Villa Umbriana is set like a gemstone in the heart of Umbria, close to one of the region’s most celebrated towns: Todi. From our garden you can see Todi perched up on a hilltop. The gleaming white early Renaissance church stands out against the town’s medieval spires and towers. I set out to find my dream home here in Umbria order to anchor my ties to the place I had grown to love while living and working in Rome as a journalist. This dream lives on at Villa Umbriana, the villa we lovingly restored from a ruin to become a haven for friends, family and guests.villa
“Umbria is still an intact Italian society,” observes Patricia Clough in her book Umbria, written about Italy’s green heartland. Umbria sits adjacent to its sister Tuscany, the region best known for its Renaissance treasures that are magnets for global tourism. Lesser known and arguably more authentic is Umbria, which boasts enchanting countryside, perfect medieval hilltop towns, a tumultuous history, an ancient culture, quiet piazzas and sumptuous food and wine.
At Villa Umbriana we take pride in hosting family reunions and romantic retreats. Surrounding the villa are fields of nodding sun flowers set amongst olive groves and vineyards. Summers – when the pool is open- can be busy in the town’s main piazza, pizzerias and gelaterias. But you will always feel steeped in a genuine Italian experience. Off-season retreats for couples or groups are ideal for travelers interested in longer stays, as we can offer discounted rates.
Villa Umbriana can host two families or several couples; that’s how we designed the layout. Marble-topped tables in the gardens mean dining al fresco will be part and parcel of your experience. We have a wisteria-draped arch that is still waiting for a spring wedding! Our housekeeper/cook is one of the kindest most jovial people you will ever meet. Her valiant efforts to speak English- and make herself understood through gestures when she serves you a home-cooked dinner- are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Todi is perfectly situated to tour Umbria’s hilltowns. We have a world-renowned jazz festival and a music and dance festival in Spoleto. Tour the wineries of Montefalco, which produce some wonderful vintages of world renown. Deruta is a cornucopia of colour for those who like Italian ceramics. (Stores will ship all over the world.) There are the Giotto frescoes to visit in Assisi and a trove of Perugino paintings in Perugia, (which also hosts the European chocolate festival!). All of these towns and more are within easy driving distance of Villa Umbriana.
