Enjoy David’s wine on arrival, absorb the view of cultivated and wooded hills and unwind. Chrissie and David, warm, generous, thoughtful, bought the farmstead in a ruinous state and did it all up in under a year. The little ‘houses’, private but close, each with its own terrace, are suitable for singles, couples or families. The restoration is sympathetic, unpretentious, delightful, the off-white décor and soft furnishings enhancing undulating beams and stone walls; the bathrooms are lovely. Supplies are left for breakfast on your first morning and should last until you’re ready to venture out. Your hosts produce their own wine, olive oil and seasonal herbs and vegetables, which you can pick from the garden. Feed a friendly, fluffy alpaca, or take advantage of the library of books and board games on offer in the main house. David cooks on Tuesdays, and Thursday is pizza night – your chance to use an original wood-fired oven. Bliss to have Perugia nearby – a 20-minute drive – and to return to a pool with views down the valley all the way to Assisi, a bottle of chilled Orvieto by your side.
We had the most brilliant week here a couple of years ago. In fact, I’ve been inspired to write this after stumbling across the entry. We swam in the pool every day, made new friends, star-gazed every night. The wine was fantastic and Christina and David were the most relaxed and friendly hosts. One of our best family holidays.