Grounds
Casa Fontana sits in five acres of olive groves. We have not yet been able to
make an exact count but we think we have somewhere in the region of two
hundred trees.
That’s a lot of Martinis!
The grounds are a series of terraces, climbing
ever higher to provide increasingly panoramic views of the surrounding
countryside. Apart from the olives there is also a copse of oaks that
gives shelter to wild boar in the winter and porcupines in the summer.
In the spring bright yellow broom and wildflowers of every hue cover
the slopes. There are plenty of edibles too, from wild asparagus to
sweet golden figs. In the distance you can see huge birds wheeling
lazily in the sky (would any bird-spotter guests please identify!)
Summer nights are wonderful at the Casa.
There is hardly any light pollution, affording a stupendous view of starry
skies, a magnet to romantics and amateur astronomers alike. The moon is
almost bright enough to read by, certainly suitable for a night walk! Perhaps
the loveliest sight comes in May and June when hundreds of fireflies float
and pulse all around the house at night giving the trees and bushes a magical
air.
Autumn is a particularly cheerful time
of the year, offering plenty of sunshine, strolls through golden forests and
sumptuous seasonal specialities, such as game and truffles. November is olive
picking time, and we are generally blessed with warm bright weather. We
produce our own oil:
CASA FONTANA
ESTATE BOTTLED
EXTRA VIRGIN
COLD PRESSED
ORGANIC
OLIVE OIL
2006
There is nothing to compare to the taste of freshly pressed olive oil, with
its green tint and richly nutty flavour. Two hundred trees yield only about
35 litres a season, ensuring that the quality is consistently high.
Pool
We do not claim that the three terraces
nearest the house are really a garden. Shall we just say that, compared to
the rest of the grounds, nature has been
somewhat tamed? Still, it has some comfort features: pergolas, patios,
barbecue areas and, above all, the pool. It is a fair size at 8 x
12 metres
(about 24 x 36 feet) and 160 cm deep at the far end. Roman steps allow
easy access to the water; this can be a safe area for little children.
We must point out, however, that minors may only use the pool under parental
supervision.
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