Rustic Farmhouse with Pool Overlooking the Spoleto Valley -

• A Delightful Umbrian Spring!

  A Delightful Umbrian Spring!

  • Guest Lynne and Rick
  • Date of stay 05/15/10
  • Review Submitted 02/29/12
  We stayed in Il Rustico for two weeks in May, a lovely time to visit Umbria. Only two or three hours by car from Rome, the location is ideal: the Vale of Umbria can be easily explored, from Spoleto to Perugia; other areas, including picturesque Norcia and Castellucio, are nearly as accessible. Wineries abound in this area as well. The glories of the house itself have been detailed by other reviewers. It is indeed tasteful and comfortable, set between hills behind and the valley below. The light is ever-changing, and one of the glories of this place is having breakfasts and dinners beneath the pergola. There is nothing like drinking your morning cappuccino while listening to cuckoos call across the hills unless it is sipping wine in the evening while the lights twinkle on in the valley. Our best memories from our stay are of the people and the food of the area; they seem inextricable. Bianca, the villa's "concierge," is a wonder--efficient and charming. She made it easy to settle into Il Rustico, and as an added bonus, she brought us some of her family's olive oil and made us a cake called crescionda, a specialty of the region. We especially enjoyed frequenting the shops in the village, often buying groceries for dinner after a long day of exploring. Laura's pasta shop, La Buongustaia, provided us with excellent fresh pasta. (Laura's husband, Domenico, was planting the orto at Il Rustico while we were there; if you visit a bit later, you will be able to reap the fruits--or vegetables--of his labor.) The macelleria, with Ugo the butcher, was a wonder; he explained how he cured his proscuitto and pancetta--hundreds of them hand from the ceiling of his shop. The meats he sold us were locally produced and tasted the way meat should. The nearby alimentari's proprietors showed us how to eat fresh raw fava beans with local young pecorino, a taste of Umbrian spring. One of the final days we spent at Il Rustico, we met an elderly gentelman walking along the lane to the villa. We managed to communicate enough to discover that he was collecting wild asparagus, one of the delicacies of spring in Umbria. He showed us how to find it, and later, we were able to gather more than enough from Il Rustico's grounds to have for dinner. Such delicious serendipity, which truly typified out stay at this lovely Umbrian getaway. We hope to return soon!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, romantic getaway, age 55+, adventure seekers.

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• One Memorable Week

  One Memorable Week

  • Guest Barbara
  • Date of stay 05/08/11
  • Review Submitted 02/21/12
  What an exquisite villa! From the moment we drove through the gate we five ladies knew we had made a great choice. The house and location were absolutely beautiful. Each day we would tour the hill towns and return in the late afternoon to sit by the pool and drink wine under the delightful grape arbor while enjoying the fabulous view. Lovely and efficient Bianca, our local contact, was always available to offer guidance and furnish provisions. A fine time was had by all - much more than we had hoped for.

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

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• Truly Paradise!

  Truly Paradise!

  • Guest Kate and Sam
  • Date of stay 07/02/11
  • Review Submitted 02/10/12
  Jill and Mike, Thank you so much for sharing your extraordinary home with us. It was every bit as glorious as the photographs! We had a heavenly week which we won’t soon forget. Some days were spent taking wonderful day trips - Assisi, Spoleto, Spello, Montefalco – all such stunningly preserved medieval towns. Other days we simply relaxed in the swimming pool and enjoyed cooking in your fantastically equipped kitchen, using fresh produce from the garden and divine meats from Ugo’s butcher shop (THANK YOU for that recommendation). Honestly, it was a dream living among all those olive trees and dining each evening al fresco under the pergola. Bianca, by the way, took wonderful care of us, checking in on us every couple of days to make sure all was going smoothly. We’re already looking forward to the next time! Grazie!

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

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April 1st - April 30th -- 2250.00 Euro per week
October 1st - October 31st - 2250.00 Euro per week
November 1st - April 30th - 2000.00 Euro per week
June 1st - September 30th 2500.00 Euro per week

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.