drive from Casa Singerna. And only 20 minutes away there is a smaller and more casual golf course. Be sure to bring golf membership card to be allowed onto a course.

Music and TV
For indoor entertainment, Casa Singerna is equipped with satellite television, DVD (multi-region) and stereo.

Shopping
There is a famous antique market held in Arezzo on the first Sunday of each month and the preceeding Saturday (except for August). There are other good antique stores in Sansepolcro, Anghiari, Montone and Gubbio. For traditional ceramics you can visit Deruta, Gubbio or Passignano sul Trasimeno. There are several outlet stores for shoes and designer Italian clothing in the vicinity, including a Prada outlet in Montevarchi. You will find more shopping options listed in the housebook.
Each day of the week you can visit a local market in a different neighboring town ... Monday in Pieve Santo Stefano, Tuesday in Sansepolcro, Wednesday in Anghiari, Thursday in Citta di Castello and Friday in San Giustino. These markets offer produce, clothing and other household goods.

Sightseeing

Casa Singerna is well placed for excursions to many medieval and renaissance towns in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria. While some destinations would require a full day, there are other exciting spots to visit that are more manageable in size and distance. The nearby medieval hilltop town of Anghiari is an absolute jewel and worth repeated visits.

Please see the location section for more information on destinations in the area.

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Low Season Rental

The period from November through March is an excellent time to visit Tuscany and avoid the crowds at popular tourist destinations. Just imagine a day-trip to Florence without the crowds and simply being able to walk into the Uffizi gallery hours in in a queue! In smaller towns, you can have the streets to yourself. Rome is only an hour and 20 minutes by train making it accesible as a day trip.

Casa Singerna is well appointed for stays during the cooler months of the year. Sit cosily in front of the fire or have a long relaxing soak in the jacuzzi tub. The villa was designed with staying warm in mind and is equipped with an in-floor heating system that generates wonderful ambient heat throughout the house. In addition, there are 2 wood-burning stoves, one in the livingroom and the other in the largest bedroom. The villa's large open living/dining area is a great spot to get together with family and friends.

Enjoy champagne New Year's eve standing out on the terrace to watch 180 degrees of fireworks across the lake and up the Singerna river valley. The views are always beautiful with the trees a golden glow and the constantly changing colours of the lake. The cooler days offer excellent opportunities for outdoor activities: hiking, cycling, tennis, golf. There is also skiing only a 35 minute drive at Mt. Fumaiolo.

More information and rates for low season rental.

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Contact us

Mailing address:

tel:  (+39) 0575 791166
email: info@casasingerna.com

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Casa Singerna - Holiday Villa in Tuscany