Set against the backdrop of thousands of hectares of the natural reserve of the Murlo Estate, Villa Umberto is ancient castle with an adjoining church that dates back to the 11th century that has been renovated into a luxurious villa that is a dream destination to share exceptional, unforgettable special gatherings amongst friends and family, including weddings. Original structural components and traditional materials, such as the vaulted ceilings, the 13th century frescos, and reclaimed terracotta tile floors have been integrated with modern comforts to creating a rustic chic, serene ambience.

Details

The spacious Villa Umberto can easily accommodate up to 12 guests in its 6 spacious king-size bedrooms and expansive living spaces. On the ground floor, guests can cozy up to the fireplace in the living room on a cold evening or curl up with a good book in the sitting room. Culinary artists will fall in love with the enormous kitchen that is well-equipped with modern appliances to prepare meals to be shared with guests in the adjacent dining room that can seat up to 12. Two of the 6 king bedrooms are found on the ground floor. Both have ensuite bathrooms, one with a marble shower and the other with an open bathroom. Additionally, there is a fully-equipped laundry room with a washing machine, dryer, iron and ironing board.

Adjoining the villa is the 11th century church, Santa Maria Maddalena. Adorned with hand-painted decor, this is an exceptional space for guests to celebrate or to simply bask in the silence of the space.

On the first floor, together with 3 more bedrooms, there is another separate bathroom, a sitting room and a TV room, featuring a large smart LCD TV with satellite television. There are 2 king-size bedrooms both with ensuite bathrooms with marble showers. One of these rooms shares a terrace with the master bedroom, which also has an ensuite bathroom with a marble shower. The terrace offers a higher perspective to enjoy the postcard-perfect views of the surrounding estate.

The second floor is dominated by the loft king bedroom which also includes an ensuite bathroom.

The spacious exterior, landscaped garden seduces guests to enjoy dinners alfresco on the terrace that offer panoramic views, to watch the stunning sunsets under the pergola, or to bask in the sun on the sun-beds surrounding the heated, infinity pool.

There is high-speed WiFi internet available throughout the villa, the gardens and pool area. The property is fenced to ensure privacy.

Accommodation

Medium sized garden.

Swimming pool

The private, heated infinity pool (4m x 14m x 1.5m, with built-in steps) is outfitted with built-in steps, sun-beds, and chairs to relax under the sun poolside. Standard pool heating is included in the rates from June to September.

Entertainment

Large smart LCD TV with Sky Satellite TV and sports channels.

House Rules

No smoking on the premises. Pets allowed with owner's approval. Guests are permitted to fly their drones over the villa they have rented and over the valleys and hills of the property. However it is forbidden to fly your drone over other villas and gardens of the Estate due to privacy reasons.

Good to know

Special touches

Reviews

Otherworldly Paradise

This place is for A-list celebrities, family reunions, weddings, yoga retreats, and groups of families traveling together. It also could be for artists looking for a quiet studio to create, a honeymooning couple, or single travelers on an adventure. Every modern convenience is carefully placed into the immense history of the place.
At the top are a church, three or four barns repurposed as guest houses, an abandoned cemetery, an abandoned castle, flurries of white and yellow zebra-striped butterflies, flower gardens of thistles, giant allium, lavender and rosemary, a few fat cats, and a tree swing.
We stayed in the church—a place where rumor has it that Giotto trekked from 8 miles away to create some of the exposed murals and frescoes intermittently on walls. There is possible evidence of the Knights Templar, hundreds-plus year old graffiti on the murals, iron works that serve as door handles, niches in random places and other curious architectural remnants of eons ago. The crypt floor is damp dirt and the stairs descend around a curve. We are sleeping on a luxuriously modern bed in a room with a cornerstone etched 1740, cooking in the kitchen, and admiring the views across the edgeless pool and valley, onto the tops of the Subasio, Monte Tezio, Monte Acuto mountains across the way. Fields of wheat sway towards fields of cut hay that is the most brilliant gold. Sunflowers turn their heads to gaze towards the sun and gently bow them at night, resting quietly with the rest of the people and animals that call the lower village of La Bruna home.
You want to know more—the how it was built, by whom, why it stood abandoned for the last 60 years, why the chapel was rearranged in direction, who the fresco artist might have been and more. The history of the place begs you to ask questions and smiles when you speculate the answers.
We will eat like kings, sleep like babes, and dream of the place we are in.