Poolside italian holiday apartments with stunning views

Casa del Picchio Verde

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Near Sant'Angelo in Pontano, Marche, Italy

Idyllic country villa with two apartments, three B&B en suite double rooms comprising a total of five bedrooms sleeping 10 guests, with private panoramic swimming pool (12x6m)

This lovely stone-built villa and adjoining converted barn is set atop a hill in the Piceno region of Marche, boasting wonderful views and even better sunsets.

Set in the hills around the pretty Marche village of Sant'Angelo in Pontano, the views that stretch down to the coast 30 miles away from its lofty position is Casa del Picchio Verde. And to the west the Monti Sibillini mountain chain stretches away to the horizon, home to wonderful wildlife treasures and stunning scenic walks.

The local village of Sant'Angelo in Pontano is rich in history. The first part of the name is a clear reference to Saint Michael Archangel, worshipped by the Lombards, whose image appears on the village coat of arms.

According to tradition the last word derives from “pantano” meaning swamp, as it seems that in early times there was some marshland in the valley below the village. More likely, the name comes from being located in the administrative district of the Gastaldato Pontano, established by the Lombard Duke of Spoleto.

The village clearly has important origins as some of its buildings testify, including a 12th century Romano-Gothic church and other buildings including a watchtower dating from similarly distant origins.

Guests at Casa del Picchio Verde are extremely well looked after by the owner Riccardo, who is always available to ensure everything runs smoothly. Even breakfast can be provided for guests at the villa on request.

The main villa has three double en suite rooms available for rent, in high season for a minimum of three nights but in other months for as little as one night on request.

The property is nestled in a spellbindingly enchanting garden which has taken years of pleasant toil and an extremely sophisticated labyrinth of irrigation to bring to its lush and abundant state. For gardeners and garden-lovers alike this enchanted place will provide much pleasure.

The pool is located between the main villa and the converted barn, which houses the two self-catering apartments.

The apartments are very nicely and recently decorated and furnished. Each is spacious, around 60sqm, including the mezzanines where the double en suite bedrooms are located. Both have wifi broadband, TV, a modern fully equipped kitchen, outdoor terrace, parking and stunning views towards San Ginesio and the coast.

The panorama from this secluded hilltop perch is truly picture postcard and offers a view of unspoilt and traditional rural Italy.

The local villages of San Ginesio and Sant'Angelo in Pontano are largely untouched since medieval times yet both support thriving local communities, where rural traditions survice and flourish and where virtually everyone grows at least some of their own food, wine or olive oil. Each has a small selection of bars and shops frequented by the locals and in the villages and the surrounding countryside are plenty of friendly restaurants and agriturismos, which make dining out at a different place every day an easily achieved pleasure.

Back at the property a well equipped outdoor barbecue close to the main villa is available for general use.

The property is perfectly located in this mountainous and coastal region, lying roughly halfway between the two natural attractions.

The Monti Sibillini National Park boasts some of the highest mountains in the Apennines, with Monte Vettore the highest in the park at 2,476m (8,124 ft) and many others including Sibilla and Priora (both well over 2,000m) which dominate the skyline for miles around.

Wildlife abounds, with a stable wolf population, deer, plenty of wild boar (often on the menu!), porcupines, hares, eagles, falcons and hawks all present in the park.

There is wonderful walking, with footpaths marked and described on maps available in information centres in all the towns and villages in the park. There are also peaks with a truly alpine character, like Monte Bove, whose formidable north face offers climbing for mountaineers.

Meanwhile the Adriatic Coast is dotted with seaside resorts and hundreds of restaurants and bars catering for the influx of Italian and foreign tourists during the summer months.

Le Marche is certainly one of Italy’s best kept secrets and its rural nature means it has remained very traditional and relatively untouched by excessive tourism.

But there is plenty to see and do in this part of central Italy during your stay at this exclusively located Marche villa.

Marche Holiday Homes organises a whole range of holiday activities designed to suit all tastes and ages – from walking in the Sibillini with expert guides to guided treks into the mountains on horseback for experienced riders.

From wine tours and art classes, to skydiving and quad-biking, from chilling out on our two chartered yachts to white water rafting, it is our pleasure to organise it all for you.

There is a large choice of charming medieval villages and towns to visit in this area of Marche. Many hold their own sagras amd festivals on religious feast days in the summer months so be sure to keep a look out for the street signs which advertise each town's special parties.

Festas are often held over several days in the open air so take advantage of the chance to join in, sit down with the people of the area and taste some typical local dishes, washed down with a fine glass of wine and normally some live music.

Just some of the towns in the area which are worth a stroll around and more include San Ginesio, Monte San Martino, Amandola, Penna San Giovanni, Falerone, Force, Comunanza, Fermo, Ascoli Piceno and Servigliano.

Most have their own vibrant markets once a week, selling a mixture of local produce and clothing. A great place to buy your food, with fresh vegetables and fruit in abundance and a nice opportunity to stroll around the town amongst the locals and perhaps even buy a little souvenir of your holiday.

And at Casa del Picchio Verde walkers and nature lovers are ideally located to take advantage of the 3000sq km of national parks on your doorstep, boasting simply stunning views and unspoilt wilderness which is home to an abundance of flora and fauna.

Wildlife abounds with a truly intact environment, from A-list predators such as the brown bear, Apennine wolf and golden eagle, to fragile Artic flowers and plants which hold on in the higher mountain meadows, a relic from a glacial past. So grab a guidebook and your walking boots, or hop on a bike, take a trek on a horse or even just drive through the parks in your car and take advantage of this wonderful unspoilt area of the Apennines.

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

- Satellite TV

- Wi-fi internet access

- Uniform pool depth (1.5m)

- Washing machine and laundry room

- Mature fragrant garden with stunning views

- Large swimming pool and outdoor shower

- Outdoor Barbecue

- Outdoor private dining

- Horse riding, tennis close by

- Fans in each bedroom

- pool towels provided at €10 per week