About Casa Del Mulino

Facilities

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Let to one group only at a time, from 2 people to 8
  • Panoramic views
  • Swimming Pool
  • Kitchen with marble-topped table and dishwasher
  • Large private garden and park
  • Barbecue

Position & Location

  • Situated in hills between Cortona and Arezzo
  • Panoramic views of Tuscany
  • Exclusive use of house, garden and swimming pool
  • Tranquil, private and not overlooked
  • Walking in the hills around the house
  • 15 minutes walk to shops and bus stop
  • 10 minutes drive from Cortona and railway station
  • 2-3 hours by car/train from Rome, Pisa, Florence and airports

This was the local miller’s house (‘mulino‘ means mill) and, strongly resisting the temptation to convert it into a ‘villa’, we have endeavoured to preserve its authentic, rustic character.

It is situated on a hillside, near a stream, and commands panoramic views over the Val di Chiana. All the windows command wide views over the countryside and the three downstairs bedrooms have their own doors into the garden and landscape.

The house is connected by a narrow tarmac road to the village of Tavarnelle and stands on a spur high in the middle of a calm, green valley, looking down over terraced hillsides covered in vineyards, olive groves, fruit trees and an abundance of wild flowers. The view opens out southwards across the wide vale to show the mountain ranges, sometimes hidden behind a heat haze, including Monte Amiata and Monte Cetona.

Breezes come from the stream below and there are plenty of trees to give shade. Behind is the wilder mountain scenery of the Apennines with extensive forests of oak, chestnut, ilex and Mediterranean pine with a variety of enjoyable walks. All photographs shown here were taken by the family.

The house has its own Facebook page! If you would like to know more about the history of the house, this slideshow, narrated by the owners, describes how they found the house and renovated it. The olive harvest is a fascinating activity which takes place every year in the closed season. This film describes how the olives from the 25 trees on the property are collected and turned into the sort of delicious, aromatic olive oil not available in shops!

You can also read a novel, In Restoration, inspired by the Casa del Mulino and written there. Montesasso is really Cortona! Click here for more information. The author, Valerie Thornhill, talks about how the garden of the house provided inspiration for the novel in this video.

We acquired the house 40 years ago, as a family base for research as well as to enjoy the region of Italy of St. Francis of Assisi and Piero della Francesca. Since then the Casa del Mulino has become our ‘home from home’ and we take pleasure in letting it, when we are not there, to like-minded people. We really do want others to enjoy the farmhouse and its region as much as we do.

The position in eastern Tuscany near Cortona, close to the Umbrian border and the largest lake in central Italy, is outstanding. The house is set in a three-acre secluded garden with panoramic views and a swimming pool for the exclusive use of your group. In contrast to many other properties in the area, this is not an Agriturismo, requiring sharing of facilities (e.g., house, pool, garden, grounds) with others. There are abundant wild flowers and birds to be enjoyed as well as all sorts of harmless wildlife, from lizards to insects and fireflies. Incidentally, we have restored the old mill for occasional use by our family only. It is out of sight from the main house with its own view and land and is entirely independent. As well as day trips (Florence, Siena, Assisi, Montepulciano are all only an hour away), the house is ideally located for walking, cycling and bird watching. You can also enjoy boat trips and sandy beaches at nearby Lake Trasimeno.

We live and work in England and so do not live in Italy full-time. For this reason, our good friend and representative, Sarah, runs the house booking on our behalf. Originally from Australia, she studied 20th Century Italian history at universities in Australia and the US and has been living in Italy for many years. She knows the house extremely well and she would be happy to answer your queries by e-mail (casadelmulinocortona at gmail.com).

Regards,

Valerie Wilton-Ely