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….
HistoryThe 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.
- 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
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"
