What makes holidays in villas with pool in Umbria so special?

Umbria is one of the most famous regions of Central Italy: it is famous for its religious places (Assisi, Gubbio and Cascia above all), for its natural beauties and the villages of medieval origin that are perched on the tops of many hills that dot the region.

Umbria is also well known in the world because of its typical products, among which we mention the extra virgin olive oil - whose high quality is worth to local farmers numerous international awards every year - and the precious black truffle. What to say of meats and, in general, of the pork products that owe their name to the Italian Umbrian town of Norcia then (in fact in Italian "butchery" is called "norcineria")?

Among the many proposals for the reception of tourists, we can think about hotels, bed and breakfast, country houses and villas with pool in Umbria.

These are in fact the feather in its cap, and often consist of old farmhouses renovated to provide all modern amenities to the tourists while maintaining the atmosphere of the classic Umbrian tradition, with terracotta floors, stone facades, beams wooden ceilings and rustic furniture.

Why villas with private pools in Umbria are one of the most sought after destinations? Easy to say: given the fragmented nature of the area and the distribution of the places to see among the whole region, to have a base that provides maximum freedom of movement and times is the best solution.

The pool, of course, compensates for the lack of the sea nearby, but gives also that touch of class that makes the holiday truly memorable and relaxing.

Here are the must-visit destinations in Umbria

Umbria has not-to-be-missed destinations scattered throughout the region: Assisi, Gubbio, Norcia, Cascia, Perugia, Spoleto, Narni, San Gemini, Todi and Orvieto are just some of the places that must be seen.

Let's not forget natural sites and attractions such as the Marmore Falls (the highest falls in Europe), the Lake Trasimeno, the Petrified Forest and the mummies of Ferentillo!

Choose among villas with pool in Umbria the one that suit you best (even according to its position in the area and the time you have to visit the region) and set out to explore this magical corner of paradise in the center of Italy!

Here are examples of the cities mentioned above and what you can see there!

Assisi

Assisi is famous all over the world for being the home town of Saint Francis (San Francesco, in Italian) the patron saint of Italy. So, Assisi most popular attractions are the St. Francis Basilica, that is also a UNESCO World heritage site – but there are also Santa Chiara church, San Rufino Cathedral, that has a 12th century Romanesque facade and inside there is the baptismal font where Saints Francis and St. Claire (Santa Chiara) were baptized.

In Assisi you can see also a Roman Amphitheatre, two Medieval Castles and the Town’s main square, Piazza del Comune, hosing the ancient Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, the Palazzo dei Priori and the ancient Temple of Minerva.

Gubbio

Gubbio, together with Assisi and Cascia, is widely known for its religious value, but not everyone knows how beautiful that city is, with its Gothic, Medieval and Renaissance monuments and building put harmoniously together in the city centre. Just outside the town, a 1st century Roman Amphitheatre shows: open-air performances are held there in summer.

In Gubbio you should see the Corsa dei Ceri festival (held in May), a religious feast very known in the world, and the Palio della Balestra, a crossbow competition held in the last Sunday of May dating back to the 15th century.

In Gubbio you can visit the Church of San Francesco (that boasts 13th and 15th century frescoes and Roman mosaics), Piazza della Signoria (that is the main square of the town and Is also known also as Piazza Grande), the gothic 15th century building Palazzo dei Consoli,the Duomo, the Palazzo Ducale with its Ranghiasci-Brancaleoni Park, the Abbazia di Sant'Ubaldo (St. Ubaldo's Abbey) and the Rocca.

Perugia

Perugia is the Capital city of Umbria region. If you are searching among holiday villas rental Umbria, near Perugia you will surely find what you are looking for. Perugia is an excellent example of Umbrian city: it rises atop a hill, where the city centre is settled, and still keeps a Medieval and Renaissance atmosphere.

Top attractions are Piazza IV Novembre, that hosts the Fontana Maggiore, the Duomo and the Palazzo dei Priori, together with other medieval buildings.

The Palazzo dei Priori houses the National Art Gallery of Umbria and three other museums; from there you can walk along Corso Vannucci, the main pedestrian street that is lined with elegant shops, bars, and eating places.

At the opposite of Duomo, walking along the Corso Vannucci, you will reach the Rocca Paolina, a fortress built by Pope Paul III over the houses and buildings he destroyed that often hosts art exhibits.

Perugia hosts also Etruscan remains, as the 3rd century BC Etruscan well, the Etruscan Arch, and remains of the massive Etruscan wall around the city. If you are in Perugia, you shouldn’t miss the chocolate festival called Eurochocolate, in mid October, and the UmbriaJazz festival, were international jazz stars play for two weeks.

Choosing to find the accommodation you need among villas with pool in Umbria, you can also select a villa in the south part of the region: from there you will reach Narni, Spoleto, Orvieto, Todi, San Gemini and many more medieval places. Being there, don’t forget to go to Carsulae (well-preserved Roman city remains), to Cascata delle Marmore (Marmore falls) and to Ferentillo to discover the Foresta Pietrificata and the Mummie (Petrified Forest and mummies!).

Orvieto

Orvieto, built millenniums ago by Etruscans, is also quite famous in the world. That city rises among tufa cliffs and it is very impressive. Its most famous monument/building is the Gothic Cathedral with its mosaic façade, that hosts the famous Cappella di San Brizio with frescoes by Fra Angelico (also called Beato Angelico) and Luca Signorelli.

Together with that Orvieto will show you the Saint Patrick’s Well, 62 meters deep, built in the early 16th century, that is a real architectural marvel formerly used to bring water to the city with the use of animals. The Well has double spiral staircases that run along the sides of the well, without meeting.

In Orvieto you can see also the Torre del Moro (the highest point of the city) and underground passages: they have been dug into the tufa beneath the city and have been in use since Etruscan times. They were used also as water cisterns and pigeon breeding. If you want to visit the underground Orvieto, simply ask for it at the tourist office.

There is the Albornz Fortress (mid-fifteenth century) then, that is a Spanish castle where an Etruscan temple once stood.

If you are interested in Etruscan sites, you will find them outside the historic center: you will look at Etruscan walls, tombs and a necropolis.

Todi

Todi rises not far from Orvieto (about 25 km) and is a very well preserved medieval Umbrian town, with perfectly preserved Etruscan and Roman city walls. Todi is not just a city, but is art itself; there you can still breathe the charm and the atmosphere of a real medieval city. Everything in the city centre is build in local grey or white stone and every house exhibits colorful flowers on the balconies, whose colors contrast with those of the stone of which the buildings themselves are made.

In Todi you can see Piazza del Popolo, the main square of the town built above the ancient Roman cisterns (that can be visited). In Piazza del Popolo you will find one of the most ancient Italian buildings, Palazzo del Popolo (restored in the nineties) and the Palazzo dei Priori. Near to Palazzo dei Priori rises the Palazzo del Capitano, that houses the Roman-Etruscan museum and an art museum.

In Todi you will see also the Duomo built in the 12th century over a Roman temple, the Tempio di San Fortunato (12th century) with its Gothic doorway, Santa Maria della Consolazione, Santa Maria in Camuccia, San Nicolo' de Criptis and Piazza del Mercato Vecchio, showing off some Roman remains.

I’m sure that now you can understand why I suggested to consider to rent villas in Umbria: there I so much to see that choosing another kind of accommodation could only restrict your freedom of movement, your leisure time and the opportunity to really manage in a more "personalized" way your holiday. What are you waiting for? Select one among the villas with pool in Umbria and let the Green Heart if Italy (as Umbria is called) lead you to discover the real Italy!

Gianni Sacchi is a professional Seo working for many Italian companies, and deeply in love with Italy.