THE PRIEST'S HOUSE ***SOLD***

• Prime location
• Historic home - 1523 (if not earlier)
• Within walking distance of Cortona (3kms)
• South facing
• Wonderful views
• Easily accessible
• Pretty front courtyard
• Circa 1 acre+ of land with olives
• 3 beds – 2 baths
• Under floor heating
• Ceiling fans in bedrooms
• Pergo village at 3kms
• Campaccio delicatessen at 1km

It is probably no coincidence that this gorgeous, absolute gem of a house situated just below Palazzo Passerini (known in Cortona as the Palazzone), is said to date back to 1523 and possibly even earlier.

This is the period (1521 to 1527) in which Cardinal Passerini re-built – in Renaissance style - the 12^th century palace on the hillside above, which was his home when in residence.

Given that Cardinal Passerini’s estate was extensive it is very likely that this very special property - which if local lore is correct dates back to Roman times and was, in its original form, a watch tower with dominating views over the Esse valley - was rebuilt at the same time as the Palazzone, probably in order to  accommodate someone high up on his staff. 

Its most distinctive features, the carved and arched stone lintels around the doorways and windows and large corner stones would suggest the property was built for a person of fairly high standing since such fine materials and craftsmanship would have been prohibitively expensive at the time.

Research in the Sant’Angelo church parish archives - which itself was built on the remains of a Roman temple - may reveal more details of the property’s history, but suffice it to say, this is an exceptional property with wonderful views, complete privacy, excellent access and also within (stiff) walking distance of Cortona  (but just 5 minutes in the car!).

Driving up to the house (160 mts internally) one finds oneself in a pretty gravelled forecourt. One’s immediate feeling is a sense of history.

Entering through the stunning front door, above which there is a crest with a cross at its centre, one finds oneself in a spacious hallway.

Directly off this there is the guest bedroom with en suite bathroom and to the right a beautiful antique, stone staircase. An archway under the staircase - cut through a 3.5 metre thick wall (on which, so it is said, a piece of the original tower is displayed) – leads  in to a vast dining hall  with high ceilings and two sets of French doors leading to the garden.

An enormous dividing arch leads in to a large well equipped kitchen - also with direct access to the garden. (*If one wanted to create an extra bedroom and bathroom the existing kitchen would be the ideal room to convert. This would however mean losing the kitchen and installing an open plan kitchen/dining area in the large dining hall).

The stone staircase by which the first floor is accessed leads in to a spacious, luminous sitting room with an original stone fireplace and as a feature, the original stone sink which has been made into a book shelf. 

The room is beautifully illuminated by arched windows on both north and south facades.  Leading off this room is a small hallway and the master bedroom with en suite bathroom. On a mezzanine level - accessed by a more recently crafted, but beautifully executed stone staircase – there is a further room which could be used as a study or third bedroom.

The land surrounding the house is approx. 1 acre+ with many olive trees that generally provide a good yield of Extra virgin olive oil.  The views are extensive (hence its original role as a watch tower) and overlook the Metelliano hillside – with its numerous historic villas – and the Esse valley which is home to the lively and quaint village of Pergo.

Pergo is at a distance of approx. 3kms and aside from the bar with outside seating, there is a pizzeria, Relais hotel-restaurant and an excellent supermarket/delicatessen among other useful shops. At a distance of approx. 1km from the house - in Campaccio - there is another superb delicatessen/supermarket which specialises in fine cheeses. 

Cortona is at a distance of circa 3 kms (via the Palazzone), Camucia 5 kms.  Perugia airport is at a distance of 50 minutes, Florence airport 90 mins, Rome airport 2 hrs.

The house with external walls of at least one metre thick, has under floor heating on most of the ground floor, in the master bedroom and in both bathrooms. There is also a wood stove and central heating. It has large overhead fans in the bedrooms.  Externally there is also a technical room for the boiler and storage.

A pool 9 metres x 4 metres would be permissible. 

All furniture other than a few personal possessions would be included in the sale. 

Definitely worth viewing if you have the budget: this property is more than just a home in Tuscany, it is a piece of history and a direct link to Cortona's past!