Silent Hill · Cor412

You leave the tarmac behind and drive uphill for about two kilometres along a country road, with every bend revealing a new view of the hills, until the noise of the world fades away completely. Here, in a spot offering complete privacy just a few minutes from Cortona, stands a 19th-century farmhouse that seems to be made of the very same material as the landscape: warm stone, wood and the shade of oak trees. A recent and meticulous restoration has breathed new life into it without detracting from its original character, and today the house welcomes guests with the same tranquillity as in days gone by.
A retreat for creative souls
There are places that invite you to slow down, and this is one of them. It is the sort of place that has always attracted those seeking silence in which to write, think and gaze into the distance. The light shifts slowly across the walls, the wind rustles through the olive trees, and in the evening the valley glows with distant lights. It is a house that nurtures long hours and concentration, and which remains, above all, a place where one can breathe.
The house
The ground floor is the heart of daily life. The living room with its open fire brings the house together around the hearth on winter evenings; the fully equipped kitchen adjoins the dining room; and a light-filled study with large windows lets the countryside in like an ever-changing painting. The level is completed by a bedroom, a bathroom and a storage room. The traditional finishes, ceilings and carefully chosen materials tell the building’s story without compromising on modern comfort.
An internal stone staircase, together with a covered external loggia, leads to the first floor, where there are two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a third room that could be used as a study or a fourth bedroom. In total, the house offers four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The loggia, shaded and overlooking the hills, is the perfect spot for breakfast and afternoon reading.
The garden and swimming pool
Surrounding the farmhouse, the well-tended garden features a mix of olive trees, fruit trees and centuries-old oaks, which cast large patches of shade across the lawn in summer. Just beyond lies the private panoramic swimming pool, suspended above the landscape, where the water seems to blend into the gentle contours of the hills. An underground garage, a multi-purpose outbuilding and several utility rooms complete the property, leaving the outdoor space and the view unobstructed.
Between Cortona, the lake and the Val d’Orcia
The historic centre of Cortona, with its Etruscan walls and squares overlooking the Valdichiana, is 5 km away – about ten minutes’ drive. Camucia-Cortona railway station is 10 km away; Lake Trasimeno and the Valdichiana exit on the A1 motorway are approximately 25 km away; Arezzo is 30 km away; Montepulciano is 35 km away; and Pienza, with the Val d’Orcia, is 45 km away. Florence can be reached in about an hour and a half, and Rome in two and a half hours. For those arriving from abroad, Perugia Airport is 60 km away, Florence Airport 120 km, and Rome Fiumicino 220 km.