Like an upturned rounded beehive, the peaceful, historic hamlet of Castello di Murlo is right in the middle of Etruscan territory. Il Pozzo is an apartment for four that, like most of the dwellings in this little village, forms part of the walls.
The village has two squares, one with an important Etruscan museum in the ex -Episcopal palace, the other, smaller, with a well in the middle. It also has a restaurant so you can stroll out of the house straight into a great Tuscan Trattoria. The views are stunning, with cultivated hills of the Crete reaching as far as Asciano and Siena on one side, and the Maremma countryside on the other.
The house is on a little square with an old stone well in its centre. On the ground floor, entered from the piazza, is an old stable-storeroom with, at its far end, a table, a fridge, a cold tap and a barbeque, making it easy to enjoy eating and relaxing outside on the terrace.
Another door from the piazza leads to the first floor, with a sitting room with a very large fireplace, a dining kitchen and a bathroom. On the second floor are a double bedroom, and a twin bedroom with WC and washbasin. Furniture is a combination of delightful antiques and high quality modern fittings.
Below the terrace is a tiny patch of green and below that a path leads in about 900 metres across the valley to Vescovado di Murlo, where there is a wide variety of shops and services.
This little village has a fabulous Etruscan museum as it's one of the few places where traces have been found of Etruscan houses, rather than of tombs - you can see the roof-tiles that still like the ones used today, and the dinky Etruscan cowboy, with his wide brimmed hat that looks just like those used today by "Butteri" (local cow-wranglers) and US cowboys.
From 900 BC until the Romans squashed them around 350 BC, the mystical and fascinating Etruscans flourished in Tuscany and left influences that continue to be felt to day. Developing extraordinary skills in engineering, their artistic and metalworking abilities enabled them to trade all around the Mediterranean and across Europe. Overlaid by Roman and then medieval influence, often Etruscan sites were used by successive generations and civilisations.
Castello di Murlo was a minor centre in Etruscan times. Subsequently developing as a medieval feud in the 3rd Century, it was later effectively cut off from surrounding developments. To day it is an intact, medieval hamlet set in extraordinarily beautiful countryside. Its tiny population looks so like the figures and faces on Etruscan portraits that the people were recently the subject of French genetic research, comparing their DNA with Etruscan; and found to match.
The owner of the village pizzeria/restaurant has his photo portrait, dressed as an Etruscan, displayed on the walls. The numerous tracks and roads crossing the area are still the only way to reach secluded places of remarkable historical, artistic and naturalistic importance making Il Pozzo a particularly good base for walking, riding and exploring. Murlo occupies a strategic position in relation to other places of importance in Tuscany. Its hospitable and discreet Anglo-Italian owners live next door and provide every help you may need to enjoy the innumerable feasts for your eyes, mind and palate that Tuscany offers with such amiable generosity
For availability and pricing see the calendar above. If you have any questions or would like help choosing, we visit our properties regularly and can help you choose and book the best villa for your holidays.
We can hold dates for you for 48 hours while you make sure everything lines up, then you simply pay the deposit (30% of total) to secure your booking. The balance will then be due 10 weeks before you travel. You can also add "Booking Protect" to your booking for a full refund if you can't travel.
For more details see our Booking Conditions and Booking Protect. You can add Booking Protect to your booking at any time until you have paid your balance, simply ask your agent.
Many local administrations now charge a “Tourist Tax” for people staying in rented accommodation and these vary from town to town. The charges are generally per person per night with a maximum number of nights, usually around 5 but sometimes 7, beyond which they will not charge. The charges range between 50 cents to 3 euro. Children are sometimes included, sometimes not and these charges should be collected by the property owners.
It can often be faster to contact us to ask for advice - we visit all the houses so can give you first hand advice based on your wishlist. Once you find a villa you like we can hold dates for you for up to 48 hours while you check flights or make sure everybody is on board.
Please ring us with any queries - there are a lot of answers in our FAQ page too. If you want to keep searching, have a look at our suggestions below!