Paciano, Umbria
Umbria,
called the green heart of Italy, is the region located in the center of
Italy. It is bordered by Lazio(Rome) to the south, Tuscany (Florence, Pisa,
Sienna) to the north and west, and Abruzzo and Le Marche(Adriatic coast)
to the east. This verdant green region is characterized by its majestic
medieval hill towns, its pure air, rolling green hills and cultivated farm
land where olives, sunflowers and wine grapes are the main crops. To this
day, it retains the charm of rustic Italy where there is room to breathe,
to hike, to tour with ease. Its ancient cities remain intact jewels of the
Etruscans and ancient Roman civilizations, filled with castles, palaces
and the sweetness of Renaissance paintings.
The small walled city of Paciano (PG) was reconstructed
in 1323 near the summit of Monte Pausillo. This medieval town of 976 inhabitants
is surrounded by lush forests and ancient olive trees. From this wondrous
position , you can see a panorama which includes Lake Trasimeno, Mount Amiata
and the hill towns of Cortona, Arezzo, Chiusi and Castiglione del Lago.
In Paciano and the nearby villages, there are a plethora of restaurants
serving typical Umbrian cuisine, always using the fresh ingredients grown
in the region. Craft fairs and small shops feature the artisans famous in
this region. Within an hour of here by car, it is easy to visit a myriad
of hill towns of notable historic and artistic interest including Assisi,
Perugia, Cortona, Montepulciano,Sienna, Deruta and Orvieto. Last but not
least, the famous WINE RAIL is quite near. You can park your car at the
Chiusi train station (15 minutes away). Take the train to Florence or Rome
(little more than 1 hour from here by rail) and arrive relaxed and ready
to tour with no parking problems!
Country House Casale Campodalto
Campodalto
is an ancient stone and brick farmhouse situated in the midst of olive groves
on a hill above the walled city of Paciano. Originally built as a
lookout tower in the 1200’s, it was transformed into a country house in
the 1600’s. It has been completely restored to include all modern
conveniences, but retains the flavor of its magical origins. From this
unique position, there is a spectacular view of the valley and Lake
Trasimeno.
The owners of the property live in Naples. The ground floor space is used by them on weekends while the large apartment above is reserved for guests.