My wife and I stayed in the House of Ulysses in the first week of August 2010, and we enjoyed our stay immensely. As all other reviewers have pointed out, Diana and Alberto are the perfect hosts and very good company. They have so much to relate about the village and the property, from the time they bought it as a ruin 20 years ago till its present splendour. The renovation has been done in exceptionally good taste, suitable for presentations in glossy magazines, but at the same time it feels familiar and cosy. Diana and Alberto ensure that guests feel very welcome, and so do the cat and the very friendly dog. Staying at Le Logge di Silvignano means that you will come across the hosts and other guests in the garden and around the pool, making the stay personal and enjoyable. It never felt crowded, and if one should feel the need for a quiet time outside, there is a large terrace outside the House of Ulysses, with views over the whole valley.
We were a little anxious that it might be too hot when we stayed there - temperatures reached 32 degrees Centigrade. However, the House of Ulysses is built in traditional style, keeping cool and fresh inside. Even on the hottest days, we believe the temperature was 10 degrees lower inside. No need for air conditioning - this is how houses were built (and should be built). We slept very comfortably.
Le logge di Silvignano is a self-catering accommodation, so guests must prepare their own meals. However, the hosts had provided us with ample food for breakfast (coffee, tea, cereal, fruit, milk and juice), so we only had to supply with one single box of cereal for the whole week. There is a full kitchen, and we prepared several lunches in the house, but had most of our dinners at nearby restaurants. It is possible to walk to the nearest one, Sandro, but you would need a torch for the return walk in the evening, and we would not actually recommend walking back in the dark. Sandro was really good value (3 euro for half a litre of house wine...), and there are also many other good places nearby, if not within walking distance. In Spoleto, we enjoyed Il Panciolle, not far from the cathedral.
There are a number of walks in the area, especially in the Monteluco area - and Diana and Alberto proved to be a mine of information on things to do. If you are looking for the perfect retreat in Umbria, whether you want to stay around the house or explore the area by car or on foot, this is it!
