Location: Castiglione del Lago, Umbria, Italy, Europe
Accommodations: Villa, 8 Bedrooms, 9.5 Baths (Sleeps 14)
Imagine staying in an historic villa atop a hill in the Umbrian countryside - listening to birdsong as you drink your morning coffee on the terrace, sipping an aperitivo at dusk under a gazebo smothered in jasmine, and being looked after by warm, friendly hosts.
That's a vacation, an idyll, an oasis of tranquility.
Enjoy the gentle pleasures of a house furnished with European antiques, comfortable beds and down-filled sofas. Cool off in a tiled swimming pool set in an olive grove. Linger over a meal grilled in an open fireplace over olive-wood coals.
And, if you can tear yourself away from this haven, close by you can explore some of the most beautiful medieval villages and towns on this planet, together containing an estimated 20 percent of the world's artistic heritage. You could build a lazy day around a superb lunch at either a modest family trattoria or a sophisticated restaurant, or visit an outdoor market or shop selling antiques, hand painted ceramics, linens, leather, cashmere, olive wood and other traditional crafts.
Or, just head out the back door on a country walk through a landscape seemingly cut and pasted from a Renaissance masterpiece.
We welcome you with the traditional hospitality of the Umbrian people.
Come, be our guest.
The Villa and Park: Built in the Italian Liberty style in 1918 as the residence of the "padrone", or wealthy landowner, of the surrounding farms and vineyards, Villa Gioianna is one of the few grand houses of its type in the area. The Villa has been renovated and updated with respect and sympathy for the original architecture and retains the warmth and ambience of a family country home. Terracotta and hand-painted tile floors, whitewashed walls, walnut doors and wood-beamed ceilings form a simple background for the elegant but comfortable antiques and textiles furnishing the rooms.
The Villa is approached via an avenue of cypresses and lime trees and sits in a mature park of four and a half acres of woods, vineyards, olive groves, fruit trees and flower gardens on a hill above Lago Trasimeno. The gardens are landscaped with carefully selected flowers and herbs in order to provide maximum fragrance as well as color and shade. Villa Gioianna is a small working estate that produces its own olive oil, grapes, fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs.
Location: Villa Gioianna is located near the shores of Lake Trasimeno, on the western edge of Umbria and a stone's throw from the Tuscan/Umbrian border. A few kilometers away are the Etruscan town of Chiusi and its excellent train connections to all destinations on the Naples-Milan high-speed train line, including Rome, Florence and Orvieto. Chiusi also provides convenient access to the Autostrada del Sole (the A-1 highway). Within an hour's drive are many historic Umbrian and Tuscan hill towns such as Assisi, Arezzo, Cortona, Montepulciano, Orvieto, Pienza, Perugia, Deruta, Spello and Montalcino, as well as other less well-known, but equally charming, smaller villages. Many of central Italy's other leading historical and cultural centers (Rome, Florence, Todi, Siena, Spoleto, Gubbio and Urbino) can be reached in less than two hours.
The nearest major airports are Rome, Pisa and Florence. Each is about a one and a half to two hour drive away. Bologna is a bit farther, but still feasible (approximately two and a half hours). Perugia airport is the closest (about 40 minutes). It services primarily charter and Italian domestic flights, but as of December 2006, Ryanair introduced regularly scheduled budget flights from London to Perugia.
The medieval town of Castiglione del Lago is the nearest market town (6 km). Designated as one of "I Borghi più belli d'Italia" (the most beautiful towns in Italy), it sits high on an olive tree-covered promontory jutting into the west side of the lake. The town's magnificent medieval castle and frescoed palace dominate one end of the old town center, and the 19th century church of Santa Maria Magdalena the other. In between are a number of small shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and bakeries. Castiglione del Lago provides easy access to the superstrada linking Perugia and eastern Umbria to Siena, Chianti and western Tuscany, and is the embarkation point for one of the ferries servicing the lake islands.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer: There is a separate laundry room with washer, iron and ironing board.
- Dryer: A dryer is available in emergencies (ie pouring rain!) We have several lines where you clothes dry naturally in minutes under the Umbrian sun. Be virtuous, save energy and enjoy the view of the neighboring vineyards as you hang up your clothes to dry. They smell fantastic afterward.
- Linens Provided: We use high quality linens and towels and change them weekly. Towels and linens may be changed more frequently and additional housekeeping services arranged (payable separately).
- Off Street Parking
- Wood Fireplace (4) : Each of the kitchen, living room, dining room and top floor sitting area have functioning woodburning fireplaces. The fireplace and woodburning oven in the kitchen can also be used for grilling, roasting meats and baking pizzas. First night fire is gratis; afterward wood is charged at market rate.
- Beds
- Queen Bed (6) : Wildly romantic, canopied four poster beds feature in two bedrooms; equally stunning antique brass or ornately carved wooden bedsteads furnish the others. Each of the eight bedrooms has its own beautifully tiled bathroom with a deep soaking tub and/or a commodious power shower.
- Double Bed (2) : There is one "twin" bedroom furnished with two 3/4 width (48-inch) beds supported by antique wooden bedsteads and a bedroom suite that includes a matching armoire and bedside tables.
- Twin/Single Bed (2) : The other twin bedroom has two 36" wide twin beds supported by antique wooden bedsteads.
- Crib (5) : Five child cots/cribs are available for a small extra charge.
- Entertainment
- TV (No Cable/Satellite)
- DVD
- CD Player (2)
- Stereo System (2)
- Music Library: We have a large selection of jazz, rock, classical and contemporary CDs.
- Private Pool: The 6 x 13 meter tiled swimming pool sits in an elevated position on a small rise in the olive grove, protecting it from the sirocco winds blowing from the south, but allowing fresh afternoon breezes coming from the mountains in the north.
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: The large kitchen is dominated by an enormous traditional fireplace for grilling meats or bruschetta and a woodburning oven for baking pizzas and roasting meat. It is also fully equipped with modern appliances.
- Cooking Utensils Provided: A cook lives here! The kitchen is well-equipped with quality pots, pans and a full array of kitchen utensils. The Villa contains lovely Villeroy & Boch china and a selection of local, handpainted ceramics for dining. Staples (such as sugar, flour, herbs & spices, paper products) will be stocked in the house prior to your arrival and guests replenish what they have used.
- Refrigerator (2) : For your convenience, the kitchen has two full-size refrigerators, each with a small freezer.
- Dishwasher
- Catering Available: If you ask a local where is the best place to eat, he will say "at my Mom's house!". This is not to denigrate local restaurants but highlight how good the local home cooking is. We work with an excellent local cook -- the quintessential Italian grandmother -- who will cook for you like she does for her own family. She is available upon request and payable separately and can prepare a delicious, home-cooked meal for you and/or teach you some of the secrets of Umbrian cuisine. She will spoil you shamelessly, if you let her. The cost is comparable, per person (based on 10 guests and up) to a local restaurant meal, but offers the convenience of relaxing at home. The quality, in my view, is higher than most restaurant meals.
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio: French doors open off the kitchen and living room to a broad rear terrace with sweeping views of the vineyards, villages and hills beyond.
- Balcony: The front balcony and bedrooms overlook Cortona, Castiglione del Lago and Lago Trasimeno.
- Gazebo: Guests can enjoy open air dining at several locations on the property: on the rear terrace, under a gazebo cloaked in jasmine or a pergola smothered in roses and honeysuckle, at a little stone table in the woods, or at a shaded table on the thyme patio, overlooking the woods.
- View/Location
- Lake View: Villa Gioianna sits on a hill about 6 km from Lake Trasimeno and has marvellous views of the entire lake, Castiglione del Lago and the mountains and villages on the far side of the lake.
- Mountain View: The rear of the Villa overlooks vineyards, fields of sunflowers and wheat and, in the distance, Mt Amiata and Mt Cetona.
- Communications
- Cell Phone: An Italian mobile phone is available for use during your stay. Top-up cards are available locally.
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Daily housecleaning, caretaker.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed: There are four cats on the property who are not allowed inside the house.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Rafting
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Spelunking
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Other Activities
- winetasting, thermal baths and spas, outdoor music and food festivals, jazz, classical and blues concerts, folk dance exhibitions, art, historical and nature tours, outlets and handicrafts shopping, outdoor markets, bird watching
Rate Details (In Euros)
Winter 2009 (excluding Christmas) ... Oct 17-Dec 31 ... €1800/wk
Christmas 2009: Dec 23, 2009-Jan 2, 2010 .....€3600/wk
Winter 2010 Jan 2-March 27, 2010 ...... €2800/wk
Easter 2010 March 27-April 5, 2010: €3400/wk
Early Spring 2010 April 5-May 1 .......€3000/wk
May 1-29, 2010 .......€5450/wk
Summer 2010 .......€6950/wk
September 2010 .......€5950/wk
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Property Photos
- The 6m x 13m swimming pool is surrounded by the olive grove. - Umbria, Italy Holiday Rental
- The front of the Villa. - Umbria, Italy Holiday Rental
- The large kitchen, with a view of the fireplace and dining area. - Umbria, Italy Holiday Rental
- The Girasole Room, with its crowned four poster bed . . .
- . . . and its ensuite bathroom.
- Gothic brass bed in an upstairs bedroom.
- Close-up of one of the rolltop tubs and handpainted wall tiles.
- Antique, handpainted bed in one of the upstairs bedrooms.
- A lavender-lined walk in the backyard, with a peek of the vineyards beyond.
- A view up the front drive on a misty morning.
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #116641
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This listing was first published here in 2007.
Date last modified - November 05, 2009
