Luxury Villas in Umbria

Umbria Villas

The charm of Umbria is somewhat under the radar. Visitors to Italy still race towards Tuscany, the northern Lakes or south to Amalfi, taking in Florence and Rome on the way. But Umbria, that large central region of Italy, has something that seems to be fading in the main Italian centres … authenticity.

In many ways, Umbria is the Tuscany of the 1970s. Gorgeous rolling terrain, hilltop villages and towns, olive groves that look like they stepped out of a scene from a classical Roman painting. The twisting roadways that weave throughout this region reveal one photo-perfect scene after another.

Regardless of which of the Umbria villas you decide to base yourself at, you will be greeted each morning by a view that is simple perfection.  Cyprus dotted hillsides, ancient stone farmhouses surrounded by a tapestry of rural bliss.  And all of this to be enjoyed over your morning coffee or on your terrace with a delicious glass of wine at sunset.

There is so much to see and experience in this large region.  Day trips to the famous Assisi is always top on the list.  It is a town with very large churches and monasteries.  Not surprising, as it is the home of two of the great saints of the Catholic church:  St Francis and St Clare.

The body of St Francis the founder of the Franciscan order but more touchingly the patron saint of animals can be viewed and tends to draw a lot of visitors each year.  Regardless of any religious leanings, you will be delighted with this pretty hillside town.

It boasts a Roman amphitheatre, a couple of castles and all of this tucked within the walls of a town with a population that is under 30,000.  It is easy to explore on foot with lots of little medieval streets and pretty cafes ready to entice the traveller.

The equally exciting city of Orvieto has a strategic position on the road between Florence and Rome.  Consequently, it has been a focus of much siege and resistance as a virtually, impregnable town.  If you are located in one of the nearby Exceptional Villas in Umbria, you will spend lots of enjoyable days and evenings strolling through its pretty winding streets.

The secret of what lies beneath your feet can be revealed if you join one of the specialist tours that can take you on a magical mystery exploration of the endless tunnels, rooms and caverns that have been cut out of the ancient volcanic rock that supports the city.  It is essentially a city beneath a city.  A definite must-see when you visit Orvieto.

Last but not least, the capital of the Umbrian region, Perugia should be on the list if you are staying at any of our luxury villas in Umbria.  With a population of around 200,000, this is a city that weaves its magnificent ancient past seamlessly with a modern Italian city.  Naturally pretty with gorgeous views all around, this is the place to go for some shopping, wining and dining, people watching or just to soak up city life without entering the cauldron that can be Rome in high summer.

In between these three towns lie a network of towns and villages each one as perfect as the next.  Traditional breads, cheeses and local olives pared with some great Italian wine can be a meal in itself at any of the local cafes and restaurants that you will encounter on your travels.

Don’t try to plan it all in advance.  Simply choose one of our luxury villas Umbria and embark each day with a very loose agenda.  Umbria will reveal herself to you and your family as you follow your nose along another curving road to yet another hidden gem.  You will have to stop at one of the gorgeous restaurants and enjoy the best of Umbrian foods.  On every menu you will be sure to find truffles.

Whether it’s added to flavour cheeses, pastas or your breakfast scrambled eggs, they are to be found everywhere.  The incredible Pecorino cheese is another key feature of Umbrian cuisine.  If you are on the move then a Porchetta sandwich made up of herb encrusted roast pork will keep you powered up until dinner time.

After all of this divine dining and exploration, return to your villa base for an evening swim before you watch the twinkling lights on faraway hills appear in the twilight haze.  If Italy is wonderful (and it is!) then Umbria is her well-guarded secret.  Be sure to come and see it before that patina of ancient charm is rubbed a little too smooth by the invading tourists.

And to finish on a sweet note … if you’ve ever been lucky enough to be given a gift of Baci those incredible yummy chocolates with the pretty notes in them, then you can revel in the knowledge that they originate in Perugia.  It’s probably the chocolate capital of Italy …. and their chocolate kisses (‘Baci’) will welcome you to Umbria.

What’s not to love!