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 Home > Italy > Umbria > Selvamica |
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Selvamica captures the essence of Umbria, the province that is called as "the green heart of Italy." This large restored stone farmhouse sits high on a hill overlooking the Tiber valley, surrounded by the vineyards that produce the famed Orvieto Classico white wine. Selvamica is a quiet, peaceful oasis, but just two miles from a main road leading to the hill town of Orvieto, which was a major city-state in the Etruscan period. The cathedral, with its Signorelli frescoes, is considered to be the best Gothic church in Italy. There are underground caves to explore, smaller churches dating back to the year 1000, lovely shops and restaurants and wine bars, piazzas big and small, a renowned outdoor market twice a week…and views that range from glances down tiny lanes to panoramic views over the ramparts to the valley below town. There is a well-stocked supermarket in Orvieto Scalo (10 minutes down the hill from Selvamica) where the mini-mall also includes a great place for facials and pedicures, a good pharmacy and a news dealer. This is a convenient location for exploring — just an hour by train to Rome and two hours to Florence. The Orvieto rail station is 15 minutes from the house, with a free parking lot. Perugia, Siena, Assisi, Spoleto, Viterbo, Gubbio are all easy day trips by car. Visit Tarquinia, with its Etruscan tombs, wonderful museum, clean beach and terrific fish restaurants, as well as Pitigliano, Sorano, Sovana, and Bagnoregio. The landscape is scattered with charming hill towns. Selvamica has been painstakingly restored. The architecture is still that of a classic stone house, while the sunny interiors are updated. White walls and chestnut beams frame rooms furnished with comfortable modern seating and antique pieces found in local antique shops. The house has three separate terraces so there is lots of space for privacy. Gardens abound, with large pots of flowers bordering the terraces. Fruit trees dot the garden and there is a vegetable garden planted for guests down a set of garden steps next to the swimming pool. The swimming pool is on its own terrace with a pergola for dining and chaises with awning covers. Large white umbrellas provide shade and a fountain flows into an antique stone basin next to the pool. Ground floor main house (sleeps 3):
Second floor main house (sleeps 4):
The bedrooms are screened; there are ceiling fans and the three double bedrooms are air-conditioned. A private outdoor staircase leads to a separate apartment on the second floor of the west wing of the house. When the villa is occupied, the apartment is not rented separately. It is rented together with the main house for larger groups; and occasionally it can be rented by itself if the owners are in residence in the main house. West Wing Apartment (sleeps 4):
This wing has a living room with fireplace, kitchen dining area, two bedrooms, each with en-suite bath. It can be rented for large groups as part of the main house rental. It is available as a single rental only when the owners are in residence. Services: There is an English house manager who meets the guests when they arrive and is very helpful in providing guests with information, reservations etc. Amenities: TV, DVD, wireless Internet access, air conditioning in three bedrooms, ceiling fans, radio and sound system, large classical music collection, hairdryers in each bathroom, outdoor Weber grille. |
SELVAMICA
