Vacation Rentals by Owner

What a magical place!

Guest: ciaobella (Atlanta, Georgia)
Date of Stay: 11/22/11 Review Submitted: 12/27/11

We recently traveled to Italy with my parents for Thanksgiving week and spent 4 fantatstic nights at Le Stalle. It was just wonderful. The property is gorgeous with spectacular views and the home is just perfect. Each master-sized bedroom has a wonderful en suite and the common space is perfect for relaxing or enjoying wonderful meals that can be brought in by a lovely woman who lives in the village. (Her lasagna is not to be missed!) Geppa is located within quick driving distance to some of the best little villages in Umbria and Tuscany and we took day trips from Le Stalle every day we stayed there. If you like modern conveniences with breathtaking views, Le Stalle is not to be missed. We simply cannot wait to visit again soon. Thank you, thank you!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Geppa in ValeSimply Stunningly Beautiful and Restful

Guest: Django (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 11/22/11 Review Submitted: 12/27/11

My wife and I travel a fair amount and, except for Paris and New York City (where we live) we tend to shy away from big cities, tourist hotels and NEVER join tours. We seek out of the way places with great character, beautiful views, local food and friendly folk who don't mnd that our Italian is almost non-existent. We first learned of Le Stalle in Umbria when it was under renovation by the owners and we followed the work over a series of summers. I am in the construction and development business and was fascinated by the ancient artisan construction methods the Italian masons use even today to bring this wonderful home to life. The web page photos are great but they almost can't do the place justice. We arrived from an easy 2 hour drive from Rome (flawless directions) on a star-filled moonless night in November. We knocked on the door of Signora Eresia who manages local aspects of the property who welcomed us into her home and set us up with the key. Within 30 minutes we were all (4 of us leaving the 3rd bedroom/bath empty) seated at the dinner table at Le Stalle when Signora came in with a fantastic spread of mised grilled meats, bruschetta, salami, cheese, olives, roasted potatoes and she was back 45 minutes later with coffee and apple torte (see menu #1)....the first of four fabulous meals she prepared for us. The house is solidly built and sits on a hillside with long views down Vallo di Nera. The rooms are spacious with plenty of storage. The walls are 18" thick with custom windows and doors but also with great vintage barn doors to close the place up at night. The bathrooms are large and very modern with awesome local touches (one sink was a large hand-carved bowl of solid stone 30" across...the shower was tile and floor to ceiling glass). The kitchen provided everything needed to supplement Signora Eresia's meals. The infinity edge pool looks like it was sited by a master although it was late November and not in season for our trip. The outdoor dining table was like it was out of a great European films scene. If I made movies I'd film a great one here. Every morning, we jumped on the great Italian roadways and raced around Umbria trying to take it all in. In less than 60 minutes we could reach several hilltop walled cities and roam around their medieval streets and buildings looking for more great places to eat and wine to drink. As a launch pad to see Umbria (and even Tuscany) Le Stalle is perfect. Don't miss it!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Jane
Date of Stay: 07/26/11 Review Submitted: 08/08/11

We didn't actually set out to visit Umbria. My wife saw an ad for Le Stalle in a shop window in Northeast Harbor, Maine. She researched it a bit and liked the owner's pictures and story and we built an Umbrian vacation around the house. We have now three 20-something boys and a daughter-in-law and "significant other" so travel plans aren't as simple as they used to be. But we all managed to arrive in Rome on schedule and a 2 hour car ride from the airport brought us up a switch-back road (you don't want to learn a stick shift on this trip) to Geppa and Le Stalle. The house is beautifully done and three bedrooms, three baths worked perfectly for us. All the key appliances were in fine working order. The owner of the pottery factory in Deruta asked where we were staying and when we said Geppa he drew a blank. when we said in the Val di Nera he said "the middle of nowhere". That was a compliment. And for the middle of nowhere internet and mobile phone connection was superb - good for the early morning emails and Red Sox scores. The pool is as advertised. A real highlight. The lavender bushes around it were in constant movement due to the native pollinators. The pool is shared with the house next door but it's mostly all yours. You should have a few meals prepared by the neighbor ladies. Simple, magnificent Italian cooking. They were charming. Not much to Geppa but that's a plus. We all rolled out of bed at different hours for breakfast on the patio and a swim and then headed off to see Umbria. July was hot but there's much to see. The "usual suspects" - Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto, Spoleto, a shopping stop at Deruta. The small hill towns - Todi, Montefalco, Gubbio, Castel Rigone, and dozens we didn't get to. A swim in Lake Trasimeno. The Perugia Jazz Festival was worth being in town for. But, for us, the best of the best was the Monte Sibillini Park and Castelluccio. You travel through Norcia - a nice stop - to get there. The Piano Grande was unlike anything we've seen. Don't miss it! All of this in easy reach from Le Stalle. Would we go back? In a minute! Would we recommend Le Stalle? It's probably not a young family's best choice but for a family like ours or three couples I can't imagine doing better than Le Stalle.

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Can't wait to go back

Guest: Roger and Sharon (Minneapollis, MN USA)
Date of Stay: 10/16/10 Review Submitted: 11/14/10

If you want to go to Italy, experience the culture, have some peace and quite, relax, yet stay in a top notch, beautifully decorated home that is excellently maintained, then this is the house for you! The thing that attracted us to this house was the renovation which was done by architects. The house is upscale, yet the price very reasonable. We loved the surrounding area and the caretakers provide fresh eggs and will cook a dinner if you want them to. Of course you will want a dinner as the food is authentic and delicious. If you are learning Italian (as my husband was), you'll get practice here. We loved the peaceful surroundings, yet many of the towns in Umbria are close by and easy to visit. I can't wait until we can go back to La Stalle. The description of the property, layout and location were accurately detailed in the rental description. The property is clean and excellently maintained and you couldn't ask for better customer service. The owners are quick to reply when you have a question and were very helpful with recommendations. They will tell you where to shop and where to eat. I would highly recommend this property to anyone wanting to travel to Italy.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Truly Amazing Experience

Guest: Lorena (Brisbane, Australia)
Date of Stay: 08/28/10 Review Submitted: 10/01/10

Le Stalle surpassed all of our expectations. We fell in love with the property on the website but we had no idea just how magnificent the location and the villa would turn out to be. We spent eight glorious days in Geppa, taking day trips to the surrounding towns and further afield to Siena and Assisi but we always relished returning home in the evenings to Le Stalle. Katherine and Leon, the owners, have meticulously prepared Le Stalle. We were so impressed with the furnishings and all the little touches that make up the house. We were very fortunate to meet Katherine and Leon in Geppa on the day we moved in and they happily showed us around their beautiful home. Prior to our trip to Italy I was in contact with Katherine via e-mail and she was so helpful and accommodating of any requests that we had. I have recommended this property to my friends and colleagues and wouldn't hesitate to return to Le Stalle for an even longer stay in the future. This property is one in a million and a true find.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful house in a wonderful location

Guest: Jane (Ireland)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 07/28/10

We have just returned from a wonderful holiday at Le Stalle in Geppa, the house was even more lovely than the photographs and had everything that we needed for a very comfortable 2 weeks stay. We really enjoyed sitting in the covered outdoor terrace during the hottest part of the day ( Irish skin! ) often enjoying some of the interesting books or games that were in the house, (lots of cookbooks too, I love reading about food!) and of course just relaxing. It is a very relaxing place! This covered terrace was also ideal for dinner too, and we often had a barbecue here. Such a beautiful location, high up looking out over the valley, we had a great time looking at all the interesting butterflies and birds. Saw many different varieties of bees visiting the lavender and roses around the house. You do need a car but everything was easy, good food shops a short drive away, and plenty of good restaurants nearby too. We found Katherine and Leons own book about eating locally invaluable! Great atmosphere here, we really loved it. We alternated lazy days by the lovely pool with days out, visiting some of the lovely nearby towns. The whole area is beautifully unspoilt and very pretty. The furthest we went was Assisi, less than an hour and really worth the trip. We also visited Norcia and Castellucio, and saw the beautiful wildflowers at Piano Grande, just gorgeous. We had intended to visit Sienna but seemed to run out of time as we loved spending time at Geppa. The neighbours were lovely people, we had no Italian but seemed to manage just fine. Katherine and Leon were wonderfully helpful from the very first contact right the way through and this made it a most pleasant experience. I would happily recommend this lovely house to friends and relatives for a wonderful and interesting holiday, and sometime we would love to return. This is such a special place, we loved it.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Rod
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/10

Keep the Secret! We had stayed several times in the Spoleto valley and crossed with some trepidation into the Vallo di Nera.We soon had any concerns swept away. Le Stalle at Geppa is beautiful and tranquil.The hamlet is small but very welcoming and the farmer and his wife are wonderful, her home made pastas are the best we have eaten. The home of Le Stalle has a quality that is subtle and understated and blends rustic Italian with Eastern Treasures from the owners years in the Far East. You can sit for hours under the cover on the terrace - eating, talking, drinking...... We would recommend it to friends and family but tell them to keep it a secret!

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Guest: Mike
Date of Stay: 05/14/10 Review Submitted: 06/18/10

What struck memost was how dignified everyone at Geppa was, warm yet respectful of boundaries. The place is better than the pictures, elegant yet simple, like being in an elegant museum where you can still touch things.

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Guest: Amy
Date of Stay: 04/30/10 Review Submitted: 06/18/10

Dear Katherine, Yes...sadly we are home. We got home late on Saturday night, and after our "re-entry" adjustment, I just had to e-mail to let you know what an amazing time we had. Le Stalle was everything we'd hoped it would be...and more. From the moment we arrived, and we're greeted by Signora Eresia, we felt at home in Geppa. The house, the view, and the hospitality from the local families made the beginning of our Italy adventure one we will never forget. I have to tell you the first morning I woke up in the master bedroom and opened my eyes to see the spectacular view over the valley...I literally jumped out of bed to go to the window to make sure it wasn't a dream. And that's after 19 hours of travel and a bit of jet lag! I tell everyone it was like staying on a movie set. The dinner the first night was delicious and one of our favorite parts was meeting a different person with each course...we met the all of the Eresias and the other neighbors. What a way to be welcomed to Geppa. Ricardo gave us great tips on the other towns to visit and places to eat. So helpful. It allowed us to make us of our very short time in Umbria. We went to Norcia (beautiful drive), Trevi (great olive oil), Spoleto (scenic town and great gelato), Assisi (loved the town and the hike to the castle was amazing) and Todi(great view and shopping). Even though some things were closed due to the holiday(May 1) and on Sunday, we made the most of our visit by wine tasting, tartufo tasting and olive oil tasting. We bought local food and cooked most nights at home enjoying the view and a cozy fire. The kitchen and the rest of the house were so perfectly appointed. My husband is a contractor and builds homes in CA, and he was so amazed at what you were able to create at Le Stalle, especially considering the hilltop location. I'm going to have him e-mail you with his own comments because he said his clients are always trying to re-create the Italian countryside look, and yet it's so hard to achieve in Southern California. You did a perfect job of combining beautiful old world charm with all the modern conveniences. For me, the favorite part of the trip was just sitting on the terrace at La Stalle listening to the birds chirping, smelling the fragrance of the wildflowers, and enjoying the spectacular view. Thanks again for everything...I hope we can go back some day.

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Guest: Julia
Date of Stay: 08/22/09 Review Submitted: 05/03/10

Umbria's Best Kept Secret I really had no idea where my daughter and I were going for our vacation, having booked this property on a whim. Our year had been challenging to say the least and for some reason, I made the decision instantaneously and figured that I loved Italy and had been there before so I would work out the specifics later. I believe it was more than fate that drove us to this quiet village, and "village" is a stretch for there are maybe 15 people in all of Geppa. It was just what the doctor ordered; relaxation, peace and complete and total hospitality. The convenience that a condo or hotel offers without the people, staff or sterile modern furnishings, Le Stalle is a beautifully restored stall on the crest of the Valnerina mountain range. I loathe tourist havens, t-shirts that ring of a group or club and avoid trappings for American tourists like the plague, therefore the quaint town of Geppa was right up our alley. We do not speak Italian, however our property coordinator spoke English with a concerted and earnest effort and with many hand gestures and elaborate descriptions we did just fine. Having come in on a Sunday with jet lag and the challenge of driving, we did not want to travel down the mountain to investigate dinner. The delightful family in the village prepared an appetizer's dream of cold cuts, salad and fresh bread which to any respectable Italian would have been considered a "starter." To us, it was heaven. The most dramatic event that occurred during our two-week stay was that the neighborhood sheep dog "forgot" her sheep one morning in the meadow and came back without them. If you are looking for nightlife, a large corporate Marriott hotel and drinks by a swinger's bar, Geppa is not for you. However my 13 year-old daughter and I were able to connect, appreciate the most delightful and mysterious streets of Spoleto on the search for the perfect gelato and then escape back to our mountain secret. The best of both worlds - as a theatre artist, Spoleto (a mere 15 minutes away) held a large fascination with us for culture, historic sites and delicious dinners when we chose to be waited on. Enough of a "real" city and an escape lovingly restored indicative of Italian history was a perfect end to a stressful year. The only hesitation I have in writing, is that others may be drawn to what I now feel is "our" secret place.

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Guest: Karen
Date of Stay: 07/04/09 Review Submitted: 05/03/10

STUNNING, that's how I would describe Le Stalle, the owners have done a fantastic job restoring the farmhouse to a high standard with all mod cons but keeping all the character of the place, they have managed to mix new with old with such style, my favorites are the beams and the old wooden doors, the place is littered with beautiful features. The farmhouse is fully equipped with everything you need from the kitchen through to the bedrooms. We stayed in July, the weather was hot but the farmhouse was lovely and cool, there is a seating area outside which is covered which we used all the time, we ate all our meals there, you really can't beat sitting in the morning having a cup of coffee looking at the view, there is a patio area for the sunworshippers or for like me having an appertif watching the sun go down!! The infinity pool is stunning, it really is a lovely area from swimming in the pool to relaxing on a lounger, you can sit round the pool or there's are grassed area with a canopy for shade, wherever you choose to sit you can just soak in the view, it is just so beautiful. Le Stalle would be be a great place to stay for couples, singles or families, it's a place to get away from it all but you can have lots of fun there. There are plenty of places within easy reach to eat, the nearest town is Spoleto a ten minute drive which has plenty of places to eat but there are villages nearby which have restaurants. Sightseeing, we went to Spoleto, Perugia, Assisi, Trevi and went on the train and had an overnight stay in Rome. From booking Le Stalle the owners were more than helpful, giving us loads of information and at Le Stalle there is someone on hand if you need it. I would recomend Le Stalle for a fantastic place to stay, but don't take my word for it look at the photos they are a true representation of what Le Stalle is like, Just STUNNING!!!!

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Guest: Jane
Date of Stay: 10/04/08 Review Submitted: 05/03/10

A Dream Come True Le Stalle in Geppa, Umbria was a perfect setting for our group of five. We loved the property, especially the newly restored house. Although the building is stone inside and out, it does not lack for warmth. Additionally, no modern convenience was lacking. Each bedroom had its accompanying bathroom with state of the art plumbing. The hillside setting was magnificent, especially with Fall foliage. Most of the hill towns give you the feeling of stepping back to medieval times. One bit of advice is to wear comfortable shoes to meet the rigors of uphill treks. After a full day of exploring the neighboring hill towns, we enjoyed the opportunity to buy local groceries and cook them in the well-appointed kitchen, The local food was superb, and doing our own cooking most of the time was a pleasant way to cut costs!!! For those times we did eat out, during the day in the town we were exploring or in Spoleto, we were impressed with the quality of the food, especially those local products that you just can't find elsewhere. The hot chocolate and gelato in Spoleto were hard to resist! Overall, we were extremely pleased with the property. We felt that the description supplied by the owners was perfectly accurate, and that the owners were responsive to any questions or concerns that we had. The contact people on site couldn't have been nicer. It was a privilege to see them living the traditional life as their ancestors did, herding sheep and taking their sustenance from the food they grow. We enjoyed the traditional menu that Signora prepared as a special treat for a birthday celebration. The local people were genuinely delightful and very helpful. We felt we saw a facet of Italy that few tourists experience. Though it was a little too cool in October to swim in the pool, it was perfect for sitting with one's feet in the water, reading or just taking in the view. A benefit to being in Umbria in October is the opportunity to take in the chocolate festivals. We enjoyed one in the ceramics center of Deruta and the huge festival in Perugia, home of the famous Baci chocolates. Lake Trasimeno, Rome, Florence, and Assisi, are doable in a day trip, though Rome and Florence really require more than a day if you want to see more than a cursory view of them. We would definitely recommend this property to anyone who wanted to see a genuine view of Italy in a warm, comfortable and spacious setting. It beats a hotel hands down.

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