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Can you say anything about the beauty of the Italian landscape that hasn’t been said before? Probably not, but there are still some hidden secrets and Montebestia is one of them.
The magic begins as you approach the medieval town of Montone, rich in tradition and beautifully restored, its origins dating from the 9th and 12th Century. Beneath the massive town walls you quickly connect with the rural road which winds languorously up the hillside to Montebestia, on the way affording the most spectacular view of Montone perched on its hilltop behind you. Yet this is only the beginning, something to whet your appetite. As you climb, the landscape unfolds before you, culminating in a panoramic view of richly wooded hills and cultivated valleys stretching out to the horizon.
Set against this superb backdrop is the Montebestia Estate. On your arrival you will find two houses at the end of the drive – the owner’s farmhouse and Sole e Luna. You can be assured of total privacy, peace and tranquility in your detached 3 bedroom house with a private pool .
Sole e Luna is a newly renovated and extended detached farm building, using the original stone, bricks and tiles that made up the series of barns that stood on the same site for 160 years. It has been sympathetically built to ensure it continues to blend in with the Umbrian countryside, and yet boasts all modern luxuries.
Sole e Luna offers 3 double bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with power showers. The main bedroom has a king bed and bathroom en suite. The second bedroom has a double bed and the third has twin beds. Next to these two bedrooms is the second bathroom and there is a third bathroom on the lower floor The spacious sitting room, with flat screen TV, video, DVD and Hi-fi, opens up onto a wonderful terrace that overlooks the swimming pool and takes in the most stunning view that Italy can offer. A brand new kitchen provides everything you might need, including a dishwasher. As well as a breakfast bar and dining table inside, a covered terrace with another large table, seating 8, provides alfresco dining to make the most of the beautiful views. On the lower floor, at pool level, is a games room with table tennis table, a garden room, the third bathroom and a laundry room with washing machine.
The superb hilltop setting, with panoramic views, means that you can watch the sun  rise and set from the same spot, or as the name Montebestia implies (Animal Mountain), watch the birds and wildlife in the large olive grove or when wandering the estate or the local roads and tracks.
When you venture out from Montebestia, Montone itself will give you hours of enjoyment, exploring the medieval streets or just watching the locals whilst sipping a cappuccino and enjoying a pastry at a cafe in the square. For lunch or dinner, Montone has excellent restaurants covering all tastes and pockets and a little further afield are many good dining facilities in and around Umbertide
Provisions can be bought at the local Alimentare or nearby Umbertide has excellent supermarkets, a Fresh Pasta shop, Delicatessen and very tempting Pasticcerias!
One of the delights of Montone is the series of well organised festivals through the summer and autumn. Major ones include the Umbria Film Festival; a wonderful few days in July celebrating independent and alternative cinema, held in the main square. The week long Donazione della Santa Spina, in August, is a medieval festival where the streets of Montone are transformed, back in time, to the 15th Century. The Festa del Bosco at the end of October is a wonderful eclectic mix of food and artisan stalls. Any of these would be enjoyable events to plan a holiday around at Sole e Luna.
For excursions further afield, Montone is well situated for easy access to all the wonderful sites of Umbria and Tuscany including, in under an hour, Cortona, Perugia, Assisi, Citta di Castello, Sansepolcro, Anghiari, Arezzo and Lago Trasimeno.
For more details about the accommodation please click here.
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