Casa Canaiolo

Just an hour from Perugia, Umbria’s historic walled capital, this enchanting villa sits surrounded in the rolling hills of the tranquil Umbrian countryside. Built in the traditional style of the area, the stone-built house is an instant charmer, with large lawned gardens, rose and lavender filled flower beds, and a gorgeous swimming pool with a shaded pergola and a fantastic country backdrop. If you can bear to part from the tranquillity of the villa for the day, there are some beautiful walks nearby through the surrounding olive groves – cyclists will appreciate a handful of trails right from the villa, or you’re just 15 minutes from the cultural sights and restaurants of ancient medieval towns like San Gemini and Narni.

Casa Canaiolo is a retreat of rustic elegance – and is the perfect size for a group of friends or family. Rustic charms embrace the authentic Umbrian experience, but there’s also the perfect amount of contemporary style included for a luxury stay, too. There are four en suite bedrooms in the villa, each one indulgently placed with views across the valley. Three are on the first floor, and one on the ground, but all are super king in size, with the possibility to be made up as twins if required. On the first floor, two bedrooms include access to a traditional stone loggia (a covered open-sided gallery), a great spot to enjoy the views with comfortable seating. Downstairs is the open plan living, dining and gourmet kitchen area – superbly-equipped with all the top-of-the-range mod cons, and a large 10-seater dining table for delicious villa-cooked meals. A large teak table and traditional pizza oven can also be found on the adjacent outdoor loggia – looking over the uninterrupted country views, this setting is just perfect for al fresco summer dining.