Enjoy the peaceful setting of Grillo,
overlooking a sea of trees, where the only sounds will probably be the birds in the trees nearby.
Grillo
San Leo Bastia, Cortona, Tuscany
- 6
- 3
- 2
FROM
£ 2,450
PER WEEK
Accommodation
At a glance
- Sleeps 6
- 2 Double Bedrooms
- 1 Twin Bedroom
- 2 Bathrooms
- WiFi
- Ground Floor: Entrance hall (wood burning stove). Kitchen (oven, microwave, dishwasher). Dining room. WiFi. Central heating throughout the house (payable locally).
- First Floor: Access to exterior stairs. Living room (DVD, CD). Twin bedroom. Double bedroom. Bathroom. Shower room. Steep open wooden stairs to...
- Second Floor: (low ceiling) Double bedroom (A/C).
- Outside: Terraced gardens. Shaded eating area. Built-in barbecue and wood oven. Laundry room (washing machine). Private parking.
- Private irregular shaped swimming pool (8m x 4m at widest point) with Roman steps.
Secreted among the forested hills along the Tuscany-Umbria border, this carefully restored stone house is a place to completely unwind surrounded by nature. Originally a farmhouse, complete with the traditional olive terraces, Grillo was also used at one time for drying the grapes used to make the local 'vin santo'. Today, it has been transformed into a charming property where the closest you will probably get to work is sipping a glass of the deliciously sweet wine on one of the many terraces.
From the upper terrace, enjoy treetop views, whilst the ground level is home to the stone paved outdoor dining area, complete with a vine draped pergola. Stone steps lead down to the pool terrace, where the pool has been specially designed to fit the hillside space.
Inside, the interior retains an authentic country feel, with thick hewn wood beams, paved floors and locally crafted doors finished with wrought iron handles, all set against a backdrop of white walls. Two of the bedrooms are on the first floor, with the third to be found in the eaves, accessed by wooden ladder type stairs.
This is truly a tranquil hideaway, a place to appreciate the wonderful countryside. From Grillo, head back up to the country road. Turn left to eventually arrive in the fabulous town of Cortona (25km), taking in stunning vistas along the way. Turn right to head down into the valley and the tiny village of San Leo Bastia (15 minute drive), with its local bar (with shop attached) and a rustic pizzeria. Continue along the valley to reach Umbertide (20km) for more amenities. Take a day or two as well to explore lesser known towns such as Città di Castello (40 minutes) and Sansepolcro (50 minutes), interesting and beautiful places with a lived in charm.
- Internet provision is via a satellite connection.
- Please note: the price shown does not include a per person tourist tax (payable locally). Children under 12 are exempt. €8 per person.
- Property Licence No. IT051017B47DI92KKP
Pricing & Availability
Additional Pricing Information
All Prices are per property, not per person.
Please note: the price shown does not include a per person tourist tax (payable locally). Children under 12 are exempt. €8 per person.
Location of Grillo
Locality
Great Things to Do Near Grillo
Drive into the nearby hamlet of San Leo Bastia
where you will find a pizzeria and a convivial local bar where you can enjoy an aperitif of the local wine.
Westwards to Cortona
From Grillo, follow the road westwards, which winds its way through the hills - a beautiful drive through the forested countryside until you arrive at the back of Cortona where the landscape opens out in front of you.
Spend the morning or afternoon in Cortona
wandering its narrow streets that lead to the main piazza. There are lots of little shops and plenty of stunning views to admire.
A 'must do' on anyone's list is to experience the 'passeggiata'.
No, it is not an Italian dance. In any town or large village, especially on a weekend or holiday, the inhabitants of the town will congregate in the main square in the early evening, to have a stroll around, talk to their friends, have an aperitif or ice cream, before dispersing for dinner. It is the perfect time to people watch!
Make time to visit Gubbio,
one of the jewels of Umbria - less known than Perugia and Assisi, but no less impressive, it is a wonderful place to wander around. A huge music festival takes place in the town throughout the month of July.
For a relaxing day, visit the spa 'Fontecchio',
2 km from Città di Castello. Set in a wooded park, the thermal baths have been around since Roman times. Nowadays, you can simply relax and enjoy the treatments on offer.
There are lots of walks in the area (information is provided in the house).
Set off from the house and wander along the country lanes enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Time for a gelato
most towns will have at least one 'gelateria' (ice cream shop), with a great selection of flavours. If there is a sign 'gelato artigianale' it means the ice cream is made by hand (and will be delicious!).
Visit the little village of Caprese Michelangelo,
birthplace of the great man, Michelangelo. The 14th century castle houses plaster casts of his work. On the way back, stop at Anghiari, a beautifully preserved medieval hill top town.
Relax on the terrace at Grillo,
catch up on the books you have been meaning to read for ages, take a dip in the pool, sunbathe, or do nothing!
Head to one of the markets and buy some fresh mozzarella, salami, tomatoes and salad
and have lunch al fresco on the terrace.
The weekly open-air market is part of Italian life.
Stalls laden with produce, scents and smells filling the air, and a crowd of Italians - finish the morning's shopping with a coffee in a bar. Go to Umbertide on Wednesday morning, Trestina on Tuesday and Cortona on Saturday morning.
Visit Arezzo on the first Sunday of the month and you will come across the famous antiques fair,
which takes place in the main piazza. Antique dealers come from all over Italy to attend. See if you can pick up a bargain!
Take the country roads to Lake Trasimeno,
at the centre of the country, and its fourth largest lake. Go to Castiglione del Lago for a wander around, a fish lunch and then a paddle in the lake. If you are there between 24 and 30 July, you will see the Palio of the Boats - a big boat race on the lake.
Pick up one of the many booklets available at the tourist offices.
They suggest various drives around Umbria based on different themes e.g. Art Trails, Wine, Life around the Lake. Discover Umbria at your own pace.
The Renaissance beauty of Urbino
Pop into Le Marche and the magnificent town of Urbino. The drive takes about 1 ½ hr through some lovely countryside. Urbino itself is a Renaissance beauty, with fantastic architecture.
If you want to visit Rome,
take the train from Perugia (2 ½ hrs) and maybe stay overnight. Italian trains are actually very efficient and good value. The best way of getting into Rome.
If you love jazz,
visit Perugia in July for its world famous Umbrian Jazz Festival. Performers come from all over the world, and concerts take place day and night.
Stargazing on the terrace
On a warm summer's evening, sit with a glass of wine on the terrace and wait for night to fall, to the sound of the cicadas. Count the number of stars you can see in the deep blue velvet sky.
Nearby
Towns/Villages
| San Leo Bastia | 15 mins | |
| Calzolaro | 15 mins | |
| Trestina | 20 mins | |
| Umbertide | 35 mins | |
| Cortona | 40 mins | |
| Citta di Castello | 40 mins | |
| Tuoro sul Trasimeno | 45 mins | |
| Sansepolcro | 50 mins | |
| Gubbio | 1 Hr 5 mins | |
| Perugia | 1 Hr 10 mins |
Airports
| Perugia | 40 mins | |
| Florence | 2 Hrs | |
| Bologna | 2 Hrs 40 mins | |
| Rome Fiumicino | 2 Hrs 45 mins | |
| Pisa | 2 Hrs 45 mins | |
| Rome Ciampino | 2 Hrs 45 mins |
Train Stations
| Camucia | 40 mins | |
| Tuoro s/Trasimeno | 50 mins | |
| Perugia | 1 Hr | |
| Florence S.M.N. | 2 Hrs 5 mins | |
| Rome Termini | 2 Hrs 55 mins |
