San Martino is a tiny hamlet just outside the village of Lisciano Niccone in Umbria, very near the border with Tuscany. The agritourism apartments look over the lovely Niccone Valley towards the ruined castle of Pierle. It is easily reached by a tarmac country road. The views of the valley and the Tuscany hills towards Cortona are quite splendid and the setting is quiet and undisturbed.
The former farmhouse has been lovingly converted into three comfortable self contained agritourism apartments. Because of the sloping hillside site, each has ground level access.
A former barn is a short distance away and is now two spacious agritourism apartments with a large shared loggia or terrace. They are all tastefully furnished and well provided with equipment. There is also a small guest restaurant.
All the agritourism apartments have satellite TV (Italian service with some English channels); dishwashers and working fireplaces. There is a separate laundry room.
Tuscany Agritourism Apartment Marilena is the highest part and has two floor levels (there is a flight of five steps to the entrance). Downstairs is a living room with full kitchen, dining and sitting areas. Upstairs is a modern bathroom, a double bedroom and bedroom with two or three single beds. The French windows from the double bedroom open on to a balcony with views of the garden and space for four or five to dine.
Tuscany Agritourism Apartment Elsa is entirely at ground level on the lower part of the house. It has a double bedroom and one with two single beds. It has a pleasant sitting room separated from the kitchen and dining room and a bathroom that can be accessed by the disabled; a very cosy apartment.
Tuscany Agritourism Apartment Gioia is in the centre of the former farmhouse. It has a good sized kitchen/dining room with a door to a large, private terrace with splendid views . The bathroom has a shower in a small bath. Two bedrooms as above.
Tuscany Agritourism Apartments Il Sole and La Luna are in a separate building (former barn) looking down on the garden. They are larger than the others though with the same two bedroom, bathroom, living room arrangement.
There is a double sofabed in each big living room which also have good wood stoves. They are very spacious and share a loggia (veranda) which has a commanding view. There is a short flight of steps to the veranda and apartments.
The large pool is set into a lawned area which merges into olive grove and more grassy areas. With a number of gazebo, barbecue and outdoor cooking and eating areas, guests can chose privacy when they wish. The San Martino agritourism apartments also have a field suitable for ball games and the property is very child friendly. By the pool is a big thatched gazebo with large round seating. There is also a separate outdoor area with gazebo next to La Luna and Il Sole.
Guests can book meals in the small restaurant, prepared by the owner in the best tradition of Italian home cooking.
From everywhere in the grounds, the views of the hilly countryside and valley farmland of Tuscany and Umbria. You can see three castles; one ruined and two still inhabited, a reminder of the Niccone Valley's long history as a border area.
It's just a short drive to two villages, one in Umbria and one in Tuscany, which have a renowned trattoria, two other restaurants, banks, post offices, supermarkets, filling stations and garage.
