Tucked away into the hills of Arezzo lies the magic Castello di Galbino, a large and welcoming family castle surrounded by seemingly endless fields and hills covered olive groves and woods.
The castle has a basic square shape with a raised central section and four round towers on the corners. Elegant arched loggias with stone columns, added during its renaissance period conversion, run along two sides.
The glazed loggia with frescoed vaulted ceilings leads onto a small chapel. It is the perfect place for spending a lazy afternoon.
The light filters through the sheer curtains. The main dining room has French windows onto the terrace and the garden with yet another table and chairs for outdoor meals. The twin bedroom with frescoed ceilings is probably the most beautiful bedroom in the castle. But all bedrooms have a special feature, be it painted beams or antique furniture, and all of them are decorated with a cotton weave made by the local firm Bussatti, which has shops all over the world.
The garden melts into the surrounding landscape, inviting to long walks. The pool lies a little above the house.
ACTIVITIES & PLACES OF INTEREST
Arezzo, with a wonderful antique market on the Piazza Grande the first weekend of the month
Many of Piero della Francesca's works can be seen in the nearby town of Sansepolcro (15 minute drive) and you should not miss the village of Monterchi, where his famous pregnant Madonna can be seen in the village school.
Franciscan trails: The Hermitage of La Verna, where St. Francis received the stigmata is a magical place. By car it is reached in 30 minutes. A beautiful trek of 30 kms makes a wonderful day of walking.
Romanesque Churches: The territory around Anghiari boasts a number of very early parish churches. They were built during the early phases of Christianization in which baptism was a crucial element. The pievi remained for centuries the only places authorized to carry out baptisms.
The Castello dei Sorci, a rustic castle turned into restaurant serving very authentic food as for instance home made pasta. It is well know throughout Tuscany.
Shopping: the famous factory outlet of Prada lies on the way to Florence.
Shopping: Anghiari is also the headquarter of one of Tuscany's most interesting textile producers Bussatti, whith shops all over the world.
SPORTS
Woods are wonderful and one can walk or ride either a horse or a mountain bike along the clearly marked footpaths which are indicated on easily available maps.
Riding club
Tennis: the tennis club in Anghiari has a very nice teacher who also speaks English.
Anghiari and all the shops 5 km - 10 min
Sansepolcro 15 km - 20 min
Città di Castello 28 km - 30 min
Arezzo 25 km - 30 min
Cortona 55 km - 1 hr
Perugia 80 km - 1 hr
Gubbio 80 km - 1 hr 10min
Assisi 95 km - 1 hr 15 min
Florence 100 km -1 hr 30 min
Siena 100 km - 1 hr 30 min
Pisa 180 km - 2 hr 10 min
Rome 245 km - 2 hr 45 min
