LA TORRE

In Umbria, the ‘green heart’ of Italy - an area rich in history and
architecture - mountains rise from the Tiber valley between Todi and Orvieto. These are graced with numerous medieval hamlets. Near one is La Torre, an ancient farmhouse.

Set in gentle countryside it stands next to a lookout tower that is as old as Dante. The house was built with charming haphazardness - its many rooms added over many centuries until it grew into a home for five separate farming families and their livestock. One of its two original breadovens is still in use.

Today it is a lovely country house, a home, as one guest put it, not a rental property, artistically and wittily arranged with objects from all over the world. Its thick stone walls contain beamed, book-filled rooms with terracotta floors and fireplaces. Not too sprawling for couples, it is also rich in unexpected spaces for withdrawal into solitude and quiet for many-numbered groups.

The main entrance, once a wine distillery, leads up to the old windowless storeroom, now a light, plant-filled atrium. Off the main entrance is a laundry room with two washing machines.

DOWNSTAIRS the atrium is a good place for children to play noisy board games, when adults are reading in the drawing room. Around it are a twin-bedded room, a single room, and bathroom. Here too are the kitchen with its annex, and the dining room.

The KITCHEN has a fridge, freezer, dishwasher and all usual
appliances. The dining room fireplace, with its turning spit, can be used for cooking. From the dining room three steps lead to the living room with its two seating areas; its fireplace, grand piano, desk, and a hammock for after-lunch reading.

UPSTAIRS the master bedroom, also with a fireplace, shares a full bathroom with a second double room. Three steps up from the upper
atrium is a third double room with its own bathroom and study.
There are field and mountain views from the windows.


THE GARDEN: The kitchen opens onto a flower and herb-filled courtyard that leads to a tree-shaded table for twelve with views of the nearby fields and hills. The lovely garden has several seating areas, hammocks under the trees, and lawns leading to the GATED swimming pool. A high garden set with olive trees has a barbecue, a table facing the sunset for evening meals and a lawn for ferocious croquet matches.

The GATED pool, private and surrounded by trees, is equipped with chairs for lounging and an assortment of "inflatables" for the pleasure of water babies.

There is separate portion of the house that the owners, a journalist and an art historian, have reserved for their personal use. They live in Paris but occasionally use their Todi house, much to the advantage of their guests. They are multilingual and have lived in the U.S. as well in many other parts of the world. They are more than delighted to share their considerable knowledge of the area with their guests if they are in residence and if guests would like contact with them. If, on the other hand, guests prefer absolute privacy, the owners will hardly be seen because they have a separate entrance, parking area and garden and do NOT use the pool when guests are there.

 

Bicycles can be hired from Orvieto.
There are books, cards, records, storybooks, toys and games for children. For adults there is a good guitar, (on request) a fixed-line telephone for incoming calls. Out going calls can be made with a card. There is also the possibility of consulting the internet. The piano is beautiful but needs regular tuning because of its age (1880). Anyone of real ability might like it tuned before arrival. This can be managed.
The rental includes maid service once a week and on Saturdays. Towels and sheets are provided and guests will find all beds made on arrival.
A basic 'welcome' pack is provided, that consists of essentials like bread and milk etc.....If you call ahead you can send a shopping list so that you do not have to go shopping immediately on arrival.
 

 

A home not a rental villa. Book-filled rooms, shaded garden and outside lunch table, sunsets from outside dinner table. Thirteen metre swimming pool, toys, piano, guitar, barbeque, croquet.

The farm house comprises 5 bedrooms in total; 3 double, 1 twin, 1 single and 2 cots, 1 of the bedrooms with en-suite facilities. . This gives room for up to 9 people. Bed linen and towels are provided for your use.

The farm house has 3 bathrooms and 3 WCs for your party's use.

The farm house has television video, satellite/cable. The music system will play cds, radio. If you need to keep in contact there is a telephone for incoming and outgoing calls.

There is room for 12 in the living room and 10 in the dining room. The open fire can be used to create a comfortable atmosphere. To prepare food you will find a cooker, an oven, a microwave, a fridge, a freezer, a kettle, a toaster. You will also find a dish washer, a washing machine, an iron and ironing board. The owner has also provided cutlery, crockery, glassware, cooking utensils.

This is a non-smoking farm house

Pets are not welcome 

Not suitable for wheelchairs 

The farm house is in a very quiet area. It has a private south facing swimming pool, access to a shared south facing swimming pool, a east facing garden, a east facing patio area, panoramic views, interesting views, a barbeque. If you are driving there is private parking with the outside areas of the house having external lighting.

The farm house is right beside swimming, walking, mountain biking.

Close to the farm house you will find tennis, historic sites, a museum, a theatre/cinema, shopping areas, a restaurant, a food shop.

Within easy reach of the farm house you will find golf.

Acquasparta, Amelia, San Gemini with the Roman ruins of Carsulae. Fossil, nature parks.

The farm house is....

90 min from Rome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino airport.
25 min from Orvieto.
15 min from Todi.

Moira says: "As we were three generations holidaying together we needed a villa that had something for everyone. The Umbria Tower House met this requirement in bucketfuls! Even before we left home it was clear that the owners Lin & Carlos were determined we should have a good holiday when they contacted us to check for any additional requirements and an offer to get provisions in ready for our arrival. This level of helpfulness without intrusion continued throughout our stay. The location is stunning with fantastic views in all directions. The garden and swimming pool are very well maintained and the house is full of interesting items and quiet corners for individuals to retreat to. It is also clean and well equipped with books and toys for the children to use inside and outside in the pool. Our Grandchildren loved it all, especially the hammocks and ice lollies from Lin. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone and we plan to return ourselves as soon as possible."

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Last minute discount!! 15% discount if booking start date is less than 2 weeks away.
Long stay discount!! 15% discount if booking length is more than 3 weeks.
Early Bird stay discount!! 10% discount if booking start date is greater than 6 months away.