200 yr old farmhouse restored to provide comfortable and tranquil accommodation
- Villa
- Sleeps: 11
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 2
- Min Stay: 1 - 7 nights
Villa in Pergola, Pesaro-Urbino Province, Le Marche, Italy - Complete privacy and tranquillity are just two of the delights of Villa Gelsi
Bedrooms
Owner
tim simmons
- Languages:
- english
About tim simmons
We found Villa Gelsi in Italy after an extensive search of nearly 40 properties during a very hot summer in 2003, with the help of our younger daughter who now lives and works in Italy. An abandoned farmhouse surrounded by rolling, peaceful countryside, the building was in need of major restoration and improvement to create a stylish 4-bedroomed family holiday home. After several years of often frustrating activity, this 200 year old farmhouse was finally brought back to life and made ready for occupation in 2008. When we’re not savouring the delights of rural Le Marche with our family, or our grand-daughter who lives in the north of Italy, we enjoy occasional short breaks at our Grade II thatched cottage in rural Dorset – which is also available for rental. See property reference E8182
tim simmons purchased this Villa in 2003
Why tim simmons chose Pergola
Our Italian property search avoided Tuscany (too many Brits!), Umbria (landlocked), so we ended up in Le Marche, not too far from the sea. This agricultural region, on the eastern side of the country, is often described as the 'real Italy', and much of it remains unspoilt by hordes of visitors. The property is about 55 minutes drive from Ancona airport, and is about a quarter of a mile from the nearest minor tarmac road. Complete privacy and tranquillity are just two of the delights of Villa Gelsi. The neighbouring countryside is dotted with delightful medieval hill-top villages. The two local towns - San Lorenzo in Campo and Pergola – are just a short drive away, and are as yet untouched by tourism. Both have bustling colourful weekly local markets plus local stores, and supermarkets.
What makes this Villa unique
We aimed to preserve elements of the past within the farmhouse, such as the old beams, a feeding trough, and the original warm stonework left untouched on some walls. Combined with the past are modern conveniences; e.g. air conditioning, thermostatic showers, free WiFi, flat panel satellite TV and DVD, 12 x 6 metre pool, and a 21st century standard of comfort. There are numerous restaurants in the area. The food is generally locally sourced, freshly prepared, simple, tasty, and usually relatively cheap. Most nights they will be found buzzing with locals enjoying a typical, lively, Italian evening out. Full details and directions are available at the house. The locals may not speak much English, but are universally regarded as being very friendly. There is a wealth of places to go, and things to do
Amenities
Featured
- Swimming pool
- Internet
- Air Conditioning
- TV
- Satellite or Cable
- Washer & Dryer
- Children Welcome
- Parking
- Heater
Bathrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
House Rules
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date.
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Map
Special interest holidays:
The neighbouring countryside is dotted with delightful medieval hill-top villages. The two local towns - San Lorenzo in Campo and Pergola - a few minutes drive away, are as yet untouched by tourism. Both have bustling colourful weekly local markets plus local stores, and supermarkets.
Here, in the medieval town centres, you can enjoy an ‘aperitivo’ followed by sophisticated shopping and an opportunity to discover the delights of their stylish restaurants or pizzeria. Later, the many delicious Italian ice cream bars are difficult to resist.
Coast/Beach:
The beaches are renowned for their cleanliness, and you can drive down to the sea and the pebble beaches of peaceful Marotta, with its favoured fish restaurants overlooking the Adriatic sea, or the broad, sandy, well organized beaches at Senigallia and Fano in about 40 – 45 minutes.
Travel:
The best (and cheapest) way to get to Villa Gelsi is to fly with Ryanair from Stansted to Ancona Falconara. Ryanair currently have a daily scheduled flight which arrives at Ancona at about 13.00.
Bologna Marconi airport is a convenient touchdown for both the mainstream scheduled flights and budget airlines Ryanair and easyJet, but the drive is about 2-2½ hours to Villa Gelsi by car.
Distances:
Both Alitalia (from Heathrow, but via Rome), and British Airways (from Gatwick, but direct) offer daily flights to Bologna (approx 2-2½ hours to Villa Gelsi by car).
Rome Fiumicino airport (approx 3½ hours drive by car) offers a wide choice of airlines.
Further Details:
Pergola
The Museum of the Bronze Dorati in Pergola is worth a visit.
The Furlo Gorge (Gola del Furlo) is spectacularly scenic, and not to be missed.
The remarkable limestone caves - the Grotte di Frasassi - are stunning.
The best mountain views are on the doorstep of Urbino, around the giant Monte Catria.
Of the many seaside resorts, the prettiest is Sirolo, on the Conero peninsula.
Throughout the summer, many of the local towns and villages stage ‘feste’ or ‘sagre’, and as the day becomes cooler the whole population turns out to enjoy themselves celebrating local specialities or harvests of regional produce in a carnival-like atmosphere with costume, performances, arts, and of course, a jolly good meal!
‘Sagra’ means a local fair, usually a celebration of the bounties of the earth - i.e. food, as in a preparation (sagra di torta di erbe) or a raw ingredient (sagra di pesce [fish]). Larger sagre may feature musical bands and perhaps a competition of some sort. Most of them are held in small towns, usually in the main piazza. When you drive through the Italian countryside, you'll see colourful posters at intersections indicating the ‘sagra di………’, with the dates and times large enough to be read from a passing car.
Visiting a sagra is a good fun and great way to get a taste of Italian country life. You order food to be cooked by locals with a passion for the local cuisine, then sit at communal tables to eat.