“Cerqua” is the local name for the OAK, a symbolic tree in the Apennins: here, the ancient Umbrians used to protect their villages within forests and with offering to their main god, Grabos (the Big Oak). The ecological Farm stretches for about 250 acres over the hills surrounding Pietralunga, painted with the gold of wheat, the blue of a sprighting stream, and the dark green of woods and meadows. According to ecological farming methods, we grow cereals and potatoes, and horses and sheep as well, while for the wood managemet we are inspired by Natural Forestry. The farmhouse shop exposes few ecological products: jam, liqueurs, and the precious Truffle.

Firenze 142 km - Perugia 56,7 km - Assisi 69 km - Spoleto 122 km - Arezzo 65,8 km - Siena 137 km - Roma 223 km

Close to La Cerqua, the sunny and suggestive acorn-shape swimming pool is composed of a larger basin for adults (10 m long, 5 m large, 1,4 m deep) and asmaller round one for children (3,5 m diameter, 0,5 m deep); the greenis strewn with iron-made furniture, while from the nearby wood the stone barbecue spreads a scent of roasted meat allaround.
The time Guests are not busy to contemplate the silent valley in the sunny and suggestive pool or to taste the genuine flavour of country cooking, they can play different and funny open-air sports:
- archery, in a nice oak wood strewn with mobile and pointing targets; bows and arrows are available (free) in the farm;
- football, in the small, green ground close to La Balucca, where bloody derbies are played by the guests of the two different houses;
- mountain-bike trails, for guests used to cycle up and down along rambling paths; the bikes, rented by the Carpina Valley Association, can be booked directly in the farm. The Nature Walks passeggiata 0 Several short tracks are marked (blue and white signs) inside the farm: the relative map is available at the Reception. These tracks are connected to the longer ones in the Forest of Pietralunga (red and white signs): marvelous loop trails to go throw either on foot (the map and a guidebook available in the Reception) or on horseback (a guide cab be required from the Riding Centre in the farm).

The Horse-riding ippovia The Valle del Carpina Horse-riding Centre, connected to C.N.S. FIAMMA, is available inside the farm, close to La Balucca farmhouse. Fabio, farrier and horse-riding guide, helped by the 10 tractable horses of the farm, let guests experiment horse-riding joys and … sorrows! Guests can attend a short briefing in the riding-ground and then face an unforgettable excursion in the forest along the marked path of the IPPOVIA Umbra. Sports The time Guests are not busy to contemplate the silent valley in the sunny and suggestive pool or to taste the genuine flavor of country cooking, they can play different and funny open-air sports archery, in a nice oak wood strewn with mobile and pointing targets; bows and arrows are available (free) in the farm; football, in the small, green ground close to La Balucca, where bloody derbies are played by the guests of the two different houses; mountain-bike trails, for guests used to cycle up and down along rambling paths; the bikes, rented by the Carpina Valley Association, can be booked directly in the farm.

The main house La Cerqua (San Salvatore former monastery). Case San Salvatore, a recently restored XIV century farmhouse, once believed to have been a monastery, is situated 3 km. far from the village of Pietralunga, in the Carpina Valley. Guest accommodation comprises a total of 20 beds in 6 rooms and in 2 suites, each named after a different local tree. All the rooms have private bathroom, central heating (some with open fireplace), TV, internet and a panoramic view. Downstairs there is a farm-restaurant and a clubhouse with: TV and music saloons, and a reading saloon with a small library. With its Bio Cafè with a veranda, its small acorn-shape swimming pool and its barbecue area, it is the ideal place for relaxing holidays in nature. The Old Barn VECCHIO FIENILE A typical red house: the perforated bricks let the air circulate for keeping the hay; today, they contain two Studio-Apartments, surrounded by a little garden, under the shadow of an old maple. The ideal place for a self-run holiday in nature. La Balucca Farmhouse Appartamento CILIEGIO 600 m. far from the main house, in the middle of the farm, the apartment CILIEGIO is the ideal place for a self-run holiday in the countryside.

The main house La Cerqua (San Salvatore former monastery) Room First floor Camera OLMO – (Ulmus glabra) FotoCameraOlmoolmo The Elm, sacred to the winged god Morpheus, one of the one thousand sons of Sleep, is the tree of dreams. The Elm room, with its simple furniture and a large panoramic window on the Carpina Valley, helps you to sleep easy and to have sweet dreams. 28 s.m. – 2/3 beds Suite ACERO CAMPESTRE – (Acer campestre) FotoCameraAceroCampestre acero-campestre The Field Maple is the most appreciated tree for making precious musical instruments. In the Field Maple suite everything sounds with the melodious notes of olden times: the antique fireplace, the sink transformed into a writing-desk, the oven for bread in the nice little veranda. 42 s.m. – 3 beds Camera ROVERELLA – (Quercus pubescens) FotoCameraRoverella roverella The Downy Oak, a thousand years old enormous tree, where pretty nymphs live, gathering clouds with its foliage, let the fertilizing rain fall down. From the dark and quiet Downy Oak room you can hear the light tinkling noise of the rain that dies away on the water of the acorn-shape pool; lying back on the wrought iron bed, your imagination will then suggest you a joyful multitude of water nymphs. 32 s.m. – 3 beds Camera ORNIELLO (Fraxinus ornus) FotoCameraOrniello orniello The Flowering Ash, sacred to the god Neptune, is the tree of honey and sources. In the Flowering Ash room, sweet and crystalline sensations, clear like a spring water, flow from everywhere: from the lacunar ceiling, the floor marks, the large and sunny windows. 28 s.m. – 2 beds

The main house La Cerqua (San Salvatore former monastery) Room Camera CARPINO (Ostrya carpinifolia) FotoCameraCarpino carpino In the Middle Ages the Hop Hornbeam, with is oval leaves where well marked nervatures make a precise drawing, was the miniaturists favorite tree. The Hop Hornbeam room, with its old sink, its niches on the stone wall, its panoramic windows on the Carpina Valley, is a joyful hymn to the ancient grace and beauty. 28 s.m. – 2 beds Second floor Camera ACERO NAPOLETANO – (Acer obtusatum) FotoCameraAceroNapoletano acero-napoletanoThe Italian Maple, whose leaves in autumn change into red, is the tree sacred to the god of Fear. In the Italian Maple room, the wooden beams, the stone dormer, the old chest and the small windows keep an invincible fear: that the holiday here will be always too short. 29 s.m. – 3 beds Camera SORBO – (Sorbus torminalis) FotoCameraSorbosorboThe Wild Service Tree, whose thin foliage allows sun rays to reach easily the ground underneath, is the symbol of light renaissance after the darkness of the winter. In the Wild Service Tree room, blades of light filter through the falcon nest pipe-hole on the stone wall and light up the traditional caisson beds thus assuring guest renaissance after the darkness of a metropolitan life. 28 s.m. – 3 beds Suite CERRO – (Quercus cerris) – 2 posti letto FotoCameraCerro ceroo The Turkey Oak, sacred to Grabovio, the god of Umbri, is the tree of thunder and lightning. In the Turkey Oak suite, from the old armchair beside the niche on the wall, the flames, crackling in the small fireplace, seem to push themselves, like curious shadows, beyond the old wild cherry wood wardrobe to reach the carved wooden table. 32 s.m. – 2 beds

The Old Barn Monolocale VETRICA – (Salix alba) FotoMonoVetrica Scritta_vetrica_perstanzaA typical red house: the perforated bricks let the air circulate for keeping the hay; today, they contain two Studio-Apartments, surrounded by a little garden, under the shadow of an old maple. The ideal place for a self-run holiday in nature. 28 s.m. – 2 beds Monolocale ALBERONE – (Populus nigra) – 3/5 posti letto FotoMonoAlberonealberone The Black Poplar is the Earth Mother sacred tree where the Eliadi nymphs, daughters of the Sun, live. In the Black Poplar studio-apartment, the world is turned upside down: the living room is in the lower area, connected to the Earth, while the sleeping area is projected towards the sun on a typical wrought iron and wooden intermediate floor. 42 s.m. – 3/5 beds

La Balucca Farmhouse Appartamento CILIEGIO 600 m. far from the main house, in the middle of the farm, the apartment CILIEGIO is the ideal place for a self-run holiday in the countryside. An independent whole wing of the typical farmhouse Balucca composed of a large kitchen, one or two rooms (with its own bathroom each), TV, internet, private garden and parking 70 s.m. – 3/5 beds