There is so much to like about Terrazza Bella in Spoleto, Umbria, Italy. The apartment is plenty big for two to four people and is lovely and comfortable. The kitchen area is roomy. There is lots of light in every room, and there are French doors that open onto the terrazza, which is definitely bellissima! Yes, the terrazza is spacious, tranquil, and somewhat private, with well-kept plants and flowers all around. And the view to the hills is both beautiful and calming. On the other side of the apartment, the balcony looks out over the lively Via Porta della Fuga, yet the triple-glazed window-doors keep out the noise from the crowds enjoying the night life below. The location of the apartment is really ideal: within a 20 minute walk to the train station; close to the moving sidewalks and escalators will take you to the top of the city if you don’t care to walk the steep streets; a short walk to several grocery stores; minutes away from many restaurants, bars, stores, butchers, fruit and vegetable markets, and banks.
As for Spoleto, it is a perfect home base for exploring Umbria. We took easy train rides to a day each in Assisi, Perugia, and Spello, and rented a car at very reasonable rates to drive to towns and sites not accessible by train. We definitely recommend visiting Norcia, Bevagna, Montefalco, and the Cascata delle Marmore, in nearby Terni. But there is plenty to see and do and eat in Spoleto itself, which is a lively, cultural, and friendly small city. The Spoleto card offers an economical way to visit museums, the Fortezza, the Roman amphitheater, and many other historical treasures. Among our favorite restaurants were Il Tempio del Gusto, Cava Truffles and Bubbles, Osteria del Matto, and Novecento. Caffe degli Artisti in the Piazza del Mercato is a great place to start the day with a cappuccino, pastry, and free wifi.
We loved our time in Terrazza Bella and have just one complaint. The wifi was inconsistent, sometimes weak, and sometimes nonexistent. If your cell phone works in Italy and has data services, you won’t be bothered. Norma and Laurie provide an extensive list of restaurant recommendations, and Laurie picked us up at the station, and gave us a great tour of the immediate area and introductions to local restaurant owners. Parking was available behind the building.