Bauernhaus Poggio Vecchio · Cor425

New build using reclaimed historical materials: 430 square metres comprising 6 en-suite suites, a professional kitchen and a billiards room, an 83-square-metre annexe, an infinity pool spread over four levels and 5,500 square metres of grounds, Farneta di Cortona
Ref. COR425
In Farneta, a hamlet of Cortona, overlooking the Abbey of Santa Maria Assunta – founded by the Benedictines in the 9th century – and the gentle slopes of the Val di Chiana hills, Casale Poggio Vecchio is a property that defies easy categorisation. It is not a restoration: it is a new build constructed entirely from reclaimed materials sourced from historic demolitions, featuring exposed stone and brickwork, load-bearing chestnut beams and joists, handmade terracotta floor tiles, and reclaimed roof tiles and ridge tiles. Every element has been chosen to integrate the property into the rural landscape, combining the solidity of a period farmhouse with the functionality of a contemporary building.
The main farmhouse
The main farmhouse, measuring 430 square metres, is spread over two levels. On the ground floor, the layout of the spaces reflects a home designed for the pleasure of socialising: a living room with a period-style fireplace, a TV room that can be converted into a reading area, a dining room seating 16 people, and a kitchen with a central island, a wooden and copper extractor hood, travertine marble worktops and sink, a wood-fired oven and a barbecue with an extractor hood. The ground floor is completed by two bedrooms, each with a separate entrance from outside and a private bathroom – one with a shower and the other with a two-person spa bath – as well as a utility room and a guest bathroom. The stairwell houses the entire technical area, including the manifolds and touch panels for the home automation system.
On the upper floor, accessible via both the internal staircase in pietra serena and an external staircase in stone and brick, there is a living area with a second fireplace, a study with a private bathroom, and four bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom. The finishes reflect authentic Tuscan craftsmanship: herringbone terracotta flooring in the living areas, wooden floorboards in the bedrooms, and floral-patterned porcelain stoneware in the bathrooms, which feature walk-in showers, shower cubicles and a period-style freestanding bath. Heating and cooling are provided by a gas-fired VRV system; hot water is supplied by a gas boiler.
The annexe
The detached annexe, measuring 83 m², comprises a living area with a kitchenette, two bedrooms with a bathroom, and an attic accessed via an internal terracotta staircase with vaulted ceilings. The utilities are completely independent from the main farmhouse.
The swimming pool and grounds
The grounds, covering over 5,500 square metres, are fully landscaped, lit and irrigated in separate sections. At its centre lies the absolute centrepiece of the property: a four-level infinity pool designed to follow the natural contours of the land. The middle level features hydromassage seats, air-massage sun loungers and a dramatic water feature. From here, the water overflows onto the next level, creating an infinity pool effect overlooking the countryside. Finishes include porcelain stoneware and perimeter slabs in travertine marble, with soft lighting integrated into the beams. The grounds include illuminated ornamental olive trees, jasmine hedges, geometric floral arrangements and a barbecue area with a wood-fired oven. Access to the property is via a wrought-iron gate.