Passo d'Elefante is one of a kind. Surrounded by seven acres of private gardens and woods, this vast villa is perfectly positioned midway between Perugia and Lake Trasimeno, 20 minute drives in either direction. The superstrada joining Umbria and Tuscany is a few minutes away and leads to Cortona in 35 minutes.

The family that owns Passo d'Elefante designed the villa with a focus on entertaining indoors and out. Next to the large pool is an outdoor kitchen with a wood oven, a barbecue and a pool house with a bathroom, changing rooms, sauna and wet bar. On a level below the main entry, guests will enjoy use of the bocce court, a lighted and fenced tennis court and a clubhouse with two showers and a bar area. Covered porticos run along two sides of the villa with one furnished for dining and the other for lounging.

Inside, the theme of entertaining continues from the grand entrance foyer into a formal salon and dining room with glistening black marble floors, Murano chandeliers and oil paintings from the 17th century- a perfect spot for an evening aperitif. The elevator, like so many things inexplicably Italian, takes seven steps to reach. The late parents of the owner were passionate collectors. Over 3500 representations of elephants from all over the world adorn the estate. Had Hannibal invaded Italy with half this many, Carthage would have surely vanquished Rome. So expect to see a few during your stay.

Aside from hosting social gatherings, the owners also use Passo d'Elefante as a comfortable family retreat. Modest bedrooms are on the upper floors with the second level featuring a retro styled living room having a large terrace with views to the medieval village of Corciano. A lower sub level has a fireplace, billiards, roulette, a collection of slots (not playable) and a bar.

All rooms have air conditioning included in the price along with a PC with DSL internet access, four hours of cleaning provided three days per week and a mid week towel change. The live-in caretaker can arrange for meal service, cooking classes or laundry, if requested when booking.

Being five minutes from the highway makes this an ideal base for seeing Tuscany and Umbria. In 10 minutes by car, there are supermarkets, some cashmere factory outlet stores and the village of Corciano with a few restaurants; Magione with a train station: 12; Lake Trasimeno, Deruta or Perugia: 20; Cortona or Assisi: 35; Todi: 40; Montepulciano or Arezzo: 60; Siena or Orvieto: 75; Florence: 90; Rome: 2 hours.

Technical Description
Ground floor: Seven stone steps up into the entry foyer. Large formal salon made up of three rooms opening to one another with one having a piano. Two adjoining dining rooms with TV, PC and a door to a covered portico furnished for outdoor dining. Kitchen with eight burner stove top, two ovens, microwave, fridge with ice maker, dishwasher and fireplace for grilling. Half bath. Elevator accessing all four floors.

First floor: Study with doors to balcony. Half bath. One bedroom with a single bed and en suite bathroom with shower. Two bedrooms each with a queen size bed, sitting area, shared balcony and en suite bathroom with tub and separate shower; one has an extra single child's bed. One bedroom with a queen size bed, sitting area, shared balcony and en suite bathroom with tub and shower. One bedroom with two single, joinable beds, desk area opening to a shared balcony and en suite bathroom with shower.

Second floor: Living room with doors to covered portico. Large hall with dining capacity for 100 guests. Room with sauna and en suite bathroom with shower and washer/dryer. One bedroom with two single beds and en suite bathroom with tub and separate shower. One bedroom with queen size bed. One bedroom with a single bed. One bathroom with tub and separate shower.

Basement level: Enormous family room with TV, fireplace and billiard table. Half bath. One bathroom with shower.

Accessed from the grounds, there is a pool house with one bathroom with a shower, five changing rooms, and a bar area with fridge. Next to the tennis court, there is a clubhouse with a bathroom with two showers and a bar area with fridge.