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Casale Seano

Mercatale, Cortona, Tuscany

  • 12
  • 6
  • 5

Accommodation

At a glance

  1. Sleeps 12
  2. 6 Bedrooms
  3. 5 Bathrooms
  4. WiFi
  5. Table Tennis
  6. Hot Tub
  7. Small Party Rate (up to 8 people) 
  8. Flexible Stay Durations 
  • Ground Floor: Living room (fireplace, Smart TV) with doors to garden. Kitchen (oven, dishwasher) with door to garden. Secondary kitchen (microwave, dishwasher, wine cooler). Study with door to garden. Cloakroom (WC, washing machine). WiFi. Central heating (payable locally).
  • Intermediate Level: Double bedroom (ceiling fan) with French doors to garden.
  • First Floor: Dining room with door to terrace (low stone wall) with stone steps to garden. Double bedroom (ceiling fan) with en suite bathroom (separate shower). Twin bedroom (ceiling fan).Shower room. 
  • Second Floor: Double/twin bedroom (ceiling fan) with en suite shower room. Double bedroom (ceiling fan) with en suite bathroom (separate shower).
  • Annexe: Double/twin bedroom (ceiling fan) with en suite shower room.
  • Outside: Garden, open terraces, fruit groves and dining pergola. First floor terrace. Table tennis. Private parking. Barbecue. Pizza oven. Decked area with hot tub. 
  • Private swimming pool (12m x 6m) with Roman steps.

Nestled deep in the rolling hills between Cortona and Perugia, this beautifully renovated country home, formerly a medieval monastery, offers a wonderfully authentic slice of Tuscan life. Set in six acres of gently terraced grounds dotted with fruit trees, almonds, olives and vines, Casale Seano promises languid days drifting into golden summer evenings. 

Time moves differently here. Mornings begin slowly with coffee on the stone terrace, admiring the breathtaking views of the verdant Niccone Valley below.  By midday, the scent of lavender and rose drifts through the air as you lounge by the inviting pool, relax in the hot tub or retreat to the shade of the vine and wisteria-draped pergola. 

Lovingly restored, the house blends rustic character with understated contemporary comfort. Thick timber beams, terracotta floors and wrought iron fittings seamlessly blend with modern style to create welcoming living spaces, brimming with Tuscan charm. A well-equipped main kitchen (plus a smaller one) is perfect for preparing culinary delights, to be enjoyed in the formal dining room or out on the terrace – both set the scene for long, convivial evenings. Six individually styled bedrooms and five modern bathrooms offer restful retreats, while a separate stone annexe - once a pigsty! – provides privacy and independence.

This is a house made for gathering - ideal for multigenerational families or groups of friends - whether you choose to settle in completely or explore the surrounding region. Stock up at the nearby villages of Mercatale and Lisciano, which are a short 4km drive away and you may find little reason to leave. The valley itself remains wonderfully unspoilt, its traditional character largely untouched, its local eateries offering authentic dishes. However, for those seeking a touch of indulgence nearby Castello di Reschio (7.5km), a stunning and renowned hotel estate, offers refined dining in beautiful surroundings. Alternatively, venture out to discover the cultural treasures and beauty of Cortona, Arezzo, Città di Castello, Gubbio and Perugia, all accessible within an hour’s drive. For some activity to counter the lazy days, boat trips and water sports can be enjoyed at nearby Lake Trasimeno (a 30-minute drive).

But it is the rhythm of life here that lingers longest: whether you come to completely switch off or to explore Tuscany and Umbria at your own pace, this is a place to gather, to savour, and to return to again and again.

  • The double/twin rooms can be made up according to your preference – please specify at time of booking.
  • Terraced grounds and low stone walls on the first floor terrace mean that young children might need some supervision at this house.
  • The owners respectfully request that guests do not smoke inside the house.
  • Access to the property is via a country road that is part tarmac part gravel (strada bianca).
  • Flexible Stay durations are possible at Casale Seano - please enquire for details. 

Pricing & Availability

Location of Casale Seano

Locality

Great Things to Do Near Casale Seano

Cocktails and dinner at Castello di Reschio

The stunning Castello di Reschio hotel and estate is a 15min drive from the villa. The castle and grounds have been restored and reimagined into a beautiful hotel. Enjoy a cocktail in the Palm Court bar followed by dinner in one of the two restaurants (reservations required), or have a leisurely lunch on the terrace and admire the views.  

Water sports and boat trips on Lake Trasimeno

Various water sports are on offer, including sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing and wakeboarding. Or if you prefer dry land, the area is ideal for cycling, with a designated 'Lake Trasimeno cycle trail' between Castiglione and Torricella. You can hire a motor boat or join an organised boat trip to the islands in the middle of the lake.

Lake Trasimeno

Just over half an hour's drive away, Italy's fourth largest lake and its environs are a protected regional park covering 13,200 hectares, including the Oasi la Valle wetlands which are an important habitat for migratory birds. There are eight public beaches, and some good waterfront fish restaurants around the lake.

Capital of Umbria, Perugia

Perugia is a very well preserved medieval hill town with amazing views from various places. Elegant and infused with history, architecture and art, it is also very much a modern city, vibrant and with lots to see and do throughout the year. The main street in the old town, Corso Vanucci, is a wide avenue lined with shops and restaurants. It leads to the grand Piazza IV Novembre, which is surrounded by the splendid Palazzo dei Priori and the San Lorenzo Cathedral.

'Life is Beautiful' in Arezzo

The city of Arezzo is about an hour's drive to the north. Its famous residents have included the poet Petrarch and the painter Piero della Francesca. In more recent times, it was the setting for the film 'Life is Beautiful' by Roberto Benigni. The hub of the city is the red-brick Piazza Grande, surrounded by many beautiful buildings. Do not miss the Basilica of San Francesco to see Piero della Francesca's largest and finest work, 'History of the True Cross'.

Renaissance heritage of Città di Castello

Just to the north of the house, over the border into Umbria, Città di Castello has a rich Renaissance heritage and also a great tradition of crafts, particularly textiles and the art of printing. Nearby is the 'Terme di Fontecchio', a thermal spa whose waters have been used since Roman Times.

Cable car ride in Gubbio

Gubbio is one of those undiscovered gems - a town that has managed to avoid being on the tourist trail but that is definitely worth visiting. It has been described as an enchanting medieval jewel where the old streets seem to march up the steep slopes of the tree-clad mountain slopes. The streets lead to a most stunning piazza that overlooks the valley. There are also churches decorated with frescoes that look as clear as the day they were painted, 'palazzi' from the 13th and 14th centuries, a Roman theatre dating from the 1st century BC, as well as modern shops and restaurants. Take the cable car from the east side of the town to the top of Monte Ingino to visit the Basilica di Sant'Ubaldo, and for some wonderful views over the Appennines.

Charming Cortona

The hilltop town of Cortona is lovely to wander around and although it can get quite busy, it is definitely worth a visit - steep cobbled streets lined with art galleries, boutiques, cafes and gelaterie (ice cream shops). For far-reaching views, head up the hill to the Fortezza Medicea, which was built for the Medicis. On the way back down, seek out the Vicolo Jannelli, a little street with some of the oldest surviving houses in Italy. Our top tip to avoid the steep walk up to the town - park at the car park on the Viale Battisti and take the escalators up to the Via Nazionale. From there it's just a short, flat walk to the main square.

Piero della Francesca in Sansepolcro

Sansepolcro is the birthplace of the Renaissance artist, Piero della Francesca and you can see his famous works, 'The Resurrection' and ' The Madonna of the Misericordia' in the town's art museum. The Resurrection was described by Aldous Huxley as 'the best painting in the world'.

Paintings in Perugia - Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria

One of the great picture collections in central Italy, Perugino and Piero are certainly highlights but much of central Italian painting from the 14th to 17th century are well-represented including works by Gozzoli, Duccio, Gentile da Fabriano and Pinturicchio. There are many superb churches in Perugia so a full day out awaits!

Museo dell Accademia Etrusca in Piazza Signorelli, Cortona

This superb museum traces the Etruscan past of this area via incredible antiquities, well-labelled and displayed.

Hannibal, elephants and history in Tuoro

At Tuoro, which is the village you meet travelling from the house to Lake Trasimeno, you can walk and drive the various battle stages of the 'Battle of Lake Trasimene' when the Carthaginian general Hannibal engaged with the Roman Flaminius in July 217 BC during the Second Punic War. Hannibal was making his way through Italy and hemmed in the Romans against the lake, which led to them being heavily defeated.

Admire the view!

Pour a refreshing drink and take it out on the terrace for surely one of the most breathtaking views in the region!

Work up an appetite

with a game of tennis at Mercatale, or a round of golf at Cortona. There is also horse riding on offer in the Cortona area.

Enjoy a gelato in Passignano sul Trasimeno

This pretty village is perched on the northern edge of Lake Trasimeno, so is the closest point of the lake to the property. Enjoy a stroll through the cobbled streets up to the castle which offers great views over the lake, then take a boat trip from the pier to Maggiore Island and follow one of the shaded walking trails that wind their way around the island to the church at the top. A small cluster of restaurants and shops nestle round the harbour and offer an ideal spot to enjoy lunch whilst watching the boats come and go. Back in Passignano, take a front row seat at one of the waterfront cafes with a gelato or a Spritz.

Lakeside Castiglione del Lago

Castiglione old town sits on a limestone promontory on the western side of Lake Trasimeno. Enjoy a walk around the medieval walls of the Palazzo Ducale to the Rocca del Leone fortress, a great example of Umbrian military architecture. Enjoy lunch at one of the boutique restaurants, with their tables spilling onto the cobbled streets. Then take a stroll down to the water's edge, for an opportunity to swim in the lake or hire a pedalo or canoe and enjoy a view of the town from the water. A relaxed waterfront bar offers refreshments and snacks and there is a shady play park for the children.

Nearby

Towns/Villages

Mercatale 10 mins 
Passignano sul Trasimeno 30 mins 
Cortona 40 mins 
Citta di Castello 40 mins 
Perugia 1 Hr  
Gubbio 1 Hr  
Arezzo 1 Hr 15 mins 

Airports

Perugia 1 Hr  
Florence 1 Hr 50 mins 
Ancona 2 Hrs  
Rimini 2 Hrs 15 mins 
Pisa 2 Hrs 30 mins 
Rome Ciampino 2 Hrs 30 mins 
Rome Fiumicino 2 Hrs 35 mins 
Bologna 2 Hrs 35 mins 

Train Stations

Tuoro s/Trasimeno 30 mins 
Camucia 40 mins 
Perugia 55 mins 
Arezzo 1 Hr 15 mins 
Times are approximate

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