The Umbria Villa

Rooms

There are eight bedrooms spanning three buildings, which is part of what makes this place work for a crowd. Each building has its own character, and every bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom with Ortigia products.

The Main House is the 1890 farmhouse at the heart of the property. It rambles over three floors, with thick stone walls and generous rooms. The art really stands out, with abstract paintings and rugs bringing a contemporary jolt of colour against the otherwise monastic interiors. The ground floor is built around the big kitchen, which opens straight onto the terrace. There’s a large sitting room down here, and one of five bedrooms. Upstairs are four further ensuite bedrooms, including a master suite with a private sitting room featuring a hand-painted sideboard - look out for antique painted wardrobes in some of the other bedrooms. Outside, you’ll find a barbecue, an outdoor dining table and seating areas surrounded by lawns and lavender, so this is the house where the group naturally gathers.

The Meadow House is a separate building just steps from the main house, so it’s independent without being isolated. Its standout feature is the double-height, open-plan kitchen and dining room, a bright, airy space dominated by a chunky wooden bench table. The two bedrooms (one double, one twin, both ensuite) make it a good fit for a family with older children, or two couples who’d like their own space. Up top, a roof terrace looks out over the meadow.

The Pig Sty is tucked about 50 metres down the hillside from the main house, with its own entrance and track, and has an orchard and small garden all to itself. Inside is one double bedroom, a bathroom, a sitting room and a kitchenette disguised as a cupboard. The terrace has its own barbecue and table and gets good sunset views. Outside high season, the Pig Sty can be booked separately - ideal for couples.

Features include:

• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Hairdryer
• Mosquito net
• Pool towels
• Satellite TV
• Terrace/balcony
• Toiletries
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

Food is one of the main reasons to come to Umbria, and this farmhouse is set up for feasting. Each building has its own kitchen facilities, though the kitchenette in Pig Sty is small (no oven or freezer). The Main House kitchen is the largest and opens onto the terrace, so the cook is never separated from the party. Everything you need to cater for a group is here, including Le Creuset pans, Solimene dinnerware and locally painted coffee cups. There’s a barbecue at the Main House and another at the Pig Sty, and a long terrace table that's made for lunching together. 

The garden is your larder. Depending on the season, you can forage figs, pomegranates, plums, apples, pears, quince, nectarines, almonds and wild blackberries - maybe even truffles if you're lucky! For everything else, Todi has an EMI supermarket plus a good butcher, gelateria, deli and wine shop. Call in at Tutto Pasta for homemade ravioli or lasagne to cook at home, plus delicious tiramisu. 

Or if you’d rather someone else does the work, a private chef is available on request, and there are excellent restaurants in the area. Recommendations in Todi include Osteria Valle for delicious steak and wine, and Ristorante Umbria for traditional local food and meat cooked on an open fire. For pre-dinner drinks, try Enoteca Oberdan, a wine bar located near the top of the funicular on the way up to Todi. Wine tasting and truffle hunting can be arranged via the property manager, so it’s easy to build a food-focused itinerary incorporating vineyard lunches and hands-on mornings in the woods.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Chef on request
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Oven
• Toaster

Activities

• There are lovely walks from the door, including one leading down towards the river and a Roman bridge
• Explore Todi, a hilltop medieval town with a maze of stone lanes, churches, a good museum and an annual opera festival. Park at the bottom of the funicular near Porta Orvietana and take the cable-car ride up the hill (bring cash)
• Arrange a food tour, visit local producers, or book a cookery class
• Umbria has a thriving wine scene, from the celebrated Sagrantino reds around Montefalco to crisp Grechetto whites. Ask the property manager to arrange a winery visit
• Stargazing is a real pleasure here. On a clear night, the Umbrian sky provides a fine backdrop for a late-night drink on the terrace
• Ceramics are wonderful in the region. Deruta is the most famous, but Bevagna is a hidden gem with a beautiful Romanesque church and mosaics - head to La Bottega Di Assu for a cafe lunch and lovely ceramics you can purchase (pre-booking advised)
• Panicale makes for a great day trip. See the exquisite Perugino fresco in the small chapel just outside the gates (Chiesa di San Sebastiano), then have lunch and wine at excellent Lillo Tatini overlooking the square
• Todi has a good tennis club with clay courts - the house has rackets you can borrow
• Orvieto, Spello, Montefalco and Spoleto are all within day-trip distance, with wonderful churches and frescoes

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Shopping / markets
• Stargazing
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Tennis
• Truffle hunting
• Wine tasting

Kids

The house and ancillary buildings make a great option for an extended family holiday. There's a gorgeous pool, big lawns and gardens, a table-tennis table and board games, plus almost no neighbours in sight. Grandparents will like the privacy of the Pig Sty; teenagers will appreciate having their own space in the Meadow House. Note there is only one twin bedroom. 

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

There's a twin room in Meadow House, and a double sofabed in the study in the Main House. A baby cot can be added to any of the three houses. 

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 50 minutes

• Hospital: 30 minutes (Pantalla)

• Shops: 15 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Umbria Villa is in the rolling hills of southern Umbria, about 15 minutes' drive south of Todi.

By Air:
Perugia is the closest airport (allow an hour), or fly into Rome (1hr 45m).

From the Airport:
You'll need a car to get here and to explore the area - see our car rental recommendations.