Alberi

The Daily Express called Casa Alberi "a perfect family retreat" and we can certainly see why!  This beautiful five bedroom house is nestled peacefully in the Tenna Valley, a short walk away from the gentle River Tenna.

Renovated to a very high standard, the house has lots of luxurious touches including granite work surfaces in the kitchen, leather sofas, designer chandeliers and even a decadent hydro massage bath!

The three sitting rooms and five ensuite bedrooms make it an ideal property for several families to share or for several generations of the same family.

With the winding river valley, surrounding medieval hilltop towns and the stunning Monti Sibillini in the distance, Casa Alberi really is a magical place to stay!

From every room in this stunning house, you can enjoy views of the surrounding cherry orchards, the river valley and further afield to hill towns and the Sibillini mountains; nearly every room has views in two directions (or more) and even one of the bathrooms is double aspect too.  All rooms have wooden beamed ceilings and many also have exposed stone walls. There's underfloor heating throughout.

The renovation of this house has been done with sensitivity to the period features, while recognising the needs of modern life.  The entrance to the house is on the ground floor, where the former cattle stables have been converted into a spacious open plan sitting / dining room and luxurious modern kitchen.  Also on this floor is a separate cosy sitting room with working fireplace, flat screen TV, DVD player and Playstation.  There is also a rear annex with a downstairs cloakroom and a lockable separate utility room.

The fantastic modern kitchen boasts everything that you could possibly need: granite work surfaces, SMEG range cooker, Siemens dishwasher and washing machine and a huge AEG fridge.  The kitchen is very well equipped with Kenwood multipro food processor, de Longhi espresso/cappuccino machine, de Longhi toaster and an extensive range of kitchen tools, crockery, glasses, pans etc, making this property the ideal choice for foodies.  The kitchen is also fully equipped for younger visitors with a selection of children's plates, cups, cutlery and so on.

Pasta making, cookery demonstrations and truffle hunting can be arranged for adults and children and delicious food can be arranged to order and delivered to the property - ask for more details on booking.

French doors lead from the dining room to a shady lawned area and another set of French doors from the kitchen open onto a small enclosed patio where children can safely play while lunch is prepared.  A short walk from the kitchen is the swimming pool area with partially covered terrace and lawn. 

Gated stairs lead up to the bedrooms.  On the first floor there are two bedrooms, each with ensuite.  The large master bedroom has a larger than king-size four poster bed and the spacious ensuite features a chromotherapy steam shower cabin.  The twin bedroom on this floor is also very roomy with a large bathroom and a wonderful sunken bath.  Also on this floor is the library with a selection of books and games.  Access to the second floor is through this room.

The three top floor bedrooms all feature sloping ceilings but the raising of the roof as part of the renovations mean that height is not a problem. 

The double on this floor has a large king sized bed and views across to Monte San Martino.  The ensuite for this room is spacious with a hydro massage bath.  There are two twin rooms on this floor, each of which has its own en suite shower room.  Entrance to these rooms is through a small hallway which can be closed off using stairgates meaning that bedroom doors can be left open so that parents can hear children in the night but the children are safe.  While these rooms are cosier than the others they are each spacious enough for cots to be erected without moving furniture around.

The layout of this property makes it ideal for two families since there is a double and twin on each of the upstairs floors.  The three sitting rooms mean that it is possible for different generations to have their own space if required.

Parent point: There is a slightly awkward step from the first floor library to the stairs, although access can be prevented by closing the stairgate and library door.

The house is in a delightful and tranquil setting surrounded by cherry and walnut trees.  The property itself has spacious grounds which lead down to the river Tenna, offering older children ample opportunity for adventures; a short circular walk along the lane leads to the river, returning back via a farmer's track. 

The house is on sloping ground and so the gardens are a mixture of gently sloping lawns (with shade provided by fruit trees) and terraced beds with fragrant plants.  A range of fruit trees in the garden can offer further shade from the midday sun; walnuts, figs, apricots, cherries, apples and olives all grow around the house. Two terraced areas with outside seating and dining facilities surround the house, perfect for al fresco dining. A further terrace by the pool provides a shady spot to sit and read or as a place to watch the children play, perhaps with a glass of something cool.

Although the garden is not fully enclosed, the enclosed patio area which runs the full length of the house has gates at each end, and so provides a safe area for toddlers. You access this area through the French windows from the kitchen so it is an ideal area for little ones while dinner is being prepared!

The 12m pool has an integral paddling area - it also has an electric cover so you can keep the heat in and children out!

Parent point: There is a small gravel road that passes by the side of the house, which is used infrequently.  The river is about 200 metres away.

There stone steps in the garden that you need to be aware of with very young children.

• Indoor toys, games, books and DVDs
• Playstation 2 with games
• Bed guards
• Swimming pool with electric security cover
• Stair gates
• Cots and cot linen
• High chairs
• Microwave
• Hand blender
• Garden toys
• Baby monitor
• Steriliser
• Booster seats
• Food processor/liquidiser
• Plastic plates, cups and cutlery
• Potties
• Changing mats
• Non-slip bath mats
• Bath toys
• Bouncy chair
• Night lights
• Socket guards
• Off road pushchair
• Backpack baby carrier with parasol
• Washing machine

It has been said that Le Marche is like Tuscany and Umbria were before the crowds; the region offers wonderful opportunities for walking, horse riding and cycling, or just chilling out and getting the feel of the real Italy.  This area really has secured a place in our hearts as being a corner of Italy where you can enjoy a slower pace of life, eat fantastic food and really have the time to enjoy family life in a country where children are adored. 

Mountains and coast
With the mountains and fabulous, family friendly beaches on the doorstep, there is plenty to do here in every season.  Throughout the winter months this is a great place to take to the slopes for a morning of sledging or skiing, and in the summer the beaches are a fabulous place to while away a day with your family.

The Sibillini Mountains and the Adriatic coast are each only 40 minutes away and provide a wonderful contrast in terms of days out.  We were told time and time again about how fantastic the beaches are for children with their enclosed play areas, safe beaches and fantastic (family friendly) fish restaurants. 

Local hilltop villages surround this beautiful country house: Monte San Martino and Penna San Giovanni are 5 minutes away by car.  In both there are bars, restaurants, shops, banks and all the usual amenities. The restaurant Dei Priori in Monte San Martino is a particular favourite as are several nearby agriturismos (working farms with restaurants featuring their own produce), and all welcome children.  The church in Monte San Martino is also the proud home to stunning paintings by the Crivelli brothers. 

The family friendly beaches of Porto San Giorgio are 45 minutes away, and the pretty hill top town of Amandola on the edge of the Sibillini National Park is a 15 minute drive.  Sarnano, with its thermal spa and luxury health spa is twenty minutes away and just beyond Sarnano is the winter ski resort of Santa Maria Madallena, ideal for beginners.  The sophisticated county town of Macerata, with its renowned open-air opera and boutique shopping, and the vibrant Ascoli Piceno, with its splendid architecture and Le Marche's most beautiful piazza, are both less than an hour by car.

Le Marche abounds with small local factories which specialise in the production of great quality leather goods - shoes and handbags most importantly - and are more than happy for you to visit and buy!  As well as famous Italian brands like Prada and Tods, also made here are products for top overseas brands like Dirk Bikkembergs and DKNY.  And, if you like the best bargains, sale times are in high summer and new year.

Before booking, please read our Terms and Conditions. Bookings are generally taken for full weeks and the availability tab shows 7 night blocks; however many Owners are happy to consider bookings for additional nights and to consider different starting and departure dates outside of the busy periods.  Please enquire by clicking on an available period in the Pricing and Availability tab above.

Price includes: linen, towels, electricity, heating, welcome pack.