The House of the Old Oak Tree – Orvieto Area
- Minimum stay:N/A
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:No
- Wheel chair accessible:Yes
A century-old oak tree stands sentinel at the entrance of this property, located at the meeting place of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. It is owned and directly rented by a couple – American wife and Italian husband - who fell in love with its strategic location and its terraced, tree-shaded grounds.
The Location: Half way between Rome and Florence, an easy one and a half drive from each. Fifteen minutes south of Orvieto, site of one of the most beautiful Italian cathedrals and home to the internationally famous Umbria Winter Jazz Festival and a host of other cultural events. Other well-known spots that can be visited on day trips include Todi, Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto, Cortona, Montepulciano, Siena, Viterbo and many others. Thermal spas, mountain treks, weekly village markets are other attractions, while Bolsena lake can be reached in 15 minutes and Mediterranean beaches in an hour and a half. The entire area is a food and wine lover’s paradise, a quality to be explored in venues ranging from world famous five star restaurants to “trattorie” (simple eating places) and “sagre”, food festivals organized by the many small towns in the region to celebrate their patron saint, a typical dish, or a special moment of the agricultural calendar. Wine tasting visits to excellent local producers’ cellars can easily be arranged.
The Property: The house is set in a 2 acre terrain populated by a variety of trees: olives, cypresses, oaks, pines, hazelnuts, apricots, cherries and apples. The terrace in front of the house has a wisteria-covered pergola equipped for elegant rustic dinning, bordered by a riotous garden of roses, lavender and hydrangeas. A path winds down to the pool, surrounded by a terracotta pavement, which looks out over the Tiber Valley to the mountains and hill towns on the other side.
The Interior: The house has been restored with careful attention to both tradition and modern comfort. The interior was completely refurbished in 2012. The ceilings have original wooden beams and the floors are paved with terracotta tiles. The living space is composed of two apartments that can be separated. The smaller ground floor unit is composed of a double bedroom, a living/dining room with a fireplace and a sofa bed, kitchen and bathroom. The main unit has a large ground floor country kitchen-dinning-living room with a fireplace, and a separate area where the refrigerator and washing machine are located. A broad stone staircase leads up to the second floor with two double bedrooms, one single bedroom/study, and a bathroom. The thick stone walls keep the heat out during the summer. All the bedrooms have screens and fans. The house is equipped with central heating for the winter months. The furniture is tasteful and the kitchens are fully equipped.
Your hosts: Renato, a telecommunications manager with experience also in organic agriculture, is a natural problem solver. He will meet you on your arrival and answer all your questions. Nora, with a degree in Renaissance history and 30 years of experience with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, is an ideal source of advice on places to visit and food to try. They live in close-by Rome and are available by phone whenever you need them. Just down the road is Filippo, the farmer-helper.
Other amenities: The house contains a well-equipped library of guidebooks, maps and novels, games, a LED full HD television and a hifi home theater system with a collection of CDs and DVDs. Renato and Nora are on call to help you plan your visit and make local contacts. They have drawn up their own lists of sights, eating places, contacts. The property is a paradise for families with children, with lots of space for them to play safely. It features a host of different nooks where you can retire to read a book, sip a coffee or a glass of wine, or just relax. Commuter trains from Orvieto station make carefree day trips to cities like Rome or Florence, where you don’t need or want a car, a good option.
Seasons: This is an all-year round holiday house. In summer the days are long and golden, but spring and fall are also beautiful. They allow you to witness nature's rebirth, the harvesting of its fruits, and the traditions that accompany them. In winter the warm house and blazing fireplaces are a pleasure, and the holiday season brings religious celebrations, music festivals and feasts...
Property Type
- Farmhouse
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Meals
- Guests Provide Their Own Meals
Suitability
- Pets Not Allowed
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Children Welcome
Bedrooms
- 4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 9, Beds for 4-9
- Bedroom 1
- Bedroom 2
- Bedroom 3
- Bedroom 4
- Convertible bed(s)
- King size beds (3), Twin or Single Beds (1), Sleep Sofa or Futons (1)
Bathrooms
- 2.0 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1
- Bathroom 2
Kitchen & Dining
- Cooking Utensils
- Dishwasher
Amenities
- Babysitter
- Washing Machine
- Fireplace
- Linens Provided
Entertainment
- Music Library
- DVD Player
- Stereo
- CD Player
Communications
Pool & Spa
- Private Pool
Outdoor Features
- Outdoor Grill
- Gazebo
- Deck / Patio
Location & View
- Mountain View
Activities
- Churches
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Equestrian Events
- Medical Services
- Massage Therapist
- ATM/Bank
- Hospital
- Groceries
- Fitness Center
- Wildlife Viewing
- Shopping
- Eco Tourism
- Bird Watching
- Sight Seeing
- Scenic Drives
- Antiquing
- Horseback Riding
- Walking
- Winery Tours
- Ruins
- Restaurants
- Live Theater
- Theme Parks
- Playground
- Museums
- Library
- Cinemas
- Fishing
- Swimming
Reviews
Write a review-
Weekend at Renato's home
Weekend at Renato's home
- Guest Kristine
- Date of stay 01/11/13
- Review Submitted 03/01/13
Four friends and I spent a lovely, relaxing weekend at Renato's home in the countryside. The house was beautiful, spacious, cozy and had everything we needed and more. Renato was an excellent host and met us the evening we arrived. He took his time to chat, show us everything we needed to know and even had a fire going in the fireplace upon our arrival! The kitchen was fully equipped for cooking, with necessities such as oil, salt, coffee and dish soap provided. Renato was so thoughtful as to provide us with a fresh baked loaf of bread and milk for our first morning so we wouldn't have to immediately leave the house in search of a supermarket! The house is about an hour and a half drive from Rome and is a great "base" for exploring the many quaint Italian towns in the area. Renato's home was a great place for my group of friends to have a weekend getaway and it would be perfect for a family or families to spend a week together both relaxing and exploring the surrounding area. We enjoyed the house in the winter and I am sure when the weather is nice it is even more enjoyable with a big patio, table and chairs to eat outdoors and even a pool! I highly recommend The Old Oak House and compliment Renato for being a great and available host!Recommended for: Families with teenagers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
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Tops
Tops
- Guest nycqueen
- Date of stay 07/13/12
- Review Submitted 11/18/12
We stayed twice in Civitella-first Fall then the following Summer. House is comfortable and cozy even when weather gets chilly. Great location. 15 minutes from Orvieto, great shopping and restaurants. Especially enjoyed the wine bars and tasting local wines. Not far from Rome and cool little towns in Umbria and Tuscany- Overall perfect for a vacation in central Italy. Top-notch in cleanliness (my husband is a real stickler ) and comfort too.Recommended for: Families with teenagers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing, people with disabilities, families with young children.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
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Perfect location
Perfect location
- Guest deb
- Date of stay 09/15/12
- Review Submitted 11/18/12
The House of the Old Oak Tree proved to be a perfect location for our extended family get-together, with members of our party ranging in age from 10 to 80. We were able to visit a number of wonderful spots on our days out: Todi and Orvieto were our particular favorites. And how lovely to be able to plunge into the perfectly secluded pool on our return! We found that the property corresponded completely to the listing description, and Nora and Renato, our hosts, could not have been more helpful and accomodating. We are already planning our return trip next year. This place is just right for both sight-seeing and relaxing. Thoroughly recommended.Recommended for: Families with teenagers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
Rates
High Season (May-Sept + Christmas/New Year Period) - 1 Week min.stay UP 4 Pers $1500/W Main Apt or $2000/W Entire House UP 8-9 pers $2250/W Entire House Low Season (Oct-April except Christmas/New Year Period)- 2 Nights min.stay UP 4 pers $200/Night Main Apt $250/Night Ent.House UP 8/9 pers $325/Night Ent.Hous UP 4 pers $1250/W Main Apt or $1600/W Ent.House - UP 8/9 pers $2000/W Ent.House Non-refundable 40% deposit to secure booking; Balance: 30 days before arrival Refundable security deposit USD500; Payments by international wire transfer
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Before paying contact the owner to confirm payment details.
Call the owner directly to confirm reservation details and pay with an approved method (credit card, check, or bank transfer), to protect your payment up to $1,000.
Location
- Nearest Airport: Intercontinentale Leonardo da Vinci - Roma at 86 Miles
- Nearest Ferry: Argentario (Tuscany) at 74 Miles
- Nearest Train: Orvieto at 11 Miles
- Nearest Motorway: Orvieto at 8 Miles
- Nearest Beach: Argentario (Tuscany) at 74 Miles
- Nearest Barpub: Castiglione in Teverina at 3 Miles
Owner info
Year Purchased: 2005
About the owner: Renato is from Turin in Northern Italy and has lived in Rome since 1992. He has spent most of his career in telecommunications management and in the field of organic agriculture. Nora was born in Chicago and studied in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before moving to Europe. Since 1965 she has lived in Rome, where she has worked at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and brought up two boys. They met on a lagoon in Sierra Leone where they were on missions for their respective employees. Buying and refurbishing this house was a long-time dream of theirs.
Why the Owner Chose Civitella D'agliano:
Renato and Nora were looking for a farmhouse with shady grounds and olive trees within an easy drive from Rome and launched towards the hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria that they love. Big enough to serve as a gathering place for a family of grown up kids. It took them two years to find it, and several more to fix it up into just what they wanted. We are sure that you will appreciate the results!
Contact us
- Primary: +39 3358388785 English French Italian Speaking
- Secondary: +39 065899420 Number with answering machine
- Tertiary: +39 3922928650
Links to more information:
- CLICK HERE - http://www.oldoakhouse.com
- Click Here to see All My Rental Listings
Photos
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Fully equipped country kitchen.
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Downstairs unit living/dinning room.
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Fireplace angle with TV and hifi.
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Upstairs green bedroom.
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Upstairs single bedroom/study.
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Upstairs bathroom with tub.
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The Pool
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A century-old oak tree stands sentinel at the entrance.
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Main unit living/dinning area.
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Downstairs unit fully equipped kitchen.
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Upstairs blue bedroom.
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Downstairs unit blue bedroom.
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Downstairs unit bathroom with shower.
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This listing was first published here in 2012.
Date last modified - Thursday, May 09, 2013
+39 3358388785
English French Italian Speaking