Location: Orte, Latium (Lazio), Italy, Europe (Umbria - Northern Lazio Border; < than 1 hour North of Rome)
Accommodations: Villa, 5 Bedrooms + Other (See Description), 3.5 Baths (Sleeps 8-10)
Italian Villa Le Terrae, near the hill town of Orte, is surrounded by the vineyards, oak forests and hazelnut orchards bordering Umbria and Lazio.
Centrally located in the territory of the ancient Etruscans: within half an hour to one hour distance from Rome, Spoleto, Orvieto, Assisi, Perugia, Todi, Viterbo, Civita di Bagnoregio, Tarquinia, Bolsena, and Vico lakes, and just two hours from Florence.
The villa provides a quiet and luxurious respite from busy travel, while remaining well connected to points of interest. Whether you are interested in art cities or medieval hilltowns, in Roman or Etruscan archaeological sites, in the art and gardens of the Renaissance, or in the dramatic and lush volcanic landscapes, hot springs, and lakes of the Tuscia region, you can use Villa Le Terrae as a base for explorations.
Completely private, with no other houses or buildings on its grounds, the villa boasts proud views of the surrounding hillsides and neighboring towns.
Le Terrae is nested high on the side of a declivity, and the view opens down towards system of valleys and creeks. This territory is part of the protected natural environment and watershed of the Tiber Valley, which eventually converges at the Tiber River,about 3 km away. The view is unobstructed, and you can see the lush vegetation and the dramatic tufo walls of the archaeological area of Palazzolo in the foreground.
The sunsets are spectacular, and the vivid reds and oranges sharply contrast with the deep greens of the valley, cutting the profiles of Montefiascone, the Cimino Mountain and Mount Amiata against the bright sky above of the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the distance.
Le Terrae, on three levels, can comfortably accommodate eight to ten people, but can be wonderfully spacious for a couple. Well furnished, entirely floored with terracotta tiles and finished with hand-painted ceramic tiles in kitchen and bathrooms, the villa has all the warmth and comfort to make you feel at home.
Smooth curving walls and ample windows give the home an open feel.
The kitchen, on the ground floor, is decorated with hand painted tiles and is complete with a chestnut table for dining. The large windows and glass doors in the kitchen open to the campagna and allow one to enjoy the beautiful setting from inside. After the pasta is made and strained, or the pizza cooked in the outdoor wood oven, a meal can be enjoyed under the gorgeous canopy of the three hundred year old oak tree that stands tall next to the villa.
The bedrooms are each tastefully furnished with antique wood closets and beautiful wrought iron bed frames. There is a unique charm to every one of the rooms. For that matter, the villa itself is of a special charm. Designed by the architect Alberto Rulli, it encompasses both comfort and Italian refinement. The place exudes a special aura of natural balance and well-being.
A spectacular round staircase in the heart of the villa features a spiraling wrought iron handrail, painted in a very Mediterranean shade of blue. Windows on the staircase allow light to flood the steps and play geometric games on the cool terra-cotta floor.
The second floor living area complete with fireplace, couches, stereo system, and abundant lighting provides the space to socialize or to just wind down and relax. Villa Le Terrae is unique in that it has large living spaces and yet it also has many cozy niches perfect for those wanting some individual time.
After a full day of excursions, experience, the quiet of one of the covered terraces, enjoying the pleasant breeze that rises from the valley while sipping a glass of good wine. Perhaps on occasion, taking in distant sounds of a festa or fireworks in one of the nearby hilltowns.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking
- Wood Fireplace (2)
- Beds
- King Bed (3)
- Twin/Single Bed (2)
- Crib: upon request
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- CD Player
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Catering Available
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio
- Balcony
- Communications
- Telephone
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Included: Weekly cleaning and change of linens and towels on Saturdays; Final cleaning; Electricity; Wireless Internet Connection. Not Included: Eventual outgoing phone calls and central heating, which are paid depending on actual usage. Cook services and arrival dinner may be arranged and paid separately.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Sailing
- Swimming
- Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Horseback Riding
- Other Activities
- Less than one hour from Rome, two from Florence, Several small hill towns (stores, post offices, restaurants) in a range of 1 to few miles - Four of the most renown Italian Renaissance Gardens within a radius of 15 miles - Rail station on the main Rome-Florence route, 6, 8 miles - Autostrada, 2 miles - Thermal Olympic- size pool, 5 miles
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Apr-Oct ............... US $2400/week (up to 8 people)
Nov-Mar ............... US $1650/week (up to 8 people)
Christmas - New Year - Easter ...US $2400/week (up to 8 people)
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Property Photos
- Le Terrae Italian Villa Rental - Orte. Latium (Lazio), Italy - Holiday Villa less than 1 hour from Rome!
- Italian Villa - Kitchen - Orte. Latium (Lazio), Italy - Holiday Villa less than 1 hour from Rome!
- Italian Villa - Staircase - Orte. Latium (Lazio), Italy - Holiday Villa less than 1 hour from Rome!
- Italian Villa - Bedroom
- Italian Villa - Living Room
- Italian Villa - Bedroom
- Italian Villa - Enclosed Terrace
- Italian Villa - The Oak Tree
Guest Comments (5)
First (5) of (5). View all comments
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #40169
There have been 24401 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2004.
This listing was first published here in 2004.
Date last modified - November 22, 2009
Positive Rating
Upon our arrival we knew this was the perfect place for our Italy vacation. The ivy covered villa had plants and flowers adorning all the terraces. In side was beautifully furnished for a country home. We were close enough to the major tourist cities, yet we still had the serenity and the peacefulness of the beautiful countryside. There were 8 people in our group and a baby. Everyone was so impressed.There were plenty of places to go off and be by yourself to read or just enjoy the beautiful views from one of the terraces.Being away from the crowded cities we were able to see the real Italy.The people were so nice and friendly. The restaurants made sure you enjoyed your meal.(especially Ristoante da oliviera in Viterbo)The food and wine were the best.This is our second trip to Italy and we would recommend staying in the villa.We have traveled all over the world and this by far one of our best vacations ever!Anna and Alasandra are so sweet. They even remembered our anniversary. They provided everything you could possibly need, even a baby crib.The meal Dolores prepared for us was fantastic.It was nice taking a leisurely stroll through the park like grounds after a day of sightseeing.The bocce games were a lot of fun too.We enjoyed the hill top towns.Anna had told us about the festival they were celebrating in Orte. We really enjoyed that. Also Villa d'Este in Tivoli and Assisi.We hope to make it back to the villa some day. It was a magical experience.
Positive Rating
A Great Place to have a Great Time Our group of seven friends and family, aged from 28 to 66, fully enjoyed our one week stay here in late April of 2009. The house and grounds were fully as nice as advertised, as a matter of fact, they exceeded our expectations. The surrounding vinyards, orchards, and fields were fragrant and colorful with spring blossoms. We were really delighted with the location. The owners are very nice people and were extremely helpful to us before and during our stay. Their suggestions for local restaurants and activities were just great. We spent one week in Tuscany and then one week here in northern Lazio, and although our villa in Tuscany was terrific, with all the most modern conveniences, we wound up liking this villa and this area better. The villa seemed more authentic, and more relaxed, and the people in the nearby towns are more friendly than in the tourist-laden area to the north. We took the train into Rome one day, and had no problems for a great day of sightseeing. The villa is well located for visiting hill towns in southern Tuscany and Umbria and we drove to quite a few of them. Certainly our favorite activity was visiting the farmers' markets in the nearby towns. The local produce, cheeses, and meats were just great, and we had fun making pizzas in the wood-fired oven at the villa. We hope to visit Villa LeTerrae again some day, and we certainly recommend it for anyone who would enjoy a taste of authentic Italian living in a villa that is delightfully out of the ordinary.
Positive Rating
Beautiful Italian Villa Having never been to Italy, I must say that I have fallen in love with this beautiful country and its people. Staying at this villa made me feel so "connected." It's such a good feeling to have this "home" to return to after traveling for the day, be it to historical Florence, wonderful Siena, ancient Rome. Some of my favorite places were Lake Bolsena, Spoleto, Siena, all of which are nice day trips from the villa. But for an authentic experience, just go to the closest hill towns, so beautiful and welcoming and charming. The locals treated us as if we were one of their own. Staying at the villa gives one a real Italian experience. A short (5 min.) car ride away is the town of Vasanello, where we would go into the town and get our groceries and whatnot to bring back to the villa. Talk about feeling like one of the locals. This villa is a gem, away from all of the hustle and bustle of the big city, and yet conveniently located to all that this region of Italy has to offer. Renting a car is a must but driving is not a problem at all and Rome is just an hour away. This villa has everything that one would need and is spacious enough for large groups. There's even an outdoor wood-fired oven and bocce ball court. After the day trips, we would sit on the verandah with our wine and just unwind and enjoy the quiet scenery. I highly recommend le Terrae for an unforgettable, authentic Italian vacation.
Positive Rating
Great for groups What a wonderful, pleasant place to spend two weeks! The surroundings are bucolic and quiet. The setting is quintessential Italy with vineyards, olive and hazel nut orchards, rolling hills and vistas of distant mountains. My wife, our daughter, son-in-law and their two children stayed at Villa Le Terrae in August. The villa had ample room for us to spread out without feeling crowded. We relaxed at the villa, visited many towns and cities from Assisi to Tarquinia and cooled off on the hot days at Terme di Orte. There is too much to see in a week. Even with two weeks we still had places on our list we did not have time to visit. The villa, designed by architects as a family vacation home is lovely, well laid out and comfortable. It was clearly a family home. The several terraces, from which the villa takes its name, are perfect for a relaxed breakfast, reading, writing in journals and chatting over glasses of local wines. Watching the sunset from the terrace is a calming way to end a day of sightseeing.
Positive Rating
Lovely Villa This is a great place to stay if you have a car and are willing to drive near and far from the villa i.e. within 30 to 90 minutes. We visited the following towns while staying here for one week: Soriana, Tuscania, Todi, Calcata, Assisi, Bevagna, Monefalco, Spello, Speleto, Deruta, Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, Sienna, Bevagreggio (sp?) and of course Vasanello among others. You MUST see Assisi, Montefalco, Spello, Deruta (if you like cermaics otherwise, don't), Montepulciano (my favorite) and Orvieto which I went to later. The information given on the website is extremely accurate. The villa is wonderful,beautiful, and very European. Gorgeous landscaping. Tons of space, washer, no drier, plenty of bathrooms! I went with 6 women and we were fine... but American hair driers didn't work here even with converters but the hair dryer provided was adequate. My hair didn't look that good the whole week but I didn't care. Just go with it! You will not be disappointed if you stay here, beautiful, very roomy and comfortable. Lots of steps with three floors...very quiet.