House Manual

GENERAL

1.   To help with keeping the apartments clean

  • Around 4pm, on windy days, there is the possibility that the black fire soot from Jo’s restaurant next door will blow inside and go everywhere. Please close the windows if this is the case.

  • Mercatello has a very high concentration of calcium in the water which causes a cloudy build up on glass and tiles. Our local manager, Nicoletta (Nico), has cleaning products which are efficient for dissolving calcium.

  • In La Colombara please add vinegar to the dispenser inside the dishwasher every time you use it.

  • In the showers there is a spray bottle of solution. Spray the glass after each shower (no need to rinse or wipe) and the calcium build-up will be reduced.

  • Please use bottled water in the electric jug and for drinking – can be purchased at the vending machine near the park or from the supermarket and delicatessen. 

2.   To conserve electricity

  • When you go out, switch off the lights and power points - electricity in Italy is much more expensive than Australia.

  • It is cheapest to use the washing machine and dryer between 9.00pm and 7.00am – the washing machine is programmable. 7.00am to 8.00pm week-days is the most expensive time and the week-end is middle pricing.

  • Leave the heaters on the same temperature, say 19 degrees, as this uses less electricity than changing the temperature. If you go away for a few days, turn the heaters down low (e.g. 15 degrees).

3.   Internet

  • La Colombara and the Flexible Apartments (San Martino, La Baroccia and La Pieve) have ADSL wireless internet.

  • The La Colombara user name is EOLO-246759, and the password is KQvjsU84T.  The Flexible Apartments user name is Casa_Mercatello and the password is 99838331.

  • Please note: this is an unlimited capacity service. However, “Italian” unlimited and “Australian” unlimited may not necessarily be the same. As a courtesy to other guests, please be careful of your downloads. Use of the Apple TV (see below) and all data transfers, e.g. transferring images, i.e. Instagram, is a data transfer and will use up capacity.

4.   Sonos

  • There is one Sonos player in La Colombara and one in San Martino. To use these just download the app from the Apple app store or Google play.

  • They are both on the one wireless network so please ensure that you do not “Group” these and that you only activate the Sonos in your apartment.

5.   Rubbish

  • Mercatello has a strong recycling ethic. Please separate glass, paper and cardboard and dispose of these at the end of the street in front of the apartment.

  • Household rubbish is picked up very early on Friday. Please put your rubbish in the grey bin all in a single bag and place outside the front door on the laneway on Thursday evening.

6.   Washing Machines

La Colombara

Washer and Dryer

  • English instructions are in the vanity drawer and on the top of the washing machine and the dryer

  • NB: the dryer contains a condenser so please empty the drawer on the top left of the dryer and empty the lint filter – open door and it is visible at the bottom of the drum

San Martino

Washer/Dryer

  • English instructions are on the shelf.  The washer/dryer will soon be replaced with a separate washing machine and dryer.

7.   Shutters

  • These are used throughout Italy to help regulate heating and cooling and are used instead of blinds in our apartments

  • They are easily damaged

  • To open: undo the latch and fold back

  • To secure in the open position simply lift up the “arrow head” swinging it out and then slide it down – DO NOT swivel the whole bracket. If you don’t understand these instructions then please ask Nico to show you.

  • These shutters and brackets can get damaged by strong winds and storms so if these are forecast, please close the shutters.

8.   Heating

  • If you are visiting in winter you will need to use the central heating. Nico will have it working when you arrive.

  • For every heater there is a black control on the wall, except in the La Colombara living room where both heaters are controlled by the same device on the wall near the balcony door.

  • The tap for the wall heaters themselves must always be open – there is a dial on the bottom of the left corner of each heater. It must be turned from right to left. 

To use:

  • Go to the wall device and move the switch on the bottom right from Off to MAN

  • Choose the temperature by the arrows, up and down on the right-hand side of the control panel

  • The temperature that is digitally displayed is the current room temperature

  • The heaters will take a little time to warm up 

If you have any problems, please ask Nico for assistance.

9.   Windows and Air conditioning – La Colombara

Opening the roof windows

  • The programming for each of these is unfortunately not the same for each remote device – it’s Italy!

  • The top right-hand button indicates the program number but they all work on 1 so don’t fiddle!

  • The top 2 buttons relate to opening and closing the windows and the blinds – each remote is labelled

  • Usually you cannot open or close the blind if the window is open – but some magically work at times!

Air-conditioning

  • One large compressor services all the split systems

  • So the split systems must all be on the same mode

  • Select heating (sun symbol) or cooling (snow symbol)

  • Set fan to auto (fan symbol – A)

  • Select Temperature (suggest 23 degrees)

  • Press On button

NB: If the air conditioners turn off with a flashing yellow light, go to the power board at the base of the stairs and switch the top 2 switches down (off) for 30 seconds to reset the system and then switch them back up (on) 

10.Fireplace

There is one fireplace in La Pieve and one in La Colombara. These are fuelled with Ethanol.  They aren’t used.  If you want to use them, please consult Nico.

11.Dining

There are several dining options in Mercatello, here are a few:

  • Jo’s Taverna del Cacciatore right next door, overlooking the park. Jo’s provides excellent pizzas (dine-in or takeaway) and a selection of good Italian staples. Eat upstairs in the restaurant with the locals and enjoy your meal with a beer or house wine. We have prepared an English translation of Jo’s pizza menu for your convenience. Not all options will be available every day due to the seasonality of produce.

  • Pizza by the slice is also now available – you will find them at the old Mexicana Hardware site.

  • Uto’s restaurant opposite the end of our laneway (via delle Mura) is a good dining experience. Just turn right out of our front door and walk about 20 paces. Your friendly host, Umberto, has good English and a great selection of food and wines. His home-made cherry wine is a delicious alternative to a post-meal “sticky”. 

  • Franco’s bar is a few metres away from Uto’s, on the left-hand side of the main laneway (corso
    A. Bencivenni) and closer to the piazza (town square). Espresso and drinks at the front counter and meals in the back, or in summer there is the outdoor space in the piazza.

  • Bar D’Ico is situated on the high side of the piazza on the corner and, as well as the regular bar fare, it serves splendid gelato in the summer.

  • Mood Bar is situated at the park on the southern side of the town – walk past the museum.  It is a seasonal bar – closed in the winter months.

  • Further afield, within very short driving distances, are other excellent dining options that Nico will be happy to tell you about and to book for you. 

12. Grocery and other shopping

Supermarkets:  COAL, on the road into Mercatello from Urbania:  good general supermarket, good for wine, stocks the excellent local pasta made in Borgo Pace, a few kilometres up the valley.  EMISpesa (opposite the COAL): Smaller supermarket, good deli section, has local meats.  Orietta’s: a small delicatessen in the main street very close to Casa Mercatello has excellent salami and cheeses.

Ingrano Bakery:  in the piazza.  Makes and sells artisanal bread, pastries, pizzas and other delicacies.

Other shops:  Mercatello also has a chemist, post office, florist, jewellery shop, clothes and shoe shops, a newsagents and general store, a laundry, and a hardware store.

Banking/ATMs: 

Weekly Market:  Every Saturday in the square, with a very good fruit and vegetable stall.  Markets in the surrounding towns are:

  • Sant’ Angelo - Monday mornings

  • Urbania - Thursday mornings

  • Urbino - Saturday mornings (a very large market)

13.Operating hours

Mercatello observes the pausa; shops close at 1 pm, re-opening around 4.30 pm.  Shops are closed every Thursday after lunch and also all day Sunday, but restaurants and bars are open.  If you’re arriving on a Sunday or late Saturday, please contact Nicoletta who can arrange to do some shopping for you as part of her Amicizia Experiences service.

14. Banking and ATMs

The bank and ATM are at the Co-operative Bank in the small square beside the San Francesco church in the main street near the Palazzo Ducale.

15. Other services

  • Public transport – there is a bus stop and shelter opposite Casa Mercatello at the top side of the park. The timetable is displayed in the shelter.

  • Museum –recently renovated, next to the Church of San Francesco (St Francis) at the top of the village.

  • Tourist office - this is situated on the top side of the piazza and is open for a few hours a day, with some material in English. 

16. Before you Leave

  • Remove all rubbish and food.

  • Clean all kitchenware and put back in cupboards.

  • Leave the keys in the apartment when you leave.
     

OWNERS AND THEIR GUESTS ONLY

 1. Apple TV

  • Use of the Apple TV is the same as in Australia. Log-in using your iTunes account. All charges for purchases will be debited to your iTunes account.

  • May we also suggest that you do not choose a high definition version of anything to download in Mercatello as this will consume a large portion of the capacity. If travelling with children, please monitor their downloads in Mercatello. 

  • To use Apple TV:

o   Turn on Digital Box

o   Click on Samsung remote – SOURCE – choose HDMI4

o   Take small silver Apple TV remote and click on large silver button

o   Use remote to choose programs from your ITunes account

  • If the Apple TV is not in the apartment, please contact Nico as she stores the Apple TV and the apartments’ mobile phones for owners.

2. Telephones

  • There are no landlines in the apartments. Two mobile phones are provided for the use of owners only, one for each set of apartments. The numbers are: 

o   La Colombara (4 bedrooms):                                                   +39 3779 978 818

o   San Martino, La Baroccia, La Pieve (the investment trust):    +39 3779 988 702

  • Each phone is expected to have a minimum credit of €10 upon your arrival. Note: if you use the mobile phone, it is a requirement that, prior to departing Mercatello, you top it up to €10 credit for the next owner. Top-ups can be done at Franco’s bar nearby. Nico can assist you.

  • The mobile phones may be used outside of the apartment and outside of Mercatello (ie you may take a phone on an “away” trip). However, if a phone is lost or broken it is your responsibility to replace the phone prior to your departure. Nicoletta can assist to organise a replacement.

  • Phone charges are:

o   Free call to Nicoletta (her number is pre-programmed)

o   Other calls: 7 cents per minute

o   Texting: 9 cents per minute

  • If using your own mobile phone, Nicoletta can be contacted on: +39 3395 498 92

  • Please leave the phone (with minimum €10 credit) and charger on the kitchen table upon departure.

3.   To keep everyone happy

  • ·      Feel free to leave books/DVDs on the book shelves. Take a book to read and leave one behind for the next guests, if you like.

  • ·      For owners, please don’t leave personal items behind as we don’t have a lot of storage.

4. Laundry and room cleaning charges

  • All linen and towels are professionally laundered at the end of your stay, and during your stay on request.  Nico will give you an itemised laundry and apartment cleaning bill a few days before you leave.  Please pay this in cash to Nico before you leave.   As at May 2024, laundry and cleaning costs are (note these may increase in future to reflect service costs):

  • Cleaning

    • La Colombara €70

    • La Pieve €35

    • San Martino €42

    • San Martino/La Baroccia €42

    • Extra Cleaning €12hr

  • Laundry

    • Towels per set €6

    • Linen per set €21

    • Table cloth, dishcloths etc €6

Enjoy Mercatello and the beautiful countryside!

 

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Casa Mercatello Manager:
Nico (Nicoletta Amicizia)

Mobile: +39 339 5498925; Email: amicizia.nicoletta81@gmail.com.

Call, text (WhatsApp) or email Nico about any problems or for advice during your stay.