Villa Carmen

A 10-bedroom, 17th Century estate in Tuscany that is so captivating that it became the setting for "Under The Tuscan Sun", a film about love & beauty in the Italian Countryside.

Tuscany-Eastern/Cortona-Arezzo Villa 20

Can a Tuscan villa change your life? We think so. And so does Frances Mayes, author of the best-selling memoir Under the Tuscan Sun. In the book – later adapted into a film by the same name, starring Diane Lane and shot right here at Villa Carmen – Mayes purchases a charismatic but battered villa in the hilltop Tuscan town of Cortona and organizes its painstaking restoration. At the time Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed, Villa Carmen (called Bramasole in the film) was a perfect setting, with its well-aged patina mirroring the pre-renovation villa in Mayes’ story. Then, post-filming, Villa Carmen underwent its own loving restoration, so that others could have trans-formative experiences within its 17th century walls. A leisure estate comprised of a refurbished Villa, Farmhouse and Limonaia, Villa Carmen encourages a slower pace. A “paring down” of life to just a few essential ingredients: sunshine, time spent in green scenery (dappled vineyards, rolling hills, a mountain ridge, the villa’s fragrant gardens) and, of course, celebrating with family and friends over delectable food and wine.

At Villa Carmen, you can stretch out on a lounger by a pool in the gardens, on a hammock suspended between two fruit trees, or on a plush sofa underneath the Limonaia’s original, domed 17th century fresco ceiling. A hot tub bubbles in full view of sun-dappled mountains, and a game room provides billiards and board games. In-between games, nibble on some pizza fired in the authentic stone pizza oven. Each of the 10 bedrooms features its own en-suite bathroom, sweeping views across the Cortona valley and its verdant olive groves, and plush amenities like pillow-top beds wrapped in the highest thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and fluffy bathrobes and towels.

The Villa sleeps 10 guests in four large, first-floor bedrooms and one bedroom on the ground floor that’s a bit smaller. Each bedroom is infused with the subtle luxury of antique furniture and hand-woven fabrics. Four of these bedrooms feature a bathtub and shower; the other has a shower. All bathrooms boast gorgeous travertine floors and a selection of artisan, all-natural Italian grooming products.

10 BEDROOMS / 10 BATHROOMS


Features & Amenities - 

  • Concierge
  • Air-Conditioning 
  • Fireplace 
  • Wine Cellar 
  • Audio System
  • Balcony
  • Barbecue
  • Bicycle Storage
  • Chef/Butler Available
  • Organic Garden
  • Microwave
  • Olive Grove
  • Outdoor Dining Area (Alfresco)
  • Outdoor Spa
  • Outdoor Pool
  • Towels and linens
  • Flat Screen TVs
  • Vineyard
  • Wifi
  • Wood burning pizza oven

Villa Details - 

Farmhouse Bedrooms: Once a working farmhouse for holding livestock, this re-imagined building now accommodates eight guests in four luxury bedrooms. The carefully curated antique furniture and hand-woven fabrics complement the Farmhouse’s humble history. Flexible sleeping arrangements include one bed that can be separated into two twins or joined into a queen, as well as two queen-sized beds and one king. Each bedroom has garden views and its own bathroom with a shower; two of these bathrooms have bathtubs as well.

Limonaia Bedrooms: The remaining bedroom is housed in the Limonaia, where the estate previously stored its citrus trees through the winter. Take a deep breath and you may catch a hint of lingering citrus fragrance (though it may be wafting in from the garden just outside). A separate entrance, walk-out terrace with views of the valley, and a stunning 17th century fresco on the living room’s domed ceiling make this a Master suite unlike any you’ve ever seen.

Fully Equipped Chef-Style Kitchen:  Of course, we give careful attention to the cooking and eating spaces at Villa Carmen. The simple yet enchanting dishes of Tuscan cuisine deserve nothing less. Private Chefs are on hand to create culinary magic in the opulent, farmhouse-style kitchen with a grand center island. The cupboards are stocked with local, homemade products like marmalade, pasta, sauces, and oils. A year-round organic garden provides staple vegetables for our guests. When it’s time to feast, have a seat at the sprawling outdoor garden table underneath lush vines. Or, in the cooler months, tuck into the dining room table next to a flickering fire. In both dinnertime settings, wine from the stocked wine cellar is a must-have accompaniment.

Outdoor Living Areas: Dappled by lush greenery, the outdoor living areas include the estate gardens, fresh-air terraces, a farmhouse-style outdoor dining table, a Jacuzzi, and a sparkling pool. Each of these areas provides top-of-the-hill views of the Cortona valley and its mountain ridges.

Property Type
Villa
Region
Tuscany-Eastern/Cortona-Arezzo
Capacity
20
Special Selection
  • Deluxe World Class Property
  • Our Favorites
Features
  • Outdoor pool

Exclusions

Security Deposit

Distances

Cortona:2.5 kms, Lake Trasimeno: 12 kms, Montepulciano: 31 kms, Arezzo: 32 kms, Siena: 62 kms, Assisi: 69 kms, Designer Outlet Stores in Montevarch: 78 kms, Perugia: 84 kms, Florence: 121 kms Airports-Prugia: 68 kms, Florence:128 kms, Rome: 234 kms

Recommended Local Restaurants

In Cortona, 2.2 kms drive or 30 minute walk from villa

La Bucaccia-VIA GHIBELLINA 17, 52044 CORTONA  Tel  +390575606039   http://www.labucaccia.it  2.2 kms drive or 30 minute walk from villa. Housed in an old 13th Century medieval stable of a Renaissance palazzo built on a Roman road (part of which can still be seen in the main dining room), Many regard this as Cortona's finest address. Cuisine is Tuscan and Cortonese – much meat and handmade pasta (chestnut ravioli!) – and the cheese course is superb, thanks to owner Romano Magi who ripens his own. Dedicated gourmets won't be able to resist the six pecorino types with fruit sauces, homemade salsas and honeys. Excellent wine list. Moderate prices

Osteria del Teatro-VIA MAFFEI 2, 52044 CORTONA  Tel  +390575630556  www.osteria-del-teatro.it    2.2 kms drive or 30 minute walk from villa. A number of rooms with open fireplaces combine to create this trattoria's warm and lively atmosphere that is unmistakably reminiscent of a love for the theatre. And service is a performance in motion – waiters wield an oversized pepper grinder and attack blocks of locally produced chocolate with a butcher's knife. Nice wine list. Moderate prices.

Beerbone Artburger-Via Nazionale 55 Cortona 52044  Tel +39 0575 601790   www.facebook.com/cortonaburger  The feisty burgers cooked up at this contemporary restaurant on Cortona's main pedestrian street are no ordinary burgers. Select your Tuscan meat – Chianina beef or cinta senese pork, smoked over applewood – and choose between lavish toppings: truffles with truffle cream, fried egg and lettuce perhaps, or pecorino cheese with homemade syrah mayonnaise. Craft beer completes the tasty ensemble. Inexpensive and a very good value.

Cortona Bistrot-Via Santa Margherita 13, 52044, Cortona  Tel  +39 0575 62957  Very good, informal, small restaurant serving Roman and Tuscan food. There are some outdoor tables aavailable in good weather. Everything is made fresh in house. The very hospitable owners claim they have no microwave and no refridgerator. Moderate pricing.

Other areas

L'Antica Casina di Caccia-LOCALITÀ PIAZZANO 7, 06069 TUORO SUL TRASIMENO  Tel  +39075826226   www.villadipiazzano.com  5 kms drive from the villa, or an hour walk. As elegant as the beautiful Villa di Piazzano in which it is housed, this stylish restaurant also offers an outdoor dining area from where guests can admire the villa's beautifully tended garden. The young chef here creates regional dishes with a modern twist; the menu always features a couple of game dishes in tribute to the villa's history. Moderate pricing

Il Falconiere-LOCALITÀ SAN MARINO A BOCENA 370, 52044 SAN MARTINO  Tel  +390575612679  www.ilfalconiere.com  5 kms drive from the villa, or an hour walk. Fans of Tuscan cuisine will be in their element in this restaurant. It offers the full range of local meat specialities, herbs and spices, as well as fish dishes. An elegant choice, perfect for special occasions. One Michelin Star. Excellent wine list

Deposit

55% of the villa rental cost

Availability

Most of the year

Documents

Rates

Prices include all taxes, agency fees, foreign exchange fees, and credit card fees.

2018 Rates Starting At $19,990 per week

Reviews

"EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS"

CAROL W. - JULY 25TH, 2017

We had a lovely time at Villa Laura. I was so pleased to see Francesco standing at the front door to greet my family. Both Don and I admit that the week exceeded our expectations of a wonderful birthday gathering. The family dinners outside under the Tuscan Sky were my favorite memories of the trip; watching our families laugh, smile and enjoying the Tuscan fare was a wonderful present.

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