Luxuries in this secluded Umbrian farmhouse are of the natural kind: sunset views over a rolling valley of olive groves and vineyards to hilltop Orvieto; delicious homemade cakes and home-grown fruit jams at breakfast, taken in fine weather under the stone veranda as Beethoven drifts through the air; Slow Food with extra virgin olive oil from the estate’s 700 trees and organic veg from a flourishing garden. Dinners are sociable occasions, a chance to chat with other guests and be inspired by Marco and Daniela’s enthusiasm for their new life in the countryside. It is inspiring; from a rustic sitting room bedecked with candles and warmed by a cosy fireplace to six pristine bedrooms, the beautifully restored 17th-century stone house exudes warmth and character. On clear nights you can see Jupiter, Venus and the Milky Way, while in June the fireflies perform by the pool. Retire to rooms with marvellous views over the countryside of Umbria and Tuscany, where you can hike, ride, and try something a little different – perhaps a wine and cheese tasting or a pottery class.
We can’t say enough about how wonderful our visit was to Antica Olivaia! Daniela and Marco are the kindest of hosts. They treated us like old friends. Their cooking is incredible and we appreciated all of the tips they gave us. We only hope we can make pizza half as good as Marco! We loved walking Miles the dog - what a gentle soul he is! Cats, Quilt and Lucy, were also a pleasure to have around. Thank you for the most amazing stay Marco and Daniela, and for making us feel so at home! We can’t recommend Antica Olivaia enough and hope we can return to visit our friends one day!