While many places around the world conceal hidden gems that delight the visitors who stumble upon them, people may also enjoy certain destinations precisely because these give life to their preconceived fantasies.
Take Umbria, for instance, home of mainland Italy’s geographic centre, which looks (and is, in fact) quintessentially Italian. Notably less touristy than Tuscany, the region combines rich cultural heritage, some of the most delizioso cuisine on Earth and spectacular landscapes marked by vineyards, olive groves and other lush vegetation.
When visiting ‘the green heart of Italy’, you’ll no doubt want to stay somewhere that feels as authentic as your surroundings. Enter Casa Penna, part of the exclusive Tenuta di Murlo estate, which boasts an organic garden, a small farm and its own restaurant. This hilltop stone villa is situated on a long white gravel road that winds through the countryside north of Perugia; it is perfectly harmonious with its scenic purlieus.
Run almost like a boutique hotel, there is fantastic staff at Casa Penna from whom you can order room service from the estate’s own restaurant, Il Caldaro, which you can access via a free shuttle service. A former medieval farmhouse transformed into a foodies’ paradise, it offers a wine list including local reds, whites and rosés, all complemented by cheeses, cold cuts and other foodstuffs particular to Umbria. It also offers handmade pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven and pasta dishes, the sauces for which are made daily using local ingredients.
At your request, the estate staff will also arrange nearby activities such as truffle hunts, cooking lessons and wine tastings. The villa comes with a daily maid service, and, on request, a cook, a shopping service, cooking classes and a concierge service.
Among the countless reasons to raise a glass here and say cin cin is the property’s heated infinity pool, which is bathed in sunlight and looks out over Umbria’s sprawling valleys. Beside it is a pool cottage fitted for alfresco dining and providing shade for cooling down. Meanwhile, the furniture outside provides the perfect perch from which to comfortably take in the vistas with your morning coffee or sunset tipple.
The villa accommodates up to eight guests between the main house and the annex, featuring two spacious double bedrooms each, whose ensuite bathrooms are fitted with elegant marble features. The interiors blend traditional features, such as wooden beams and floorboards, with functional, contemporary furnishings.
Although it’s perfectly conceivable that visitors may find themselves wanting to remain at Casa Penna, the location is conveniently situated between Florence and Rome, with a two-hour drive to each. It’s also worth noting the many stunning towns nearby, which includes Assisi – home to Basilica San Francesco di Assisi, which has been declared a Unesco world heritage site.
And it takes less than half an hour by car to reach Umbria’s beautiful capital of Perugia. From the Rocca Paolina, a Renaissance-era fortress, to the gorgeous piazzas and abundance of art galleries, there is plenty to explore. Not to mention those vantage points from which you can view the city’s breathtaking roofscapes, merging into panoramic countryside and distant mountains stretching as far as the eye can see.
See more at sjvillas.co.uk/accommodation/casa-penna; from €18,800 to €19,200 per week
Nicholas Ross is a traveller, writer and lover of literature
