Villa Spinaltermine – Lisciano Niccone - Umbria

5 Bedrooms – Pool

Sleekly sophisticated Umbrian farmhouse, well off the beaten track and with infinity swimming pool.

Location and Surrounding Area. Villa Spinaltermine is set inside a magnificent, private estate in the rolling hills of Umbria. The property is owned and managed by an aristocratic family, who fell in love with the abandoned buildings and lovingly restored them into today's prestigious accommodation. The estate produces its own organic olive oil, quality wine and organic honey and there is even a an exquisite family-run restaurant with a panoramic terrace serving organic, seasonal produce from the gardens. The restaurant can serve your meals at home if you prefer a candlelit dinner in the comfort of your own home. In addition to all this, the estate has its own farm shop, art gallery, nature trails, riding stables and tennis courts.

If you can manage to leave villa and its gardens, there is so much to see and do in this spectacular area straddling Umbria and Tuscany.  Follow a wine-tasting tour through the vineyards of Chianti. Or simply meander through the medieval towns of Assisi, Arezzo, Siena, Perugia and Florence and breathe the art that surrounds you. Perugia is an enchanting university city famous for its art, culture, summer jazz festival and chocolate! Perugia was home to the painter Pietro Vannuci, known as Perugino and teacher to Raphael the great Renaissance artist. Vannuci's frescoes still decorate the Sala del Cambio and there are various paintings in the National Gallery of Umbria in Perugia.

Florence is the capital city of Tuscany and an art-lovers paradise. It was the centre of the Italian Renaissance movement and the museums, galleries, palaces and churches house some of the world's greatest artistic treasures. The cathedral, Baptistry, Uffizi, Bargello, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens and the Accademia have to been seen and once you tire of art and history, take a wander through the pretty streets and across the Ponte Vecchio bridge which spans the River Arno. Florence is also home to designer shopping and fine wine and dining experiences. Thick, juicy Florentine steaks are a local speciality and best accompanied by a delicious, local Chianti wine.

Lake Trasimeno is the fourth largest lake in Italy and is a natural paradise inhabited by kingfishers, wild ducks, cormorants and kites. With its splendid backdrop of woodland, fields of sunflowers, vineyards and olive groves, you can walk, cycle or horse-ride for miles along the paths and tracks skirting the water. There are three small islands in the lake, Isola Polvese, Isola Maggiore and Isola Minore and only Isola Maggiore is inhabited. There are plenty of beautiful castles to explore around Lake Trasimeno and the Lake itself hosts water-skiing, kite-surfing and sailing.

Golfing enthusiasts might like to try their luck on the stunning Antognolla golf course, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones Junior.

Villa Spinaltermine is only a five minute drive from the nearest town, 20 km from Lake Trasimeno, half an hour from Antognolla golf course, 50 km from Perugia and about an hour and a half from Florence. The nearest international airports are Perugia, Florence and Rome.

The Property. If you are seeking undisturbed peace, quiet and privacy, this stunning villa is nestled in an unspoilt, hillside location at the far end of a 3 km long private road. Villa Spinaltermine sleeps up to ten guests in three doubles and one twin bedroom in the main house and one double bedroom in the guest house. All of the five bedrooms have ceiling fans, air conditioning plus a little touch of thoughtful luxury - heated towel rails. The four double bedrooms all have king size beds and en suite bathrooms whereas the twin room has its own private bathroom downstairs. The master bedroom in the main villa also has a private dressing room.

The interior of both the villa and guest house are beautifully designed with the traditional wood beamed ceilings in exquisite harmony with the sleek, mostly modern furniture and cool marble floors. The kitchen is perhaps the showpiece of the villa with its jaw-dropping window and designer counter tops. There is spacious, central kitchen island with a breakfast bar, perfect for lazy mornings chatting with freshly brewed coffee. The ground floor also features a large, airy living room, a dining room and a lovely, little library.

Guests also have the option of dining al fresco under the stars on the gorgeous terrace overlooking the rolling hills. There is even an outdoor cooking area to help you prepare mouth-watering Umbrian meals. From here it is hard to spot signs of human activity, the countryside remains as unspoilt as it was 1000 years ago. The immaculate gardens are extensive and there is no better way of spending your afternoons than lounging around the stylish, infinity swimming pool. The poolside area is fully furnished and there is a delightful, shady sitting area in the pool house for afternoon tea.