This is a place where you can be silent and breathe deeply, consciously, with a smile. You’ll become aware of the birds that follow their dance routine, ritually, every day before sunset.
Here you have to address nature with Your Highness Nature, I wish you a good morning and a good night. Because she’s at the root of everything and we always return to her with admiration.
Manuelo, current owner of Villa Cozzano, has deep-rooted values that his father passed on to him: to preserve nature and respect people.
His family has owned this place since 1543. Many interesting stories happened here and many destinies came true. Originally, this was a house for workers who took care of the land and animals. Over time, it became a cultural center and even a school. The (only) shoe shop was also here. During the war, this was a safe house for many.
After the war, everyone fled to big cities searching for work. That’s how the house remained empty for 30 years, until Manuel’s parents returned and decided to renovate it.
It is interesting that their land belongs to both Tuscany and Umbria: the vineyards are in the Tuscan part and the house is in the Umbrian. The large lake of Montepulciano used to reach the house.
Thanks to the maps drawn by Leonardo da Vinci, we know a lot today. In 1502, he drew a geo-map of the entire region, the so-called Valdikiane, that is one of his best cartographic works.
Let’s come back to the present moment. This is not a tourist story about a hotel and its stars.
Here, you stay as a special guest of Mother Nature and Manuel. You are also a guest of Villa Cozzano, serious signora with heritage. You cannot help but feel the strong energy of belonging that this country conveys to you.
Manuelo wanted us all to feel that way today, while he took care of the house and the land.
The other day I read Manuel’s post on Instagram. The way he poetically addresses nature, with love and admiration, almost make it seem like a love poem:
“Hey you! Yes you, nature on the border of Tuscany and Umbria.
Thank you for being so sweet to my eyes this fall.
To be honest, I thought that I might get tired of you one day.
Or at least not be so impressed anymore.
But l’ve come to understand that this may never happen.
I know it may seem like I take you for granted, but believe me, I don’t.
You know how I can be sometimes.
You surprise me over and over with your moods, with your voice and your handsome looks.
When you get shy and red in the evening before going to bed.
How you cool down in the evening after heated days.
But also, when you get so angry that the sky turns dark and shouts at me with its thunder.
When you tear me down, I know that tomorrow you will pull me up again.
I observe you every day here at Cozzano.
And even if sometimes in the morning you play the mystic one and I can’t really see through you, I know that after a while the fog will disappear and you will be clearer than ever.
And there it is again, that warm feeling you create in me.
Nature, you are beauty!”
Now, I let you explore on your own… Close your eyes and play your own Villa Cozzano movie. Because, you don’t go to Tuscany just for the wineries and the cypress trees lined up along the winding roads. Or because of the sun that colors the green glades in a thousand shades that slowly pass by as you return from sightseeing in the evening.
Visit Villa Cozzano from April on. Until then, Manuelo and his team will continue their fight to protect the lake, and there will be new olive oil and wine, and honey… and a little rest, after a busy season.
