Holiday Villa Rentals in Umbria

Umbria is one of the smallest regions of Italy and known as the ‘Green Heart’, the birthplace of saints, and home to some of the country’s greatest artistic treasures. The steep hills, deep valleys, fast flowing rivers of this mystic province are as ancient and timeless as they were when immortalised by Renaissance artists.

Umbria does not boast the extravagant wealth of art and architecture of Florence, Rome, or Venice, but this works in the travelers favour, as the region is not overrun by tourists. However this is not to suggest that the cultural cupboard is bare. Perugia, the capital of the region, and Assisi, Umbria’s most prominent city, are rich in art and architecture, as are Orvieto, Todi, and Spoleto.

Rent an ancient Umbrian farmhouse, luxurious private villa or historic castle immersed in the lush green of this lovely region, many with private pools and cooks.  Enjoy day trips to Città di Castello, Umbertide, Perugia, Assisi, Gubbio, Todi, Montone, Cortona and Arezzo where you will find nuggets of fine art and rich culture.

Like all of Italy a trip to Umbria would not be complete without enjoying its cuisine. Excellent food and wine are just as much a part of the region's charm as its forests, frescoes, and castles. The traditional dishes of each city or village are inextricably bound with the identity of the place itself. Perugia, Assisi, Terni, Norcia, and Lake Trasimeno offer epicureans gastronomic treasures with intense and generous flavours.

Umbrian wine and olive oil, both have ancient origins, dating back to the Etruscans, and thanks to centuries of arduous human labours, have moulded the landscape into a characteristic succession of vineyards and olive groves.  One of the regions most notable wines is the ancient and noble white wine Orvieto Classico, beloved by famous popes, architects and artists. It is said that Luca Signorelli requested a thousand litres per year by contract when working on the Duomo in Orvieto.  Just as extraordinary as its wine, Umbrian olive oil boasts a quality with few rivals in Italy, given that about the vast majority of it is extra-virgin.

However the real touch of magic found in Umbrian dishes such as pasta, meat, eggs, poultry, fish, cheeses and olive oil is the prized black Norcia truffle with its intense fragrance. Gathered from bases of oak and walnut trees in the hills and mountains, it is one of the tastiest, most intriguing delicacies found in this simple, wholesome corner of the world.

This beautiful region of Umbria, in the Upper Tiber Valley, offers cultural and gastronomic delights for all types of holidays whether it is with your family in a large restored farmhouse, imposing castle for that magical gathering or a chic villa with the latest mod cons and horizon swimming pool where you can unwind under the Mediterranean sun with a glass of chilled white wine from Orvieto.