A romantic cottage in Tuscany in walking distance of a village

OVERVIEW Livietta

Situated on the fringes of the splendid hilltop village of Cetona, this carefully restored one-bedroom cottage is the ideal base for a romantic getaway in Tuscany’s stunning Val d’Orcia. Guests are treated to a private garden, a plunge pool and lovely views of the rolling countryside all with the convenience of being able to access cafés, shops and bustling town life on foot.

The stone building lies within secluded grounds on the hillside nearby its sister villa, Casa Livia which is located in the tower and can be rented along with the Livietta for bigger groups. The recent restoration has given a fresh make-over to the cottage. The successful refurbishment highlights historic features like wooden beamed ceilings and terracotta tiled floors smartly juxtaposed with crisp whitewashed walls, bright decorative elements and contemporary technology.

The villa excels at comfortable Italian living both inside and out. Spend your mornings lounging next to the sun-drenched private plunge pool, a converted traditional Tuscan fountain which also has hydro-massage. Then curl up with a good book in the shaded Ottoman style pergola while nibbling on a light lunch of local cheese and meats before retreating from the midday heat for a catnap on one of the interior’s two comfy sofas. Alternatively, catch up on your favorite international shows on flat screen satellite TV or escape to the study with a cup of tea for some peaceful alone time.

In the evenings you can prepare delicious seasonal Tuscan cuisine in the villa’s compact yet well equipped kitchen and using ingredients freshly picked from the villa’s own vegetable garden. Enjoy your delectable creations either outdoors under the charming vine-laden dining area or at the round dining table which opens onto the garden.

The villa is complete with a shower room on the ground floor and a lovely bedroom, with a double bed and views over the garden, which occupies the second level.a

Amenities and services

Floorplan of the villa

Ground Floor
Living and Dining Room
Kitchen
Bathroom (shower)
Veranda

First Floor
Double Bedroom

Garden :

Private plunge pool with hydromassage 2,2 x 1,6 mt.
Vine covered pergola
Ottoman style summer living room

ESTATE: Cetona

Nestled at the edge of a quintessential Tuscan town, the grounds of this bewitching 14th century tower are home to two distinct villas, each one hidden within its own private verdant oasis of fruit, olive and cypress trees which descend in terraced sections of lawns. The estate’s hilltop location also grants exceptional vistas of Monte Cetona, Città della Pieve and the surrounding countryside.

Situated close to the regional border with Umbria and Lazio, Cetona lies roughly equidistant between Rome and Florence. Human presence in the area dates as far back to the neo-Paleolithic period, with remains from Prehistoric, the Bronze Age and the Etruscan era on display in the Belvedere Park, the Museo Civico per la Preistoria del Monte Cetona and the nearby Parco Archeologico Naturalistico del Monte Cetona.

Cetona is an excellent jumping off point for exploring Southern Tuscany and further afield. The Val d’Orcia itself is one of the natural wonders of Tuscany, home to some of Italy’s finest gastronomic producers, including the world-famous wines such as Montepulciano, Montalcino. Its sublime nature provides for fabulous hiking and biking and you can also take in some golf at Lamborghini-Panicarola or various watersports on nearby Lake Trasimeno. Combine these culinary and active pursuits with cultural ones by visiting stunning historic towns like Città della Pieve, Chiusi, Montepulciano or Montalcino — all within a half hour drive of Cetona.

At an hour or two away, Siena, Florence or Perugia make for great day trips.

ACTIVITIES

• Cetona – Shopping, restaurants and cafés within a short walk in the medieval town of Cetona. It is also home to the Civic Museum of the Prehistory of Monte Cetona and guests can delve further into the area’s ancient history at the Parco Archeologico Naturalistico del Monte Cetona.
• Chiusi – A lovely town with mysterious roots date back to the 6th century B.C., to when Chiusi was one of the 12 most important cities in the Etruscan Federation. The town rises above a warren of underground subways, tombs and passages.
• Città della Pieve – Città della Pieve crowns a hill overlooking the River Tiber. It is around eight km from Chiusi. The attractive town has many brick churches and palaces from the late Middle Ages through the Renaissance.
• San Casciano dei Bagni – The Etruscan settlement known today as San Casciano dei Bagni owes its existence to its 40+ thermal springs which can be experienced at Italy’s foremost award-winning spa Fonteverde (http://www.fonteverdespa.com/). The town also has an array of traditional Tuscan restaurants and shops.
• Orvieto – One of the most beautiful cities of Umbria and has one of the most dramatic settings in Europe.
• Montepulciano – A graceful Tuscan hill town, it’s best known for its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which has been renowned for 200 years ago and is still considered one of Italy’s best wines  The many churches and beautiful main palazzo, the steep cobbled alleys and vine-trailing stone bastions are highlights for anyone visiting south of Siena. On a clear day, from the top of the town you have fabulous panoramic views across the countryside, stretching towards Assisi’s Monte Subasio, Monte Amiata, the Val d’Orcia, Pienza, and even the towers of Siena.
• Pienza – the unfinished “utopian” city, was commissioned by Pope Pius II in 1459.  In just three years the cathedral, the papal and bishop’s palaces and the central part of the town were completed, but the extensive project ended abruptly when Pius died only two years after the consecration of the cathedral.
• Montalcino – A lovely town beautifully situated on a hill inhabited since Etruscan times and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.  It is a quiet, affluent, attractive town with handsome buildings and flower-filled squares, and many shops selling its famous Brunello di Montalcino wines.
• Florence and Rome – can be reached by train in one to two hours from the nearby station at Chiusi.
• Fashion fans may want to stop in at the Prada, Guici, Armani, Yves Saint Laurent and Miu Miu outlets on the road towards Florence.
• The Val d’Orcia – a wide valley south of Siena through which the ancient Via Francigena (the chief route linking Rome with the north) used to lead, passing castles and fortified towns, some of them dating back as far as the eighth century. In San Quirico don’t miss the Horti Leonini, an early Renaissance garden, as well as the western door in the city wall and the Collegiata (main church).
• Golf Lamborghini – located 25 kilometers away in Panicarola, is a 9-hole golf course built by the creator of Lamborghini cars, Ferruccio Lamborghini.
• Lake Trasimeno – This stunning lake can be reached in less than a half an hour. You can swim and do a variety of watersports on the lake.

RATES

GUEST REVIEWS, Livietta, Cetona

LOCATION

The Cetona estate is at the foot of the medieval village of Cetona. It is situated in an exceptionally beautiful part of Tuscany midway between Florence and Rome.