The search for a warm and welcoming Tuscan abode is over. Cottage Lucia is a stone-clad home adjoined to another occupied house on a small family estate encircled by olive groves. From here, the alluring hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria are within easy reach. The vibrant, medieval hill town of Castiglion Fiorentino is within a five minute drive, and Cortona, Tuscany's highest hill town is 10 minutes away.

This cottage very comfortably hosts up to three couples with each bedroom having its own newly remodeled, en suite bathroom. Guests are greeted by a spacious living and dining room incorporating all the elements of a classic country home from the terracotta tiles to the thick beamed ceilings. At least one window is screened in each room. Beside the fireplace, there's a laptop with Wi-Fi and a television with English language movie channels.

The swimming pool is on a level slightly above the cottage and is used only by Parker guests. The outdoor dining area for Cottage Lucia is cleverly tucked into a covered portico offering a cool shady refuge during the day and a sheltered dining area on breezy evenings. The house beside Cottage Lucia shares only the same driveway and possibly Arturo (Arthur), an unbelievably gentle dog with all too human eyes who is now a bit long on the tooth and functions primarily as a slow moving sundial in constant search of warm soothing rays.

The friendly family who owns Cottage Lucia are utterly fantastic hosts and live within a short drive. Gian Mario shares his passion for cars, nature and history by taking guests on a woodland tour in his vintage Land Rover Defender. This optional outing follows the forested pathways traveled by St. Francis of Assisi. In either Cottage Lucia or their own home, Gian Mario's wife will gladly conduct an evening cooking class. It is their adult son and his family who are your next door neighbors. The surrounding olive trees produce a limited quantity of extra virgin olive oil that may be purchased on-site.

Within five minutes by car is the medieval hill town of Castiglion Fiorentino with some shops, cafes and restaurants. This area's ancient heritage is reflected year round with festivals and pageantry. Some of the more colorful events take place in July on each weekend with a festival honoring either pizza, ostrich, wild boar or frogs. The castle of Montecchio Vesponi, which is seen from the grounds, or Cortona are both 10 minutes by car; Arezzo: 20; Lake Trasimeno: 25; Montepulciano: 45; Siena, Florence or Perugia: 60; Orvieto or Assisi: 70; San Gimignano: 90.

Technical Description
Ground floor: Three steps up into kitchen with stove top, oven, fridge and dishwasher. Living/dining room with fireplace, TV, laptop and door leading out to covered furnished portico. One bedroom with two single, joinable beds and two steps down into en suite bathroom with shower. Laundry room with washing machine.

First floor: One bedroom with two single beds and en suite bathroom with shower and heated towel rack. One bedroom with a queen size bed and en suite bathroom with shower and heated towel rack.