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The fresh mountain air,
the golden sunsets,
the stunning panoramic vistas,
the Roman ruins,
the meadows where wild saffron and truffles grow...
The town of Castelli lies in the heart of the Gran Sasso region of Italy - 75 minutes from Rome and 30 minutes from the beaches of the Adriatic. Although Castelli is ideally located for exploring the Abruzzo, Umbria, and Le Marche areas, travelers may find themselves swept away by the local surroundings.
Castelli has flourished since the XI century when the Benedictine Abbey of San Salvatore introduced pottery to the area laying the foundations from which arose famous artists such as Orazio Pompei, the brothers Grue and Gentilli. Today, some of these works can be seen in The Louvre of Paris, the British Museum of London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York.
This tradition carries on to this day as Castelli houses the Ceramic Art Museum and the National School of Art. Both Majolica reproductions and modern pieces may be purchased year round, however, it is especially during the month of August that approximately 50 local artists exhibit current market productions among the many workshops, studios, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes which line the ancient city streets.
Our villa is situated on a 20 acre property within the lush hills of Abruzzo, overlooking the town of Castelli and backing onto the National Park. The town is a short walk away, down the long drive and past farmer's fields and mountain streams. In quiet evenings the sweet sounds and twinkling lights of the town drift to the villa from across the valley.
From the long upper balconies of the villa one can see the true beauty of unspoiled Italy. The villa makes an excellent homebase for exploring the endless hidden gems of this unique region of Italy. |
