Domaine de Murtoli

Country hideaway, family friendly, casual chic

N196, 20100 Sartène, France

33 (0) 4 95 71 69 24

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At a Glance

Set on a sprawling 6,000-acre estate, these 20 stone houses sleep from two to sixteen guests. Add to that private pools, a golf course, three restaurants and breathtaking sandy coves and you have one of Corsica's most coveted private estates.

Indagare Loves

  • The beachside restaurant, an artful assemblage of driftwood furniture, comfy violet cushions and beautifully set tables, fresh fish and salads, plus a great view of the famed lion-shaped rock, Roccapina
  • The abundant breakfasts delivered to your doorstep, made with a variety of products sourced within the domain, from goat's cheese to fruit jams
  • The wild nature and sense of isolation here - 6,000 acres that you are sharing with only nineteen other housesReview

Review

Don't be surprised that there are no road signs to lead you to Domaine de Murtoli, set back on a wild peninsula near Sartène. Discretion and privacy are one of the key draws of this massive estate (it's five times the size of Monaco). Owner Paul Canerelli and his wife Valérie, who began developing the family property in 1994, continue to add new features to this unusual property.

Bordered by fragrant scrub, olive groves and orchards, the winding red dirt roads lead to the rustic cottages—with a choice of valley, sea and maquis views—scattered throughout. Interiors are simple but elegant, and even the romantic, one-bedroom houses have cozy sitting rooms with fireplaces. Some of the larger accommodations also include air-conditioning, heated pools and hammams, but don't expect standard hotel amenities like satellite TV; the idea here is to luxuriate in a back-to-nature ethos.

Domaine de Murtoli also features a farm-to-table approach—the owners raise their own meat, use their own vines for rosé and bottle their own oil. "There are 150 cows, 500 goats, 7,000 olive trees and 13 hectares of immortelle, a plant used in anti-aging beauty creams," says Valérie Canarelli, who offers a long list of services from coastal nature walks with a botanical guide and on-the-beach massages, to horseback riding and excursions in their in-house fishing boats.

Guests can choose to have meals in their villas (private chefs can be arranged but many guests also order groceries and whip up their own feast in the fully equipped kitchens). But Murtoli also has Michelin-starred La Ferme, a restaurant housed in a soaring restored barn, with an exquisite wine cellar where small tastings and intimate dinners can be arranged. La Grotte, a candlelit restaurant built into a stone grotto, has multiple al fresco terraces, making it a favorite for sunset viewing and aperitifs.

Bonifacio is a 40-minute drive away, and the area also has vineyards and smaller villages to explore, but Murtoli is the kind of sprawling, special place where most visitors simply hole up, relax and recharge. Says Valerie Canarelli: "I can see it in our guests as soon as they arrive. Slowly, they exhale, they relax, the women stop wearing make-up. Everyone lets the stress go. It's magic.

Who Should Stay

Couples, families, golfers and honeymooners who don't need round-the-clock service will all be happy here. Anyone who enjoys nature, great food, nautical sports, fishing, hunting, golf, mountain biking and the pristine beaches.

Written by Lanie Goodman

What's Nearby
Indagare employees walking up stiars

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