|
Key selling points
- Both properties fully restored and independant of each other - both popular holiday-rental properties.
- 2 miles from Valnerina and Flaminia that run the length of Umbria - easy accessibility to anywhere in Italy.
- Centrally located in the best position of the pedestrian village.
- Large hall-ways and landings give a feeling of spaciousness throughout.
- Magnificent views from all windows at back - front windows and doors open onto pedestrian street.
- Many shops, bars and restaurants 2 miles away + a beautiful public pool with tennis courts.
Il Castello : 4 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen, 2 large reception rooms + 1 large terrace
L'Arco : 1 double bedroom, 1 kitchen/diner + 1 bathroom
Fully connected to mains drainage, gas, water and electricity + double glazing throughout.
10 miles from central Spoleto and 2 miles from shops, bars and restaurants etc, beautifully restored, walled and pedestrianised and, looking like a picture post-card, 10C San Mamiliano was originally a fortress built by the Vatican around the 10C to protect its boundary with Perugia. In the middle ages, the Pope would stay in San Mamiliano on his way to Rome.
This spacious property, a converted tower on 3 floors, was substantially restructured and modernised to architectural standards 12 years ago. Unfortunately, the property is too old to have retained its original features on the inside, except for its 5 stone, arched doorways. Instead of having the inside of the house cosmetically restored to look old, we opted for a light, airy and modern ambience. The outside of our house, however, along with all the other dwellings in San Mamiliano that have undergone restoration, has retained all its original features.
Il Castello, the house, and L'Arco, the adjoining but independant apartment, together comprise : a large terrace with the most spectacular views across the mountains and the valleys; 5 double bedrooms; 3 bathrooms (2 with tubs + hand-held showers); 2 fully fitted kitchens (1 in main house, the other in next door apt) + 2 large reception rooms.
One of the sitting/dining rooms in Il Castello includes a large, rustic fireplace.
Both Il Castello and L'Arco have all mod cons, including gas central heating.
Please note that while Il Castello and L’Arco are next door to each other, their entrances are in different streets; so, if you wished to rent out either of these properties, you may never see your guests, unless you specifically wish to ! However, the back door of Il Castello (usually locked to ensure privacy for the occupants of both properties) opens onto the patio/garden and the front entrance of L'Arco. Further, the 2 properties have a common wall, which could be easily knocked through to make one extra-large property.
The arrival of supermarkets in the nearby towns and cities is a sure sign that things are developing in Umbria : a few years ago, we were connected to mains water and gas. Before then, we were dependent on an underground stream for water and wood for heat. However, in spite of the availability of gas, wood remains the local Italian’s major source of heat and since most local Italians still prefer to cook on the fire, wood is essential for this purpose too.
Unlike many mountain villages, which are serviced only by "white" roads made up of stones and boulders, there is easy access by car to San Mamiliano via 3 good, tarmacked roads, that each lead to neighbouring villages, shops and restaurants as well as the Valnerina and the Flaminia. These 2 main roads run the length of Umbria and, using either of these roads, you can reach anywhere in Umbria, easily and quickly. They are on either side of the hill, upon which San Mamiliano is perched and it takes about 10 minutes to drive to either of them - neither of the roads can be seen or heard from the village. Indeed, there is no sound of traffic whatsoever from any of the nearby roads.
There is still no public transport to San Mamiliani. Therefore, a car is absolutely essential. Or a mule or an Api – forms of transport some of our villagers still favour !
The nearest large village is Ferentillo, 2 miles down the hill. Here you can find everything...bars, shops and restaurants, including a doctor's surgery and a post-office.
The local and very beautiful pool is just 5 mins by car down the hill towards Ferentillo. It is set in the mountains and has a bar with the usual amenities, including tennis courts.
At nearby Marmore Falls, the largest in Europe, there is white-water rafting. And, rock-climbing and hang-gliding are on offer in the hills.
The few remaining San Mamilianese have retained their traditional way of life as land-owning farmers producing wine, olive-oil, tomatoes and various fruits for local shops and providing the local eateries with fresh truffles.
The land around San Mamiliano is “wooded” much of the year and the huge logs are brought down the mountains by packs of mules and delivered to all the neighbouring villages.
All these activities, including olive pressing and grape harvesting are to be evidenced throughout the year and make for extremely picturesque viewing.
Cultural activities abound. Amongst the most prestigious is the International Spoleto Festival which attracts world-famous musicians, dancers and celebrity guests (3 wks June/July). In fact, Prince Charles was reported in our local press to have bought a villa nearby having claimed that Spoleto was one of his favourite places in the world. Less famous, but extremely spectacular, nonetheless, is the festival devoted to St. Valentine which takes place in his
actual “resting” place of Terni (I wk Feb) and involves a vast diversity of musical events, carnivals, fancy dress and wine-tastings.
There are many other big festas, too, ranging from the slightly less prestigious, but still spectacular, festival at Todi (the unofficial rival to Spoleto), the specialist Flower festival at San Gemini and the Water festival at Piediluco (all close by)…..to the hundreds of more modest, commune sponsored festas where you can dance, eat and drink all night and it will cost you virtually nothing. And, for those of you who are musical, there are always concerts, master classes etc on in Terni, Spoleto and the smaller places such as Bevagnia and Montefalco…...
Then there is the Piediluco lake which was famously painted by that great impressionist, Turner. It is 4 miles away. Here, also, there are many bars and restaurants.
And, Greccio nr Rieti, where St Francis spent much of his later life, is teaming with monasteries and churches. It is about 5 miles away.
The area surrounding San Mamiliano is to be most appreciated by those who love tranquillity, walking in woods and mountains and enjoying the spectacular scenery which looks across at the Apennines and over the surrounding valleys but who do not wish to be isolated. It is off the main tourist routes, relatively undiscovered and, therefore, it is unusual to see other visitors in the immediate surroundings. Yet, we have easy access to all the main attractions…..Assisi, Perugia and Rome, places like Spoleto, Todi and Piediluco being relatively close by.
So, both L’Arco and Il Castello, in this fairy-tale, hill-top, walled village of San Mamiliano, nestling just below the snow-line and often above the clouds, with the sweep of deep valleys rising to mountain peaks, silhouetted against brilliant blue skies, are perfect for those who wish to experience tranquility and savour the atmosphere of a bygone era in a relatively unspoilt and beautiful part of the world, without feeling isolated.
|
Site
Services: