A wondrous place in the heart of Italy
The villa is located on the border of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio, surrounded by green hills and meadows and fronted by an unforgettable view of Lake Bolsena. The villa offers two independent exquisite apartments restored using traditional cotto, chestnut wood and local basalt stone and is furnished with antiques and hand made pieces. However the apartment is very functional and has everything you may need to enjoy a luxurious and comfortable holiday.
The first floor apartment is very large (130 mts – two double bedrooms - two bathrooms) and offers the ideal situation for a romantic week away from it all, but is large enough for two couples sharing a holiday or for a family wanting to introduce their children to nature, history, culture, good food and wonderful hours spent of the shores of clean Lake Bolsena.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PRICE PER WEEK IS FOR UP TO four PEOPLE. THE PROPERTY CAN TAKE six AND THE 5TH AND 6TH PERSON WILL BE CHARGED AT £ 60 EXTRA PER WEEK
Accommodation
The villa 1st floor apartment offers large accommodation (130 square metres). Designed for comfort and easy living it retains a traditional style and is attractively furnished with antiques or hand made pieces. The two bedrooms and the well-equipped traditional farmhouse kitchen, overlook Lake Bolsena. The lounge with a stone fireplace opens onto a pretty small balcony (loggia), a larger loggia with wonderful views of the rolling hills and the lake is ideal to comfortably dine “al fresco”. There are also two large comfortable bathrooms at each end of the floor. The apartment is totally private and independent and the guests have full use of the extensive grounds. The apartment can sleep six people comfortably, with the addition of a double sofa bed in the lounge
Location
The house is near the small town of Bagnoregio, located on the border of Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio, within the D.O.C. region of the Orvieto and Est!Est!Est! wines. and within easy reach of Rome, Florence, Siena , Assisi and the Tyrrhenian coast.
For me this is the closest place to paradise. The view of the lake, the meadows of red poppies, flowers and grass moving in the breeze, the warmth of the sun, and the coolness of the oak trees. the upupa bird picking insects between the lettuce leaves, the smell of the tomatoes and freshly picked basil. Cool evenings sitting on the loggia with friends, olives and bruschetta on the table and a chilled glass of Orvieto in my hand watching the sky on fire before the sun sinks into the lake.
LOCAL PLACES TO VISIT:
CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO: three miles. This ancient hilltop village dates back to the Etruscans and is connected to Bagnoregio by a footbridge. Bagnoregio looks down on the magnificent Val Dei Calanchi with its dramatic eroded tufo peacks. BOLSENA: five miles. Ancient town, the Etruscan Volsinii, that still retains its medieval narrow streets leading up to the castle. The town has magnificent lake front gardens and several restaurants where it is possible to eat 'al fresco' on the lake shore. The local cuisine is unforgettable and the wines are probably amongst the best in Italy. Eating out is very reasonable. ORVIETO: ten miles. Hilltop town dug into the tufo rock. Magnificent cathedral, covered in golden mosaics and carvings that make it shine from the distance in the sunset. MONTEFIASCONE: five miles. Medieval hilltop town, that was for centuries the summer residence of the Popes because of its favourable climate. Cobbled medieval streets lead to the Rocca Dei Papi and its wonderful views.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO WITHIN 20 MINUTES DRIVE:
Walk along the footbridge to Civita di Bagnoregio and step back in time.
Discover a Roman amphitheatre in the middle of a field a few miles away
Go to the local markets and rediscover what food used to taste like...,try some “porchetta”.
See how long you can swim in the warm water of the lake and land in a remote spot where you are totally alone.
Have supper on the shore of the lake with the local frogs providing the background serenade.
Buy some Etruscan reproduction jewelry in the medieval streets of Bolsena.
Be woken up by the birds’ chorus.
Stop to see some recently re-discovered Etruscan painted tombs on the way to Orvieto and see the golden mosaics of the duomo on the opposite hill glitter in the sun.
Sip a glass of local wine in the main square in Orvieto whilst you take in all the details of the intricate façade of the duomo.
Walk around the yellow “ginestra” that covers the terraces around the house in June.
Take up painting.
Walk up to the Pope palace in Montefiascone and work up an appetite for the most gigantic and tasty pizza you ever had.
Watch the huge sky at night and myriads of stars and constellations.