The house is 1 km up a winding road from the village of Volterrano in the Commune of Citta di Castello in northern Umbria.  It overlooks the Nestore Valley, a tributary of the River Tiber in the Upper Tevere Valley. Click here for Map      This part of Italy is an area of great scenic beauty  with the landscape ranging from wooded hills to terraced farms.  The whole region is steeped in history with much medieval architecture including hilltop castles, watchtowers and customs houses (most of which are now owned by the rich and famous). The area was a partisan stronghold during the Second World War, with our house being used as a lookout by British soldiers. There are a number of neighbouring farms where it is possible to buy olive oil, eggs and firewood. The gravel roads and farm tracks provide some good local walks (maps in the house show walking routes in the locality). Cycling is very popular in the valley, there are lots of flat roads for leisurely cycling or, for the keen, the hill roads are regularly used by cycling clubs for cardiovascular training.  The woods around are good for mushroom picking, including porcini.   The nearest shops and bars are downhill from the house in the village of Volterrano.  From Christmas Eve until January 6th, the village becomes a "living nativity scene"' the Presepe Vivente festival, which is televised every year.   Morra is the next village with a 13th century church and a sanctuary containing frescoes by Signorelli, a major Renaissance painter from the area as well as some Gothic frescoes in the sacristy.  Citta di Castello, the major town of the Upper Tevere Valley, is a beautiful walled city with fine buildings, museums, good markets and wonderful restaurants as well as two public swimming pools. The annual international music festival runs for three weeks from the end of August.  Thermal hot springs and a health spa dating from Roman times are located nearby.   Medieval cities and towns are plentiful in this area of Italy.   Well known amongst them are:   Florence, the capital city of Tuscany, easily accessible on the motorway about an hour and a half away.   Perugia, the capital of Umbria, closer at hand with Assisi nearby, taking about an hour on the free motorway. The stunning newly restored Giotto frescoes in the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi are not to be missed.     Gubbio, where the venicular railway is everyone’s favourite.   Castiglion Fiorentino and Cortona. charming walled cities easily reached for shopping,  sightseeing or dining out.  Castiglion Fiorentino also has a good sports centre for tennis and swimming - with separate pools for children.   Siena, due west of the house, a good hour away but well worth a visit and Sansepulcro - for fans of Piero della Francesca - is twenty minutes north of Citta di Castello .    Lake Trasimeno , the largest lake in Central Italy, is safe for bathing and other water sports and takes approx 1 hour to reach.  There are a number of resorts around its shores and its islands can be visited by ferry.  Restaurants in the area specialise in serving fresh-water fish.
Click here to print out site information

best viewed using Internet Explorer + on a 1024x768 screen or higher
webdesign+build Jodesign