In a picturesque location between green meadows and sunflower fields, amidst the rolling Tuscan hills near the town of Cortona, Italy, you will find Podere 500, a holiday home that was once a traditional farmhouse. Behind its weathered stone walls, a surprisingly modern holiday home with spacious rooms and a bright and airy ambience awaits you.
Podere 500’s Belgian owners restored the property over nearly five years. Its spacious rooms with high vaulted and wood-beam ceilings, and its round arches and terracotta floors, have been supplemented with modern elements. A concrete staircase with no balustrade, seating areas on concrete benches, wall panels separating the bathrooms, as well as the modern kitchen unit lend this old building a contemporary flair. What’s more, its minimalist interior design that effortlessly balances a cool and homely aesthetic allows the panoramic views of the hills and the city of Cortona to take centre-stage.
Various terraces surround the house and there is also an outdoor lounge corner and barbecue area. You will always find an ideal spot, no matter what time of day—in the sun or in the shade, whichever you choose. At the centre of the 5000 square metre garden there is also a heated swimming pool which you can enjoy until November.
What to do
Exploring the towns and attractions of the area: the house is located in southern Tuscany near Montepulciano, Arezzo, Siena and Florence, as well as nearby Umbria with Lake Trasimeno, Perugia and Assisi. Sports: 2 golf courses nearby, tennis, mountain biking. Wine tasting, music festivals (jazz and classical music). There are excellent restaurants and shops nearby.
Why we like this house
A great house for a vacationing with a big family or with groups of friends, since there are rooms for both social get-togethers and private retreats. The house is situated in a quiet valley but is close to many cultural sites, which makes it the perfect starting point from which to explore the area.
This house is great for
Holidays with family and friends. Mid-season this house can also be rented for smaller groups.
Details
| Region | IT – Italy, Tuscany, Cortona |
| Design | Podere 500 |
| Scenery | Amidst meadows and fields, with a great view of Cortona |
| Number of guests | max. 10 (+2) |
| Completed | 2016 |
| Architect | Stephan Bleecks and concept 41, Belgium |
| Published | stijlvol wonen (Belgium and NL), elpais.com (08/2017) |
| Architecture | Old & new |
| Accomodation | House |
| Criteria | 1-4 (house/apartment), 1-6 (house/apartment), 8+ (house/apartment), Family, Garden, Golf, Hiking, Pool |
Availability calendar
The calendar shows the current availability. Days with a dark grey background are not available, while days in white are available for bookings
Hi Annelies & Stephan,
our stay at Podere500 has been wonderful. You can take that almost literally. It’s not that we saw a mother Mary apparition or anything like that, but still, the effects of our stay are longlasting. The place does something to you. The world looks different, more beautiful standing in your garden. And life feels lovelier on the inside of the tasteful interior of Podere500. When we left, we took the place with us, and keep thinking about it regularly. In everyday’s hectic rush to the next meeting or deadline, thinking back to that paradise on earth is my favorite meditation. Thanks so much!
Seth
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Wir haben im August eine wundervolle Woche mit der Großfamilie in diesem außergewöhnlich schönen Haus verbracht. Hier wurde wirklich an alles gedacht. Sobald wir das Haus betraten fühlten wir uns wohl und zu Hause. Luigi hat uns begrüßt und alles erklärt, auf dem Küchentisch stand schon ein frisch gebackener Kuchen für uns bereit.
Die Einrichtung im schlichten skandinavischen Stil lädt zum Wohlfühlen ein, jedes Zimmer bietet ausreichend Privatsphäre für alle. Im August haben wir natürlich die meiste Zeit draußen verbracht. Bei den vielen schönen Sitzecken fiel die Auswahl gar nicht leicht. Der Pool mit Blick auf das wunderschöne Städtchen Cortona war wundervoll und wurde von Luigi während unseres Aufenthalts sehr gepflegt. Luigi war auch bei jeder anderen Frage immer ansprechbar und wahnsinnig freundlich. In diesem Haus fehlt es wirklich an nichts.
Die Lage ist ebenfalls großartig. In wenigen Minuten hat man mehrere Supermärkte erreicht, Cortona liegt ebenfalls vor der Tür und auch die Städte, Arrezzo und Siena sind schnell zu erreichen.
Wer außer dem Pool noch weitere Möglichkeiten für Wassersport sucht, ist schnell am Lago Trasimeno.
Vielen Dank an Annelies & Stephan, die Besitzer des Hauses. Die Kommunikation mit den beiden war wundervoll unkompliziert. Auch, als wir unsere Buchung aufgrund von Corona um ein ganzes Jahr verschieben mussten, konnten wir das mit ihnen ganz einfach regeln.
Wir würden auf jeden Fall sofort wieder in dieses tolle Haus fahren.
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In the summer of 2022 we were allowed to be guests in this beautiful property. Already the first impression is fantastic. The house and interior gives a great feeling of living. It is the light, the air, the whole compostion of the individual factors that immediately create the great atmosphere. Especially the pool gave us cooling in the hot summer months. The indoor and outdoor areas offer many different ways to relax and linger. The spaciousness also offers many guests the opportunity to find his own space. From the garden there is a great view of the historic town of Cortona at any time of the day and night. Very important for us to mention what great hosts Annelies and Stephan are. For the arrival everything is arranged, the lasagna and the Italian tiramisu are waiting in the fridge on request. Luigi is the caretaker of the property and a soul of a man. He is always approachable. And then there are the helpers who keep the property in fantastic condition, but who do not make an appearance during the stay. We always had the feeling of being alone and yet were completely taken care of. Annelies and Stephan took a lot of information about the area togehter. It made it possible for us to explore this region of Tuscany very comfortably. Vacation at its best. We can highly recommend a stay.
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Dear Annelies, the stay in your house was very special. After a very difficult time we were longing for a relaxing vacation to clear our heads. The house is just wonderful and when we arrived we were overwhelmed. We were also amazed at how clean the house was (considering its size!). Your cleaning staff really does an excellent job.
The surrounding area is beautiful, we especially loved Cortona. I think we will definitely see you again.
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Ein in seiner Schlichtheit wunderschönes und perfekt durchdachtes Haus in einer wundervollen Umgebung. Alles ist sehr großzügig gestaltet, perfekt für eine große Familie oder Urlaub mit Freunden. Die Betreuung von Luigi ( grazie mille !)während unseres Aufenthaltes war super freundlich und hilfsbereit . Ein einzigartiger Sehnsuchtsort !Wir haben im September 2021 einen traumhaft schönen Urlaub dort verbracht.
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