Villa Marica
Near Urbino, Marche, Italy
Panoramic country villa sleeping up to twelve guests just outside Urbino, with large oval swimming pool
This unique 13th century building was once a hunting lodge to the Duke of Urbino before becoming a convent. Now it has been restored by its present owners into a luxury six bedroom villa, set in its own private grounds and with a large private swimming pool, complete with cascading fountains and outdoor shower.
Internally the property is full of historical clues to its previous uses, including some original 14th century frescoes which still adorn some of the bedroom walls.
On the spacious ground floor are two large living rooms, one with ancient original fireplace and lots of period furniture. The doors are painted in the original style with gold and intricate patterns and forms and the furniture and fittings all reflect the elegant importance of this unqiue villa.
Also on the ground floor is the well equipped kitchen and the separate dining room and a ground floor bathroom complete with shower.
The ground floor has several external doors making access to the private gardens, outdoor dining area , large barbecue and gazebo area and the pirvate pool all very simple.
Two of the properties six en suite bedrooms are also found on the ground floor and boast the original frescoes which are testimony to Villa Marica's noble and religious origins.
There is also a little concecrated chapel for those wishing to consider weddings at the property.
Upstairs are a further four en suite bedrooms arranged as three doubles and a twin but flexible. At the top of the staircase is a third living room.
The property is in a private location but is just five minutes drive from the wonderful Renaissance town of Urbino, birthplace to the great master Raphael, the son of a court painter in the town. His birthplace is now an interesting museum.
The town is renowned for its art and has been drawing artists and painters to its medieval walls for centuries. Today it boasts one of the highest concentration of artists and painters of any town in Italy.
For any tourist or traveller the town is mesmerising mix of small art galleries, stunning architecture and a maze of narrow steep cobbled streets.
The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of its most celebrated buildings has to be the Palazzo Ducale. From the mid-fifteenth century the town was home to one of the most important courts in Europe, that of Duke Federico di Montefeltro.
In large part he shaped the future prosperity of the town by inviting the noted poets and artists of the time to his court and housed them in the beautiful Palazzo Ducale with its unmistakable twin towers.
The property is ideally placed for day trips to Umbria, Tuscany and the Adriatic Coast.
ACCOMMODATION DETAILS
- Fully equipped kitchen with fridge freezer, oven and gas hobs
- Mature garden planted with a rich variety of shrubs and flowers, interspersed with small lawns
- Private swimming pool reached by a set of stone garden steps. Cascading fountains and outdoor shower
- Large outdoor Barbecue
- Cots available
- Outdoor tables and chairs for twelve guests
- Satellite TV
- Washing machine
*We also include a wine tasting and tour at the Umani Ronchi distillery. Click here for more details
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