Tuscany/Umbria Border,Country House/Pool

The only mystery of a stay at Cinque Querce & Mezzo - discovering which were the five and a half oaks. The house Gilly & Dennis maintain up the old roman road above Celalba is spacious with an inviting country kitchen and user friendly lounge, impeccably clean & maintained, and along with the beautiful gardens & pool – a welcoming oasis after hard days enjoying hill towns and remote hermitages in Northern Umbria, eastern Tuscany and central Le Marche. My wife & I stayed all of June and were joined on & off by various family and friends - all totally delighted with the accommodations which were cleaned and remade weekly. The outdoor spaces are open to breezes perfumed by Jasmine & flowering plants, the day punctuated with the church bells, calls of peacocks & farm activities on nearby slopes. The table just outside the kitchen became a friendly gathering point with views across surrounding fields. Mornings, at the other end of the piazza, we enjoyed coffee & views across the Tiber valley to Monte Santa Maria Tiberina (visited twice, with lunches at Oscar’s at the very top). We appreciated Dennis’ suggestions, especially dinners at Il Dongione in San Guistino (excellent) and Vasco’s in Montagna (indescribable fantastic dining experience). We found prices for dining out and groceries to be bargains as compared to what we pay in the states. Also, the quality of food at local open markets and at the groceries was exceptionally high. Italians have high expectations of quality. Regional & local wines are eminently palatable and (no better way to say it) cheap by comparison to what we pay at home. June started out cool & wet then turned dry and warm. The rain storms early in the month didn’t interfere with morning sightseeing but punctuated the afternoons dramatically as the clouds and thunder moved in across the valley. Our recourse - open another bottle of Montefalco Rosso and dig into to a chunk of local aged Pecorino and an array of charcuterie – and let the storm run its course. Later in the month clear weather let us use the spacious pool and pool deck daily, lingering over the views toward the sunset late into the long days of summer. On one sunny day with breezes blowing in from the south we fired off the pizza oven for about six hours then baked pizzas until everyone cried enough. Gilly and Dennis were reachable, attentive and helpful without intruding, a perfect balance. All in all a remarkable vacation in a truly wonderful venue.

we were two families one of 4 and one of 3 that stayed here in September -October. The house was very well decorated, very tasteful and elegant, it is also very comfortable and has lovely views over the hills. The configuration of the house works well for two families as one can stay in the downstairs wing and one in the upstairs and the living area is between! We explored the countryside - we made a number of day trips and visited Gubbio, Assisi, Florence, Sienna, Anghiari - we went int San Giustino as well as Sansepulcro we also over indulged and put in large order for pottery from Deruto! The weather was a bit cool and we had rains on a few days - so we did not end up using the pool but the children ages 13, 10, 10 had a great time running in the gardens and playing - we picked figs and quinces from the trees, we went to the markets and really it was an amazing holiday - We all wish we could have stayed longer.

Wonderful house, wonderful owners. Perfect pool.

We are a family of 5 ('kids' being 21,18,15) who enjoy relaxation, sport, good food and wine, areas with style, heritage and a good company. This villa enabled us to enjoy all of these. Its right on the border between Tuscany and Umbria, (Umbria being the lesser visited county but equally lovely - an undiscovered jewel of an area).

The villa itself is a handsome traditional stone building, set in the most beautiful grounds that provide complete privacy. It is up a long windy steep track (most amenities are accessible only by road). But this is definitely part of its charm/appeal. Its ensures the most lovely views across the valley, and a gentle breeze that you don't get lower down. With the weather a glorious 35 C you would not be wanting to walk far during the day, and being tucked away you feel you are in the heart of the local countryside. You can easily access villages, local produce, markets, lovely bars. And the long steep hill is excellent for runs or cycles in the cooler parts of the day!)

The accommodation is stylish and completely practical (well equipped - even a food mixer to make our daily fresh fruit smoothies!). You have everything you need if you want to spend your time solely in the villa - very much a home from home. You can venture further afield to the pool! which is surrounded by trees and a good size - we spent many hours beside it, and in it doing lengths and playing - easily big enough for both.

Or you can visit local villages and towns and immerse yourself in what Umbria has to offer. We kept fairly local and enjoyed checking out the recommendations of Dennis and Gilly - ice cream parlours, restaurants, bars, foods and wine, markets, supermarkets and shops. Dennis and Gilly are fabulous hosts...attentive yet unobtrusive (though simultaneously 100% available to support us to make the most of our stay). Its a difficult balance (we like our holidays to be our own), but it was like staying with friends.

I believe you can access Sienna etc. easily from the villa but it is such a beautiful house & gardens that we choose to spend our time in the villa, with forays out in the cooler evenings. The locals are really welcoming. Best evening? Fantastic open air concert of Verdi's Requiem in Anghiari (joint Italian- English orchestra and choir) - 21 year old enjoying his 1st ever classical concert enough to record bits of it on his mobile! And v flexible accommodation - hence recommendatations below

Me and my husband stayed at Cinque Querce Mezzo for a week in July this year. It was amazing! Not only the location and the stunning views. The property is very well taken care off, the interior is very stylish and tastefully decorated. The owners are also very knowledgeable and helpful, ready to assist at any time.

You cannot wish for more, it is as close to heaven as you can get.