Villa Villanova, Todi-UT4

Villa Villanova, a beautifully restored farmhouse,  provides a luxurious respite for up to 8 in the green rolling hills of Umbria.

Located on three-quarters of an acre of land, much of which has been lovingly landscaped with climbing roses, fruit trees, lawns and flowering shrubs. Villa Villanova was recently restored by an Italian architect whose work in the area has received considerable attention in publications such as Architectural Digest and the beautiful book, Restoring a Home in Italy. It is finished with terracotta floors and wood beamed ceilings and is furnished with antiques and oriental rugs with an emphasis on comfort. Views from the villa and its property are typically Umbrian: the hilltown of Todi, an exquisite Renaissance church by Bramante, olive groves and vineyards alternate with sweeps of sunflowers.

The villa is one of a small group of stone houses in the open countryside within 10 minutes of the city of Todi.  Todi is a typically charming Umbrian hilltown that has been touted as one of Italy's finest for its superb quality of life. Only 1.5 hours from Fiumicino airport near Rome, Villa Villanova provides an ideal base for touring the rugged beauty and artistic, historical and religious treasures of Umbria.  Todi is about 40 km from other medieval towns such as Spoleto, Perugia, Foligno, Orvieto and of course, Assisi; it is also very close to one of Italy's premier maiolica (ceramic) producing towns, Deruta.

The villa has four bedrooms including an extremely large master bedroom with a queen-sized antique Sicilian alpaca bed, wood-beamed ceilings and two terraces; the smaller terrace is ideal for morning coffees or an intimate glass of wine in the evening.

Both the master bedroom and guest bedroom downstairs have en suite bathrooms, fireplaces, and antique armoires and chests of drawers. The master bathroom includes a bidet, toilet, sink, bath and separate shower.

The guest suite downstairs is suitable for a separate family.  It consists of two adjoining rooms; one large bedroom with a queen-sized bed an old oak armoire with gothic carvings, an antique chest of drawers and a farmhouse/writing table.  The adjoining sitting room includes a fireplace and two custom upholstered daybeds (suitable for children or early teens).   The daybeds can be pulled together to make a larger double bed, again best for kids.  The guest suite bathroom includes a bidet, toilet, sink and separate shower.

The house's other two bedrooms (upstairs) have antique wooden double beds and chests of drawers and a shared bathroom that includes a bidet, toilet, sink, bath and separate shower. The upstairs bedrooms all have custom curtains, screens on the windows, and blackout shutters.

There is also a powder room off the downstairs living room that includes a sink and toilet.

Another highlight is the very large eat-in kitchen has a beautiful French elm large cupboard and custom carpentry throughout. The butcher block countertop is solid wood, the table in the center of the room is an old northern Italian farmhouse table made of solid cherry wood ringed by designer French garden chairs,. There is also a wonderful fireplace that can be used for cooking.   The kitchen contains both washing machine and dishwasher, behind custom carpentry,  and a built-in refrigerator and freezer unit. The kitchen windows overlook a fruit orchard and kitchen garden planted with herbs. Large swinging screen doors lead to a pergola where there is a French wrought iron dining table topped with white carrara marble and six wrought iron arm chairs. Built-in barbeque is also easily accessible from here. The stone and brick barbeque are built alongside the medieval wall standing just outside the kitchen with a climbing rose attached. Coffee makers of both the standard Italian variety, and the drip filter model are available.

Living areas include an an upstairs study, with an antique pine desk and a foldout couch ( double-size mattress).  From here you can accesses the loggia on the front of the house.  A downstairs living room has a very comfortable down-filled couch two big armchairs and a fireplace.  Also in the living room is an old oak refectory style table that easily seats ten for indoor dining parties.

The landscaped pool area has ample shade and comfortable seating and is ringed with typical Umbrian crisscross chestnut fencing, hedges and trees. The pool area has abundant flowering shrubs as well as potted petunias and geraniums planted in heavy terracotta vases and urns. Poolside seating can be found under a large umbrella with plenty of deck chairs, two steamer teak chairs and a teak garden bench. A marble topped table under the umbrella is ideal for serving snacks and drinks.

A new and welcome addition to the activities available during your stay at Villa Villanova is horseback riding.  There is a stable for renting horses just on the road to Todi, only about 7 minutes from the villa.

The garden is laced with medieval walls and the remains of a small tower, planted with roses.
 

Renting Villa Villanova, Todi-UT4
Villa Villanova, Todi Reference number: UT4 Occupancy Bedrooms Bathrooms Notes 8 4 3 1/2 Central Heating, Pool, Telephone, Washing Machine, Dishwasher
2007 pricing (US$) Budget Mid Peak 4440 4765 5580 2 week rental: 10% discount 3+ weeks: 15% discount	2007 Seasons Jan 1-Mar 1 Budget Mar 1-Jun 1 Mid Jun 1-Sep 1 Peak Sep 1-Nov1 Mid Nov 1-Dec 31 Budget
Villa Villanova rents for 1 week minimum, Saturday to Saturday. These prices are all inclusive, except for telephone usage, heating (if used), extra maid service and cooking service. Use of the unheated pool is included in the price for peak season dates only.  Laundry and ironing services can also be arranged. A refundable security deposit of $700 is collected with your final payment, and returned within a month of your departure from the villa, less any charges for loss/breakage.
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