Every foodie dreams of the heady aroma and earthy taste of the tartufo (the truffle)…images of the wizened truffle hunter and his super tuned-in truffle dog bounding through nature in search of the fragrant funghi. Switch to the intrepid Marche house hunter, he or she bouncing down country roads in search of a down-to-earth home in a great spot, at a great price. Imagine if those two worlds could collide! They do!! Just outside Cingoli, the Balcony of Le Marche” where there’s a down-to-earth house that sits adjacent to a tartufaia, the land on which truffles thrive! We call this right-sized house CASA al TARTUFAIA, the house by the tartufo patch.
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Casa Tartufaia is a unique offering, for its location, views, layout, proximity to a tartufo patch, and, its price!
You enter the property via a short white road. Off to the left is the prized tartufaia, the tartufo patch. We know the owner’s brother and he promises that his brother occasionally shares the famed funghi with the owners of Casa Tartufaia…just another reason to be on good terms with the neighbors! The house sits on a very quiet and peaceful plot. As soon as you see the house, beyond it and just a bit higher up, you see a postcard-like view of medieval hill-town, Cingoli…it’s quite a sight and you can even hear the bells chiming in the main tower.
Casa Tartufaia itself is a mix of very old stone and rendered plaster on the exterior. It has a unique shape, unlike those boxy houses that dominate the market. The aforementioned brother of the tartufaia owner is a retired builder who plied his trade in the restoration of Casa Tartufaia. He raves about the build quality and you can see he has a soft spot for the house (he’s currently the caretaker of the house and grounds). It is indeed a solidly built house.
The building is composed of a couple of different components which total to just around 200 sqm. There’s the main house, arrayed over two floors. There’s also a partially subterranean floor that houses a big garage that does double duty as a festive taverna, a big utility bathroom and a cantina where oil and wine are kept. There is also a garden storage room. This “extra” volume is extremely useful and can be put any number of uses.
You proceed into the house via a traditional entry loggia constructed with oak beams. You enter into the main living space, with high ceilings and a big fireplace. It’s the living room/lounge and dining area. You’ll love the original floor tiles and the oak beams ceiling beams. Original interior doors are found throughout. Casa Tartufaia is unique in that it allows for single-floor living. Clients increasingly tell us that living on a single floor is highly desirable and actually quite liberating, as you need only clean, heat, tidy-up and traverse a single floor. Casa Tartufaia has a certain authenticity and rural modesty that fits the image of a right-sized house in the Marche countryside. By “right-sized” we mean not too big and not too small…it just right for 2-6 people and it keeps things simple. Speaking of which, the kitchen is a small, simple country kitchen…it’s fine as is or could be inexpensively upgraded if desired. A wonderful feature of Casa Tartufaia is the outdoor terrace, quite large, that’s accessed from the main living space. The view from here takes in Cingoli and the surrounding hills. It’s excellent for lounging and dining.
From there you enter a corridor from which you reach 2 bedrooms, each with worn wood plank floors. One bedroom, with two windows, has outstanding views of Cingoli, while the other, looks out on the surrounding hills. There is also a bathroom, with shower, on this floor. Heading further upstairs at Casa Tartufaia you arrive in the attic section. Here the owner has carved out a 3rd bedroom and a bathroom. Note, in the interests of transparency, that this space is officially registered as an “attic’, not a “habitable” space. So, while your personal use of the space is up to you, you cannot make this space available to renters if renting is part of your plan. So, officially, we have 2 bedrooms at Casa Tartufaia, with extra space for personal use found in the attic.
Note that Casa Tartufaia has central gas heat, via iron radiators. The windows have insect screens. An excellent internet connect is not an issue at the house. Water and power are provided by major utility companies. Importantly, as mentioned earlier, there’s the local man who handles maintenance both inside and outside the house, so a “team” is in place to help you take care of your home.
Heading back outside at Casa Tartufaia the plot is a very manageable 1,200 sqm., in harmony with the house and just what you need. The plat is flat, meaning that it’s all usable and siting a pool here would be easy. Sun cover is excellent during the day and there are times and points on the plot where you can find lots of warming sun or a fair amount of welcome shade. There are oak, fig, cherry and walnut trees, along with 3 or 4 olive trees. The privacy is complete and the peace and quiet need to be seen and (not) heard to truly enjoy them. The views are quite pleasant. There’s the already highlighted views of Cingoli, as well as the surrounding rolling hills and verdant landscape.
Medieval gem, Cingoli, is very close to Casa Tartufaia…just 5 minutes by car and around 10 on your Vespa scooter or Bianchi eBike! Known as the “Balcony of Le Marche”, Cingoli is renowned for its panoramic views. The town is also known for it’s restaurants, beautiful piazza and active civic and cultural life. While local people rave about Cingoli, it’s a sought-after town, too, for foreigners who are in the know. There’s the “Lago di Cingoli,” a big lake with pedestrian and cycling paths. There’s the “Museo del Sidecar,” a quirky and eclectic museum dedicated to motorcycle sidecars! And, there’s the charming “Carosello dell’ultimo Sole”, one of those mechanized bell-tower figurine things found across Europe. These are just a few of the local attractions. Note that the general area has abundant nature and is well-served by restaurants, vineyards and all services. Cingoli even has a tennis club where you can play (at very low cost!) and meet some new local friends. From Cingoli you can also enjoy time on the Adriatic Coast as the beaches are 50 minutes away. The provincial capital, Macerata, with its university quarter, museums, restaurants and famous Sferisterio outdoor opera festival is an easy 25 minute ride. Getting to Casa Tartufaia is easy, too, as it’s 45 minutes to the Ancona Airport and 75 minutes to the Perugia Airport.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning the price of Casa Tartufaia. At the current price, Casa Tartufaia is excellent value for the money. In fact, it’s hard to beat. The location, the adjacent hill-town, the house itself and its build quality, authenticity, terrace, taverna/garage and private plot all add up to this property being an excellent deal. And, that’s not to mention the possibility of the occasional free tartufo showing up on your doorstep!
So, can you imagine yourself sitting on the terrace, digging in to a steaming plate of tagliatelle with the earthy aroma and taste of some freshly-shaved tarfufo, from just over the property line, stimulating your senses? Stop imagining and start enjoying it all at Casa Tartufaia!
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