Le Terre Dei Cavalieri Resort

The estate consists of a Farmhouse and a Leopodina (a name given to farmhouses built around the age of Grandduke Leopold in the 1700s) built in the 18th century as well as a large park featuring a stunning swimming-pool with whirlpool bath that will invite you to spend pleasant and relaxing hours in one of Tuscany’s most enchanting settings. They designed this unique place for you, to enjoy an intense and unrepeatable experience, making you feel part of an environment where things have remained unchanged and the past seems to be brought back to life everyday in its charm and character. You will be able to dine in a kitchen that used to accommodate over thirty people at a time, sleep in the bedroom converted form the old cattle shed where farmers used to spend sleepless nights watching over their cows delivering their calves, sleep in the “tracantone” bed, sleep in the bedroom located in the Loggia or in the bedroom converted from the old dove-tower, a shelter where doves where bred by farmers. Fireplaces will tell you and remind you of stories that were told gathering around them in the cold winter nights. Walls are decorated with paintings and pictures but the best images you will be able to behold will come, as if by magic, from the windows opening onto stunning natural settings such as the dark mountains hanging over Cortona, the sweet and seamless country-side and the noble profile of Cortona….

The estate consists of a Farmhouse and a Leopodina (a name given to farmhouses built around the age of Grand Duke Leopold in the 1700s) built in the 18th century during the extensive reclamation of the Valdichiana by the Grand Dukes of Tuscan and members of the Order of the Knights of St. Stephen and Malta. The Leopoldina whose construction was completed in 1796 still displays on its façade a coat of arms attesting to the origin of the estate. As the estate was built to accommodate many people (the holding was very large) Leopoldina houses were built over two floors the ground floor usually featuring a hallway or portico with the typical covered loggia or a portico on the ground floor and a loggia on the upper floor. All Leopoldine were dominated by a quadrangular Torre Colombaia (literally a dove tower as dovecote really would be underestimating its size, where doves were bred).We called our estate Le Terre dei Cavalieri as the apartments making up the same were named after the land that was known for many years by this name by farmers living in the area. Il Confine (the border) refers to the estate, La Reglia is the stream running by it, La Colmata means reclaimed land (slightly up the hill) whilst Il Chiarone is the name of a plot of land so called for the sunshine reflecting off of it. The term Cavalieri (Knights) reminds us of the religious Order of St. Stephen belonging to the Knights of Malta. The Order used to protect the ancient Grand ducal Farm of Creti and Santa Caterina which our estate belonged to. Renovation work carried out on the estate lasted three years during which old “cocciopesto” (lime mortar and crushed bricks) plasters were restored, walls were painted with natural lime-based paints, old fire-places were kept unaltered, cross vaults in the old cattle shed were cleared out and reinforced and pillars bounding the spans were stuccoed.

THE ROOMS The 14 rooms were carefully furnished in typical Tuscan style with handmade-cotto floors, ceilings with original exposed wooden beams, stuccoed walls, original antique pieces and typical objects from the peasant tradition of the old days. Bed headboards were converted from old doors retrieved form the old farmhouse and finely restored; all bed spreads are hand-woven on the loom. Some of the rooms were named after the old farmers that used to live in them. All rooms are fully independent and look out over a large living-room; all rooms feature a private bathroom with crystal shower cubicles; some of the bathrooms are equipped with Jacuzzi shower-sauna. All rooms are equipped with independent heating, air conditioning, safe deposit box, satellite TV, private telephone line and hair-dryer. La Colombaia The suite La Colombaia is the pride and joy of the Villa. This exclusive suite is located in the old turret of the Leopoldina and provides guests with a stunning view on all sides. The suite has a private entrance and is accessed from the large hall of the Villa. The suite consists of one bathroom with shower and a studio looking out over the loggiato (an extra bed may be added here). The small windows in the bedroom that once served as nest holes for doves and pigeons make the suite unique casting light on the walls at sunset. Le Grate This suite was named after the grating adorning its windows. The suite features two independent entrances (one from the garden and one from the main entrance of the Villa). The suite consists of one double bedroom, one private bathroom with shower and a living room with an optional kitchenette. La Loggia This is a charming deluxe room looking out over the loggiato featuring cotto floors and smart garden furniture for pleasant moments of relaxation. The room has one private bathroom with shower and provides guests with a stunning view over the Valdichiana countryside. L’Amabile This is a large deluxe room elegantly furnished with carefully restored antique pieces from an old farming family including an old warming pan once called locally a “prete a letto” (“priest in the bed”). Its sky-blue walls obtained from the particular restoration of the old plaster feature (here more than in other premises) the typical cloud-effect. The room has one private bathroom and looks out over the living-room of the Villa leading out onto the loggiato. L’Amelia This is an original deluxe room featuring greenish hues typical of our country-side. The room has one private bathroom; an extra bed may be added optionally. The room looks out over the living-room of the Villa leading out onto the loggiato.

THE APARTMENTS Spacious interiors, rooms decorated and furnished with extreme care for detail, typical vaulted or brickwork ceilings, handmade cotto tiles laid with narrow joints as was once the custom in Tuscany all contribute to making this place unique and cosy. All apartments feature a fully equipped kitchen with electric oven, microwave oven, dish-washer, toaster. All apartments are equipped with independent heating, air conditioning, satellite TV, safe deposit box. At Le Terre dei Cavalieri both rooms and apartments may be booked for just one night; B&B service available on request. La Colmata The apartment took its name from the Italian term for “reclaimed land” (slightly up the hill). The apartment features two large independent bedrooms with private bathroom: - la Lisa, a classic bedroom with a view over the country-side and private bathroom featuring a liberty-style bath-tub and la Margherita, a classic bedroom featuring a distinctive niche over the bed whose headboard was converted from an old door from the farmhouse. The large living-room has a sleeper-sofa, a third bathroom, open fireplace and kitchen. The apartment looks out over the surrounding country-side; the apartment also features a private space with pergola right in front of the old wood-burning oven of the farmhouse. Here guests will be able to dine outdoors in the pleasant summer evenings.Tot 110 sq. metres - sleeps "4+2" La Reglia The apartment was named after the small stream running through the surrounding land. The apartment consists of two large independent bedrooms with private bathroom: - l’Olga, deluxe room with two windows, access room and Jacuzzi shower-sauna (an extra bed may be added optionally) and l’Ada, a classic bedroom opening out onto the garden and a view over the swimming-pool (optional extra bed available). The large living-room features a double sleeper-sofa, a large open fireplace and a kitchen. View over the swimming-pool and surrounding mountains. A private outdoor space is provided where guests can enjoy pleasant moments of relaxation. Total 114 sq. metres - sleeps"4+2" Il Chiarone The apartment took its name from the reflection of the moon on the old marshland. The apartment is accessed by means of the old original stone stairway of the farmhouse and consists of two independent bedrooms with private bathroom: la Bruna with a queen-sized bed, a view over the surrounding mountains and a nice mezzanine accommodating a comfortable single bed and la Devota featuring three arches one of which topping a small original window. The bathroom features a Jacuzzi shower-sauna. The large living-room with kitchen features an old painted ledge.Tot 110 sq. metres – sleeps "4+1" Il Confine The name Confine refers to the border of the estate. The apartment consists of 3 large independent bedrooms with private bathroom: la Nunzia, a classic bedroom featuring a typical Tuscan “tracantone” bed, i.e. a bed located “between corners”, that is in the corner of the room. The bathroom features a Jacuzzi shower-sauna - la Gisella, a large deluxe room with a “tracantone” bed and an optional extra bed“ - la Nanna, a classic bedroom featuring a small charming mezzanine accessed by means of an old original brick stairway . The large living-room with kitchenette and an 18th century open fireplace is actually the old farmers’ kitchen where the patriarchal family gathered around the fireplace to listen to old stories told by the elderly family members. A niche in the wall still accommodates the old stone sink. Tot. 142 sq.metres - sleeps"6" Villa La Caggiola The Villa was named after the small pathway leading to the farmhouse of the Leopoldina. The Villa consists of four large completely independent double bedrooms (3 deluxe rooms and one suite) with private bathroom as well as one kitchen, one studio room and a large living-room with original 18th century open fireplace and an old sink. The living-room opens out onto the external loggia where guests will be able to engage in pleasant conversation before the hues and scents of the Tuscan country-side. Tot. 369 sq.metres – sleeps "8+2"

• 6 X 12 mt. swimming pool with whirlpool bath. Solarium, bathrooms and showers
• Air conditioning – heating.
• Each room is equipped with complimentary bathroom products and hair-dryer.
• Satellite TV in each bedroom, in all kitchen-living rooms and in the hall.
• Safe deposit boxes
• Park and garden.
• Mountain bikes.
• Laundry room with dryer.
• External barbecue.
• All kitchens are equipped with dish-washer, electric oven, microwave oven and refrigerator

Available upon request:

• Tuscan cooking classes
• Italian language courses
• Visits with tastings to wineries, cheese dairies and olive-oil mills
• Theme dinners (min. 10 guests)
• Extra cleaning service
• Baby sitting service