Set in the beautiful countryside of the hills of Cortona and just a few minutes from this splendid little town, pearl of the Aretine Val di Chiana, the old imposing watchtower form of Torre La Ripa stands on the side of a 369 m high hill, covered by the silvery foliage of a sea of olive trees and with a never-ending view from the pool stretching over the winding green hills of the Val d'Esse, an area east of Cortona, rich in churches, archaeological sites and Renaissance villas, and along the river of the same name flowing towards Umbria. The charm of this original Tuscan farmhouse lives on in the splendid restoration that has given new light to the outside in exposed Cortona stone and to the inside, modernized to guarantee you a holiday in top comfort. The original terracotta stone, the antique pickled wooden ceiling beams, the hand-crafted furniture and fixtures combined with details and accessories of shabby chic inspiration, as well as modern bathrooms and cosy bedrooms, make this house, with full air-conditioning and wi-fi connection, a quiet retreat to spend a magnificent holiday, protected by the silence and privacy of a beautiful, fully-equipped garden. An excellent departure point for visiting nearby shopping centres and the major towns of Tuscany - Siena, Florence, Arezzo - and of nearby Umbria - Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto. Within easy reach are the famous little towns around Siena like San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino in the Val d'Orcia as well as those in the magnificent area of Chianti.
Interior:
The residence has three floors connected by internal stairs, plus a panoramic turret. On the ground floor, the French window in the entrance leads into the living area, a large open-plan area enlivened by arched openings composed of lounge with satellite TV, dining table and kitchen with practical and direct access to the outdoor dining area (please note that the fireplace is ornamental). This floor is served by a bathroom with shower. The sleeping area is on the upper floors: on the first level is a double bedroom served by a bathroom with shower and a twin bedroom with joinable beds and private bathroom with shower (this room has direct access to the garden through a French window); on the second level are a double bedroom with en-suite bathroom with shower and a further double bedroom with dividable beds with en-suite bathroom with shower (with the bed in the loft/turret lit-up by several panoramic windows). Finally, the laundry room which is located outside, under the loggia and reached up a flight of 10 steps.
Park:
The park surrounding the house extends over a hilly terrain on various terraced levels; it is accessed through an iron gate that leads to a two-car parking area. Within about 2000 sq m of completely fenced-in garden, bordered by a large expanse of olive trees along the perimeter, are areas of lawn alternating with paved surfaces, embellished with brightly coloured potted plants and bushes of Mediterranean herbs. On the side of the exits from the house is a large, panoramic terrace with, first, an area set-up for outdoor dining and then the large pool area, allowing total and continuous use of all available area.Please notice that photos are taken in spring, therefore flower blossoming, and the colours of the gardens' grass could be different at the moment of your arrival at the villa.
Swimming Pool:
Open from the last Saturday in April until the first Saturday of October, the pool, just a few metres from the house, lies on a beautiful terrace overlooking the hills of Cortona. Rectangular-shaped and with Roman steps for access to the water, it measures 8 x 4 m with a constant depth of 1,25 m. Lined in clear-coloured PVC with a stone border, it has chlorine purification, internal and external lighting and a cold-water shower. The sunbathing area surrounding it is equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas, perfect for guaranteeing you moments of pure relaxation.
Pets: On request. โฌ 50,00 per animal per week or part of week. Acceptance of animals to the facility must be previously authorised by the owner upon communication of the number of animals, size and breed.