La Loggia is an inspirational place, mainly because of the setting. If you leave the window shutters open, you wake up to a vista looking down the valley, with wooded slopes stretching into the blue distance. By moonlight it is very beautiful. The poolside view is breathtaking.
The property forms part of an old Umbrian farmhouse on the outskirts of a hamlet. The beds are comfortable and the interior is pretty, with a proper oven, decent size fridge, washing machine and dishwasher. There is a spacious bathroom with shower and bath, and the bathroom too has a mountain view.
The nearest hill town is ten minutes drive away over bendy roads, with a bank and food shops and also a rock climbing centre, but there are plenty of other towns and villages to drop round to within a 20 minute drive, nearly all mediaeval, some sleepy, some buzzy. Elegant Spoleto is 20 minutes away, a sophisticated place famous for its music festival, restaurants, shops, exhibitions, Roman aquaduct and towering fortress, but you can also follow easy or more adventurous walks from here overlooking the valley far below. La Loggia is in a national park, so you can book in for kayaking, climbing, horseriding, trekking, mountain biking, rafting and canyoning.
The farmhouse belongs to the delightful Mario and Clare, who are respectively Italian and English. They gave us the warmest possible hospitality, including taking us on a fabulous horseriding trek in the high hills, booking a rafting expedition and even on one occasion sourcing medicines for us when required. We loved our occasional relaxed chats over the two weeks. Our children loved the spacious pool, but for me the best part was the sheer beauty of it all.
