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 Home > Italy > Umbria > Selvamica |
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Selvamica captures the essence of Umbria, the province known as the green heart of Italy. The 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 in the midst of vineyards about two miles from a main route that leads to the hill town of Orvieto. Selvamica is very convenient for those who want to explore Umbria and beyond. It is only an hour by train to Rome and two hours to Florence. The Orvieto railroad station is 15 minutes from the house and there is a free parking lot. Perugia, Siena, Assisi, Spoleto, Viterbo, Gubbio are all easy day trips by car, and there are secret treasures such as the towns of Tarquinia with its Etruscan tombs, wonderful museum, clean beach and terrific fish restaurants, Pitigliano, Sorano, Sovana, Bagnoregio…the landscape is scattered with charming hill towns. Orvieto, which was a major city-state in the Etruscan period, is a great town to wander around in. The cathedral, with its Signorelli frescoes, is considered to be the best Gothic church in Italy; there are underground caves to explore, other 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 minute lanes to scans over the ramparts to the valley below town. Shopping is a pleasure. 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. The Coop supermarket stocks all staples, has very good cheese and meats, cooked chickens, fish and good vegetables and fruit, plus liquor and wine. Orvieto, in addition to being a ceramic center, has many shops that stock porcini mushrooms, truffles, fine olive oil, many different smoked, air dried and cured meats and locally produced jams and honey. Boutiques abound stocked with contemporary fashion, jewelry and shoes. 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. An open kitchen with blue and white Florentine tiles is superbly equipped (one of the owners was the editor of Food & Wine magazine) with a large stove, a marble island, two refrigerators, a fireplace for grilling and many small appliances to appeal to serious cooks. The kitchen gives on to the dining area and beyond to an outside tiled terrace with a pergola that is a comfortable place to dine. Large candles limn the terrace; wrought iron lanterns illuminate the table. A large living room centers on a huge fireplace; a cozy library (lots of books on art, history, architecture) has its own fireplace, TV, DVD and sound system. The house has three double bedrooms and two singles the two bedrooms upstairs have ensuite baths, the master bedroom has a large bath with glorious views and gives onto the terrace, furnished with couches and chairs. There is a third double bedroom on the ground floor, off the library, with a bath that can be shared with the single bedroom. Another single bedroom on the ground level, off the dining area, has a bath with a stall shower. The bedrooms are screened; there are ceiling fans and the three double bedrooms are air-conditioned. The house has three separate terraces so there is lots of space for privacy. Gardens abound with large pots of oleanders, geraniums, etc. 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 lion head fountain flows into an antique stone basin next to the pool. A private outdoor staircase leads to a separate dwelling in the west wing of the house. 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. Maid service is provided twice a week; a gardener comes daily, the pool is maintained daily. Skilled cooks are available as is a very experienced driver with van who provides transport to the airport or will take guests on day trips. Driver and cooks are paid for separately from the rental charge. 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.Click here
to see apartment photos. |
SELVAMICA
