700 years ago, San Silvestro was a little church – now it’s a charming villa in Tuscany, and excellent value too!

Cortona is one of Tuscany’s most sought-after locations. Famously featured in the popular movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" this cosmopolitan little town boasts a generous handful of excellent eateries and some very stylish shops line the atmospheric, medieval streets within the ancient city walls. The wide views across the valley towards Lake Trasimeno are fabulous. And nestling below the ancient town, just 2 miles away, is historic San Silvestro.

With a view of nearby Cortona, San Silvestro was originally a country church in the 1300s and a fresco of the saint is still there by the front door.

It’s a simple country house that can’t fail to win your heart. It is private and entirely peaceful. The warmly welcoming owners live in their fine villa about 50 yards away. Carla speaks reasonable English and her husband, the endlessly kind and considerate Paolo, will make himself understood no matter the gaps in your Italian or his English! They’ll happily offer local advice whenever needed, but they’ll never get in your way.

This is a two story house. On the lower floor is the sitting room, with its two comfy couches, which leads to the dining room. The kitchen has been completely refitted and includes a dishwasher. There's also a small bathroom with shower on this floor.

Upstairs are the bedrooms: a large double with superb country furniture, a bedroom with two singles that s also large and small single room. The bathroom on this floor has a shower.

Upper floor:
- 1 double bedroom,
- 1 bedroom with single beds,
- 1 small single bedroom,
- bathroom with shower

Lower floor:
- sitting room with working fireplace,
- dining room,
- kitchen with dishwasher,
- bathroom with shower

Broadband (wireless), washing machine, pool towels, barbecue, table football.

The swimming pool is situated about 50 metres from the house.

This is a delightful country home for those in search of Tuscany at its most authentic. The great fig tree and the huge bay tree near the kitchen door have already shaded many a satisfied visitor. Live the genuine “simple life” at San Silvestro - a holiday experience to treasure.

For shopping you have the village of Camucia, just a mile away, with a couple of supermarkets, banks, several bars and eateries, and some interesting shops to explore - and the cantina sells local wines at ridiculously cheap prices! Pick up a pizza from the excellent take-away and head back home to watch the sun go down over Cortona. Shopping at Cortona is a more sophisticated experience but of course it s more touristy. However you can buy some gorgeous clothes there and the local pottery is highly temptatious, while the famous Etruscan museum gives an interesting glimpse of life over 2,000 years ago. So you have two interesting and very different local towns to choose from, and both within a 10 minute drive of San Silvestro.

The owners offer their own cold pressed olive oil for sale.

Getting around

Cortona is only 3KM from the house and easily accessed by bus or taxi or car. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes to get to Cortona centre by car, there are car parks on the outskirts. There is a bus that you can take a few minutes walk away from the house and it takes about 15 minutes to get into the centre. Alternatively, to walk it takes 40 minutes. There's a train station in Camucia which takes 5 minutes to drive to, 15 mins by bus or a 25 minute (easy) walk.