Our history
Palazzo Casale has a history that goes back a long way. Here are some of the important dates:
1806
Palazzo Casale was changed to its present form as a Casa Padronale (land owner's house)
1973
The house was bought by John, Jane and Martin Attwood, Christmas 1973, together with the one remaining farm house, with the idea of returning to the land and being selfsufficient.
1980 - 2005
In 1980 John and Martin started the production of ATTWOOD wood burning stoves and Jane started a riding school. Many houses in the area are still heated in the winter months with ATTWOOD stoves.
The family slowly drifted apart. John moved to Munich in 1986, Jane closed the riding school, Martin sold the farm house (his share of the property) to an Irish family in 2003.
2005 - 2011
A couple moved into the ground floor flat to look after the house and grounds.
2012
After the care takers moved to a larger house in the area, John and Sabine decided to move back to Cortona and look after the house themselves.
The house in its present form is largely due to John's tireless work of renovating and rebuilding, which isn't finished yet...
Stages of renovation:
1984 - 85 2nd floor: convertion of the granary to sitting room, bathroom and two bedrooms
1987 - 88 bulldozing a manege and sinking a new well
1990 - 92 complete renovation of 1st floor and roof, building of terrace, piazza and back garden
1994 converting the ground floor stables and cantinas into a self contained flat
1996 installation of central heating and convertion of a stable into a laundry
1999 building a swimming pool
2011 surround wall and paving added to terrace on the southside of house
2013 olive grove and orchard planted
2014 new pergola on the back side of the house
2015 self built sun lounger for siestas on hot afternoons in the shade
2022 new pool and pool area nearer to the house
Druckversion 