DESCRIPTION OF THE LIVING AND SOCIAL AREAS:

Our farmhouse villa and two annexed pool area apartments, as well as the entire property’s surrounding land, is at your disposal when you reserve your stay with us. The main farmhouse has one main bedroom upstairs with king size bed and on-suite bathroom. The second bedroom is a sizable passthrough room (like a den) that is perfect for your little ones (up to two in our comfortable double sized sleeper sofa). If traveling as a couple with no children, then this passthrough room remains a den for you to enjoy. The second bathroom is small (it is a half bathroom) but perfectly functional and it is downstairs in the main living area.

The main living area is one big open space on the ground floor with antique terra-cotta tile flooring, an ancient fireplace made of solid blocks of locally sourced travertine, a large living room for lounging and dining room area for enjoying your meals, as well as a rustic open concept kitchen area with all necessary amenities (including the rare-in-Italy “American Fridge” with water and ice dispenser). No walls divide this large space, it is a beautiful open main floor design.

The terrace outside of the main farmhouse is large and beautiful. It faces north, south and west, with big open skies and sweeping views of the hills and Tiber River Valley below. The large covered terrace area has a long dining table for 10, where you may enjoy your morning coffee, day time lunches or romantic dinners, al fresco. The large uncovered terrace area is perfect for sun bathing, watching the sunset, and to lounge in the evenings with a small fire pit and a glass of vino. There is a barbecue for you to grill outside (charcoal), and a big interred fire pit for bon fires down below the main terrace on the grassy area next to the cantina (the cellar). Firewood is plentiful on property and will always be provided for you to use both in the fireplace in the main farm house, or for the bonfires outside. The cantina (cellar) is always cool in temperature and contains a selection of our farm produced olive oil and preserves (when available). Wine will be stored in the cantina for you to purchase, should you run out of your own supply. At the end of your stay, we will take inventory and will give you a bill for the items you will have consumed, if any (just as in a Hotel). There is a refrigerator in the cantina as well, in case you needed extra space for your big group.

The two annexed pool area studio apartments were built in the early 1990’s along with the beautiful swimming pool. The two studio apartments are large, with high ceilings and mirror one another. Each is described as such: As you enter, you will find the king sized bed and bathroom, as well as a comfortable living area with a couch that transforms into a double sleeper (up to 4 people fit in each apartment comfortably). Each apartment has its own small kitchenette for complete independence from the main farmhouse. Heating and AC come from brand new wall units. The water is heated with brand new instant water heaters.

The outside of the apartments boast a large covered and also a large uncovered terracotta tiled terrace with lounge furniture, fire pits and small tables. The view is of the beautiful swimming pool surrounded by tall cypress trees and olive producing trees. The swimming pool is not fenced (as it is not required in Italy), so please be aware of your children or of whomever does not know how to swim. Never leave children unattended at the pool. The two pool area apartments are a short 100 meter walk from the main farmhouse, and are perfect for two couples or two small families.

The land on our property is big and beautiful. You will have access to all of the acreage for nature walks and exploration. We are in the country and, as with any wild place, you must be aware of critters when venturing out. Umbria (and our area) is known for cinghiale (wild boar) and venomous vipers who hide in the tall grasses and under logs and stones. Please exercise common sense when trekking around our property (or anywhere in nature in Italy): be aware of your surroundings, wear closed shoes and pay attention. Do not let your children loose as they may not have the savviness to be careful enough. Use flash lights when walking on property at night, and be careful of uneven terrain.

Trees producing delicious fruits abound on our land. You are welcome to pick fruit and enjoy them as you like (just please be courteous and leave some for the next guests and for us). We have cherry trees, apricot trees, a pear tree, a walnut tree, a pomegranate tree and plenty of herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme). Obviously, different fruiting trees mature at different times of year, so you may not necessarily have all fruits available during your visit, however, know that they will be labeled on property and you are welcome to enjoy them if you see mature fruit.

ABOUT YOUR STAY WITH US:

The entire complex is available to you for rent for a minimum of 1 week, or longer should you want to enjoy a peaceful Umbrian vacation for more than 7 days. Whether you are a couple wanting to experience living in a rustic chic Italian farm setting all to yourself, or you are a larger family of up to 12 members, or a group of up to 12 friends, the entire property is yours. The farm is a holiday home (not a hotel) so you and your group will have your privacy for the entire length of your stay, without anyone checking in and out on random days. You will find peace and tranquillity and plenty of time to read books and explore nature here with us. The internet is quick enough to stream movies and for you to remote-work with.

Peak season, shoulder season and low season are described as you see in this paragraph. Each season comes with its own weekly/monthly rental rate, regardless of the number of travelers in your group (as all rental contracts include the entire property, no matter what). January, February, March = Low season. April, May = Shoulder season. June, July, August, September = High season. October = Shoulder season. November, December = Low season. The exception is the last 3 weeks of December = High season.

When you reserve the villa for your vacation stay, you will be guided through the process of finding our physical location on the map, should you need assistance. Casale Delle Querce was recently (as of September 2022) added onto Google Maps correctly (before this date, our country road did not exist on Google Maps! But now it does). The address to our property is: Vocabolo Petralata 119, Giove, Umbria, 05024, Italia. We will provide you with a simplified map for you to find us with no problems (in addition to your own Google Map directions), should you choose to rent a vehicle for your vacation. A vehicle is recommended as the little town of Giove is a 5 minute drive up the hill from the Autostrada (freeway) turn off. Rome’s airport is 1 hour and 10 minutes away on the freeway, and so much wonderful sightseeing is all around us (Montepulciano in Tuscany is 1 hour away, Orvieto is 20 minutes away, to name a few).

Should you decide to take the train to us from anywhere, our train stop is called BOMARZO-ATTIGLIANO. It is 3 kilometers away from our farmhouse. A car service/taxi would need to be reserved for the 3km walk to us when you check in and out, due to your luggage. We are here to help you with car hire/taxi reservations, do not worry, but you need to inform us well ahead of time so we may organize for you.

Once you arrive in our farmhouse, you will be greeted by myself (Alice) or one of my team members to help you settle into your space. We will hand you the keys and show you around the property so you may familiarize yourself for your stay. We will leave you be for your entire stay, but will always be one phone call or WhatsApp message or email away should you need anything. You will have access to extra bedsheets and towels and cleaning supplies (as if it were your home), or you may request a once or twice per week full clean of the lodging as well, no problem at all (as an extra service). Commercial grade washer and drier is on property for you to use as needed. The property will be stocked with essentials for your stay (such as paper towels, toiletries, and a welcome packet with information about the area, addresses to sites/grocery stores/pharmacies/restaurants etc, more).

ADDITIONAL SERVICES:

We are proud to offer you add-on services (additional fees) for your Italian vacation pleasure as well: (1) 3 days worth of groceries and drinks for you and yours upon your arrival (so you do not have to worry about running to the grocery store until you settle in a while) and additional grocery shopping for 3 day intervals worth of provisions, so you don’t have to shop at all (each shopping spree is one additional service fee, but it is a convenient way for you to not have to worry about stocking the fridge and is an option we are welcome to add anytime); (2) an incredible fun and delicious cooking class with lunch for a few hours on a convenient day during your stay (food, drinks, cooking, camaraderie and story-sharing with your Italian host and cook while you enjoy the activity and then the meal itself); (3) an informative and wonderful educated and professional Sommelier-lead wine tasting and workshop for a few hours during your stay, with small bites to pair (discover wines from small producers in the area and all over Italy); (4) a combination of cooking class/Sommelier wine pairing (food and vino is a perfect combination); (5) guided sightseeing tours to nearby points of interest such as Civita Di Bagnoreggio, Orvieto, Montepulciano in Tuscany, Narni/San Gemini/Assisi (wonderful and important villages in Umbria), historic hot and mineral springs such as Saturnia in Tuscany or Vulcii in Lazio, and various vineyards and wineries in the area, etc… (these guided tours leave around 10am and return around 5pm for a full day time exploration of central Italy); (6) guided nature trail hikes and foraging experiences where we will enjoy looking for our own edible plants and herbs as well as priced truffles and porcini (and other) mushrooms when in season (hiking and/or easy walks in nature are a wonderful way to occupy a few hours of your day in the countryside of Umbria).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

As with any stay in any vacation lodging in the world, you enter in a contract with us which stipulates responsibilities on your part.
- The sets of keys will incur a $50 replacement charge per set if lost. - You break it, you pay for it policies are in place (you will be charged with either a repair or a replacement cost of whatever you may break). - Extra services are available and charged per service (prices are within this website and the signed contract). - Be responsible for your own safety and well-being when on property by paying attention to wildlife around you, uneven terrain, un-protected swimming pool, low branches, steep cliffs, and more. - Electricity is VERY expensive in Italy so you are required to shut off lights (inside and outside) as well as AC and heating units every time you exit a room or exit a property (shut all lights when you are asleep at night too - no need to light the driveway for the wild boar while you are in bed). Any major increase in our costs on the part of the electricity company coinciding with your stay, you will be billed for upon check out. - You will find a professionally cleaned environment upon check in, please make sure you leave our Casale as tidy as possible by depositing your garbage and recycling into the appropriate bins by the front gate before you leave. Our Casale will be professionally cleaned