700 years ago, San Silvestro was a little church – now it’s a charming rental villa and excellent value too!
The building was originally a country church in the 1300s and a fresco of the saint is still there by the front door.
It’s a simple country house that can’t fail to win your heart. It is private and entirely peaceful. The warmly welcoming owners live in their fine villa about 50 yards away. Carla speaks reasonable English and her husband, the endlessly kind and considerate Paolo, will make himself understood no matter the gaps in your Italian or his English! They’ll happily offer local advice whenever needed, but they’ll never get in your way. Paolo is well connected locally: if you’d be interested, he can arrange some rather special discounts on stylish Italian children’s clothes, upmarket cashmere or traditional pottery – just say the word and he’ll ensure you get the opportunity to pick up some real Italian bargains!
This is a two story house. On the lower floor is the sitting room, with its two comfy couches, which leads to the dining room. The kitchen has been completely refitted and includes a dishwasher. There’s also a small bathroom with shower on this floor.
Upstairs are the bedrooms: a large double with superb country furniture, a bedroom with two singles and a single bedroom. The bathroom on this floor has a shower.
This is a delightful country home for those in search of Tuscany at its most authentic. The great fig tree and the huge bay tree near the kitchen door have already shaded many a satisfied visitor. Live the genuine “simple life” at San Silvestro – a holiday experience to treasure!
Beyond 5 Stars
Reviewed on 08/20/2020
Nathan Close
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We spent two wonderful weeks at this villa, and the welcome we received was beyond anything we have experienced before. Carla and Paulo went out of their way to ensure that we had everything that we wanted - from a beautifully clean villa and pool to providing an unexpected lasagne which we ate in the vineyard. On top of this we were shown how to make pasta and Tirimasu, in a traditional Italian way, and treated to some delicious wine and cava; we ate this with the family outside which was a real treat. The accommodation is spotless. The kitchen has a gas cooker, good size fridge and freezer and all the utensils that are necessary to make your stay a home-from-home. Good space downstairs and ample size bedrooms upstairs with comfortable beds and quality linen. Outside there are plenty of spaces to eat, a BBQ, and the location is both private and quiet. The pool is much larger than the photos suggest and the surround is both quiet and private - opposite their house. Carla was happy for us to pick fresh fruit and veg to use in our cooking. The area is great to explore and the local restaurants serve wonderful food. I would like to thank our hosts for enabling us to have such a wonderful holiday.
Reviewed on 05/18/2018
John Holmes, MA
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We very much enjoyed our stay. The house is charming and set in a beautiful landscape. Most of all, the owners went out of their way to be helpful and hospitable. Without their assistance, God knows when our lost baggage would have arrived. And it was a great pleasure to wind up our stay having dinner at their house--a dinner of enormous quantity matched by high quality. I cannot remember ever having hosts like them.
2nd time renting
Reviewed on 08/15/2017
Ed Bedecarrax, Washington
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This is our 2nd rental experience with the property owners Paolo and Carla and both have been such pleasant experiences. Everything at San Silvestro was perfect. The property was spotless when we arrived. We opened up the front door to be greeted by a fresco of San Silvestro and we knew this was going to be a fabulous experience. The house is well equipped; there was nothing additional that we needed. Carla and Paolo were perfect hosts, always available, but never intrusive. San Silvestro is perfectly located for day trips to most of the cities in Tuscany and Umbria. We were even able to make a trip to the Republic of San Marino and Lake Bolsena. We will be back again. We cannot come up with any suggestions for improvement. San Silvestro gets our 5-star rating.
wonderful San Silvestro
Reviewed on 07/29/2017
Charlotte New
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Our time is coming to an end at the wonderful San Silvestro! Cortona and Camucia has provided an excellent base in order to explore the surrounding Tuscan and Umbrian landscape. We have not been in this area for many years after holiday in the east of Italy but we will now be back this way again. We have had a lovely 2 weeks restful stay with family and have thoroughly enjoyed our time in this beautiful place amongst the vines. Carla, Paulo & Stella have been so helpful and accommodating during our time here, they have made our break away from London extra special. The house is rustic and comfortable and provided a lovely quiet space at the end of long days travelling around. The pool has been a saving grace on some days when it has become too hot to do anything! We have so enjoyed our time here and don't want to leave. Thank you so much Carla, Paulo and Stella for allowing us to stay in your lovely Italian oasis!
Reviewed on 09/12/2016
Ralph Jones, Colorado
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We loved San Silvestro. It was one of five back-to-back week-long rentals that made up the bulk of our seven-week-long stay in Italy. It rates tops. We would, indeed will, return in a heart beat. The dwelling is romantic to the extreme. (This from a client who has lived in Italy for more than six years, and returns there often.) The owners - who lived conveniently nearby - were wonderfully attentive and considerate, without being intrusive. I will say no more, for fear they will raise the rent!
Reviewed on 07/15/2016
Anna Jago, South East London
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The property was a delight - full of authentic charm. Carla and Paolo were the perfect hosts - maintaining a discreet distance but always friendly and very willing to help and offer advice - were really got the impression we were welcome in their property. The swimming pool was a huge bonus and plenty big enough to satisfy our family's needs for splashing, swimming or just basking on a sun lounger. Not the most beautiful landscape in the world (flat plain) but San Silvestro has a certain magic that worked wonders on a tired and frazzled family.
Lovely setting
Reviewed on 07/05/2016
Richard and Gill Christy
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We thought San Silvestro was a fantastic deal - a beautiful (and historically interesting) house in a lovely setting; simply but very comfortably furnished and with loads of space. The owners Carla and Paolo could not have been more hospitable and the house is very conveniently located for trips to the attractions of southern Tuscany. San Silvestro had the feel of an authentic Italian rural experience and provided a haven of calm and peace in this busy part of the world. Oh, and the visiting cats were a nice touch?
authentic Tuscany
Reviewed on 06/01/2016
Claire Novakovic, Middlesex
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We loved this property! It was authentic Tuscan, from the house itself to the surroundings. The garden in the vines was peaceful and the use of Carla and Paolo’s beautiful pool in its enclosed garden was the icing on the cake! We found all the facilities clean and perfect for a country holiday. Very comfortable beds and good supply of pots and crockery. Outside furniture was in good condition. It is very good value for the rental cost, we have stayed at much more expensive properties where the facilities have been much poorer. The welcome was warm and both Carla and Paulo did all that they could to ensure that we had a good time. They gave us up to date info and maps, told us about the festivities in the surrounding towns and villages and the directions to the parking etc, vital at Ferragosto!!!
really peaceful
Reviewed on 05/29/2016
Barrie T
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Property and its garden were private, really peaceful, and beautifully tranquil. We could have slept forever in the bedrooms as they were so comfortable. Carla and Paulo were welcoming and excellent hosts.
We'll be back
Reviewed on 06/29/2015
Clive Moore, Nairn
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Had a lovely holiday here & were looked after really well by the owners. They cooked us a lovely Italian Easter breakfast (if you speak to them, then please thank them again for this as we were really grateful that they had gone to the effort & really enjoyed it - certainly made our first few days that bit more special). The kids loved the garden & we thought it was an excellent base for seeing the north side of Lake Trasimeno - very relaxing, great location & had everything we wanted for our 4 weeks. The owners were there if we needed, but did not intrude. Alison Cartwright, Suffolk. My wife and I plus another couple really enjoyed our stay at San Silvestro. Our plane was delayed 3 hours and we arrived at the property at around midnight!! Your Late Arrivals Line swung into action for which we were very grateful. Thanks to Bob forewarning Carla and Paulo, they were out on the road in the middle of Camucia waving madly and flashing their car lights like a beacon to shepherd us safely to San Silvestro. We arrived tired and hungry, having had no time to pick up any provisions. Carla returned to her own house and returned with wine, fresh bread, a mammoth hunk of cheese, and a large bowl of home made soup. No sulks, no moans; just a wonderful generous Italian welcome. And so it was throughout the week. Carla came with us to show us where to find the best chianina beef; gave us pointers on Italian cuisine; advised on local events and happenings. Nothing was too much trouble. And all with so much grace, patience and kindness. We made a new friend. Any shortcoming the house might have had, and there were not many, were amply outweighed by the owner’s personal care for us. We’ll be back!!
Camucia (shops etc) 1 m
Cortona 2 m
Lake Trasimeno 8 m
Arezzo 19 m
Montepulciano 19 m
Pienza 28 m
Perugia 35 m (airport)
Siena 44 m
Florence 74 m (airport)
Cortona is one of Tuscany’s most sought-after locations. This cosmopolitan little town boasts a generous handful of excellent eateries and some very stylish shops line the atmospheric, medieval streets within the ancient city walls. The wide views across the valley towards Lake Trasimeno are fabulous. And nestling below the ancient town, just 2 miles away, is historic San Silvestro.
For shopping you have the village of Camucia, just a mile away, with a couple of supermarkets, banks, several bars and eateries, and some interesting shops to explore - and the cantina sells local wines at ridiculously cheap prices! Pick up a pizza from the excellent take-away and head back home to watch the sun go down over Cortona. Shopping at Cortona is a more sophisticated experience but of course it's more touristy. However you can buy some gorgeous clothes there and the local pottery is highly temptatious, while the famous Etruscan museum gives an interesting glimpse of life over 2,000 years ago. So you have two interesting and very different local towns to choose from, and both within a 10 minute drive of San Silvestro!
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