Steeped in a green sea of age-old mediterranean chestnut and oak woods in the heart of Tuscany, not very far from Umbria and halfway between the ancient etruscan towns of Cortona and Castiglion Fiorentino, you will discover the beauty of the two cottages "Casa Valcella " and "I Gemelli".
Casa Valcella was originally a very old military garrison perched on what, in those days, was a prominently strategic location, 2300 ft above sea level. From this commanding position one could, and still can, literally dominate the large Appennine valley north of Mount S.Egidio and behold on either side Cortona and Castiglion Fiorentino. The structure was subsequently enlarged at different times, turned into a mountain farm and eventually abandoned in the 50s.
That was when the Valdichiana local peasant and rural civilisation began to die out due to the nature of the local crops (cereal and chestnut woods) which were no longer enough for the whole population to get by adequately.
It wasn't until the late 80s that the by then weather-damaged and bramble and brushwood overgrown cottage was purchased by the current owners. They lovingly restored it, as a hobby, in their spare time, attempting to preserve the surrounding environment with particular care for the naturalistic aspect of the area.