IL GLICINE

Beautifully restored retaining most of its original features, this charming 18th century Tuscan cottage, nestled in the green hills of Cortona, provides a genuine countryside atmosphere. The farm, owned by the Vincioni family, specialises in the farming of olive trees, which, as is usual in the area, are grown on the surrounding terraced hillside to best be able to take advantage of the land’s natural resources.  Farmhouse “Il Glicine” provides guests with the opportunity to taste seasonal produce grown in the farm’s own vegetable garden as well as its superb organic, blended extra-virgin olive-oil made according to old, traditional methods such as stone-crushing and low-pressure pressing. Olives are hand-picked with the aid of branch-shakers between late October and early December. Olives are then ground into a paste using traditional millstones (so-called “molazze”). The resulting paste is then hydraulically pressed to separate the oil from the pomace. This traditional olive-pressing technique, that does not involve heating or any alteration of the oil, ensures that the product is genuine and retains its sensory characteristics, allowing it to be classified as “extra-virgin olive oil” . Currently, traditional extraction methods are no longer extensively used due to their higher cost as compared to modern techniques; our farm, however, has chosen to stay true to traditional tastes and protect the identity of our product for the benefit of our customers. Traditional extraction methods and a unique blend of several typical varieties from the Cortonese hills give our olive-oil a well-balanced, unique sensory profile that is rich in flavour and fragrance; the perfect olive-oil to add a true Tuscan touch to your dishes!. The farmhouse is divided into two independent floors. The upper floor has retained the simple lines of an old, traditional farmhouse. The apartment consists of a spacious Tuscan style kitchen with original sandstone sink and open fireplace. In the old rural tradition, the kitchen was the room where, especially in the cold winter months, the family spent most of their time. The centrepiece of the room was the fireplace; the area next to it was and is still called the “canto del fuoco” and was the place where in the chilliest days old and young gathered to warm by the fire. Perennially hanging from under the hood, a blackened kettle or a small water-heater were the only source of hot water for house consumption . In the chilly winter evenings, the fireplace was where the family gathered to talk about the hardships of everyday life and where the kids listened to the stories told by the old folks. The floor is rounded off by a living room with sleeper sofa, one master bedroom and one bathroom with shower. The lower floor consists of a small fully-equipped kitchen featuring an original stone oven. As recently as two-three generations ago, rural families used to bake their bread weekly, based on how busy housewives were, generally on Friday or Saturdays for it to stay fresh enough until Sunday. Back in the old days, the quality of bread was much better than today: bread would stay good for a week and still be edible for two weeks. For bread to last longer, housewives would knead flour and water without adding salt, a precious commodity that was rarely available to worse-off households. So, Tuscan “saltless” bread owes much of its distinctive character to its humble origins. The floor is rounded off by a living room, one master bedroom and one bathroom with bath-tub and shower Furnished with simple rustic elegance, the interiors are cosy, comfortable and authentic. A beautiful swimming-pool and a spacious lawn area are there for guests to enjoy and spend a relaxing private holiday, su FARM CHARACTERISTICS AND SERVICES INCLUDED Bedrooms 2 Sofa bed in the living room on upper floor Apartment sleeps: 5 ( + baby) Swimming pool m. 5 X 12, for exclusive use ( open from May) Garden 2 Kitchens 2 Bathrooms Satellite TV/ cable TV DVD player Hi-Fi player Freezer 1 highchair for children 1 baby coat Barbecue Additional pay services Heating in the winter months is charged by meter reading  (€ 20 for day) Final cleaning € 50 rrounded by groves of silver olive-trees, indulging in the colours and scents of Tuscany.