Umbria Hotels

Other Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Residenza di Via Piccardi, Gubbio: Home away from home: Residenza Via Piccardi

by Trekki

Residenza di Via Piccardi has become my “second home” by now and I can only highly recommend the place to anyone who looks for a peaceful and enjoyable stay in Gubbio, northern Umbria. Not only is the residenza in the middle of town, only a few metres off Piazza Quaranta Martiri and with view to Palazzo dei Consoli from the garden, Federica Biagotti is also one of the sweetest hosts I ever had in any accommodation. She is always of help with any question, speaks French, English and a bit German and is the good soul and spirit of the house. She is there from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. with a break from noon to 2 p.m. But while she is gone, she switches the phone to her mobile, so one can always reach her, also in the evening. During her noon and evening time she also locks the garden door (which is the access to house and rooms) which makes it a very secure place. But then Gubbio is a very secure town, no one would break into hotel rooms!
The rooms are located in the left and right wing of the house, an old stone house of 14th century, according to a stone with engraved date at the house. It was a trader’s or farmer’s house, given the round arches which are still visible in the basement. Maybe they were a shop or a stable in the past. That’s very typical for Gubbio, by the way: these stones tell so many stories about the past life, incredible! My room(s) were located above the little porch (see photo 5, view of the house) and I loved the view into the garden and the little street. Although it was not a single room but had a double bed (queen size), bathroom, big cabinet for the clothes and TV. Bring your own hairdryer although by now I know that Federica has a spare one in case you forgot. There is no telephone in the room but enough possibilities to make phone calls in Gubbio (phone booths and the post office). But since I don’t need this in the days of mobile phones I didn’t miss it. During my almost 4 weeks in May I stayed in the mini-apartment, with a little kitchen. This was even better since I could cook or make salads. Remember that there is a small market under the arcades at Piazza Quaranta Martiri every day so fresh produces are available daily.
During my extensive stay in May 2010 I met several fellow travellers, among them Ewa and Rafal, a lovely couple from Poland, and David from Utah. They also loved the stay here and I know that they will be back. VTer Dan also stayed here in May 2010 and according to his review, he and his family also loved the place.

Already now while updating this, I am looking forward to next time, August 11, 2010, to be precise. I look forward to park the car at Piazza Quaranta Martiri, grab bags (and my special dress), run across the piazza and stop at the entrance into Via Piccardi to take in this gorgeous view which the makers of HB Bildatlas Mittelitalien kindly chose as their cover photo :-) The Residenza is the one where the little vespa is parked in front of. Do you understand now why this is the only place I could ever stay when I am in Gubbio? (Except when I have my own little apartment with view to my beloved campanone one day).

In total, the residenza has 5 rooms plus one mini-apartment (with kitchen). One morning when I was the only one staying here Federica showed me the other rooms above the lobby (see photos). These are of bigger size with an extra bed and much bigger, but then these are the true double rooms. I loved all of them and especially the charming decoration and furniture. These rooms in that old house have truly been renovated to perfection!!

Unique qualities? I loved my stay here, every single day of it. My time in May was even better. The place is a gem. Breakfast is served in the lobby at lovely decorated little tables and chairs or outside in the garden on sunny days: croisssants, caffè or cappuchino, orange juice but she also serves bread, jam and butter. The garden is huge and once you stand at the patio of Palazzo dei Consoli with a view over the town you will realise that gardens are not the norm inside of Gubbio’s town walls, especially for accommodation places. The space below the porch roof makes an excellent place to relax, read or have coffee.

I paid 30 Euro including breakfast which is in my opinion a bargain given the charming place and its sweet owner Federica. In case you want to come during the busy days (mid May, ceri festival, Christmas; New Year, the other festivals or Easter), make sure you email her or give her a call some months before.

Update, November 2010:
Federica has a new website, I have linked it below. Beautiful!! Much much better than the old one :-) Brava! And in case the oversensitive start to scream because the photos on her website and mine here are identical: this is completely normal and legal. I took them (= I am the owner of the photos) and gave her the right to use them on her website, licence free.

Residenza di Via Piccardi on Google Maps.

© Ingrid D., January 2011 (just in case, RickS or others come along and think they can steal texts).

Villa Sonia: A relaxing accommodation in the heart of Umbria

by Valentina82

I stayed at Villa Sonia, in Gualdo Cattaneo (at less than 30 minutes by car from Spoleto). I don't actually know if they have their own web-site, as I found it through an online rental agency www.summerinitaly.com.

Both agency and landlord were very helpful and friendly, and the accommodation is just perfect for a relaxing stay in Umbria: it has a lovely terrace overlooking the hills and fantastic swimming pool. It is situated on top of a hill where almost the whole land is covered in woods...very relaxing.

We stayed there in Semptember paying something more than 500€ per the entire week. So nice :-)

Amazing views of the sweet hills from the swimming pool. There also is an area equipped with a barbecue, perfectly usable for dinner, with some fresh air. There is a ping-pong table, a lawn bowling field, and mountain bikes available. The swimming pool as well as the garden are floodlit for night use...and romantic nights.

Hotel Gattapone: Good value in the heart of Gubbio

by Trekki

(Haha, only now (some weeks after my trip) I found out that I have stayed in a hotel group twice during my central Italy travels – the other one was the Collegio Gentile in Fabriano, Marche).
When I arrived in Gubbio, I was a bit exhausted from the road traffic, it was late afternoon (around 7 pm) and I only wanted a bed without much searching. I found Piazza 40 Martiri, parked the car and set out to look what was nearby. Luckily, Hotel Gattapone was near and also looked nice. Obviously April is not a very popular month for travellers – during the 3 nights I stayed here I was twice the only guest and had many nice and interesting chats with the night porter.
The room was big and faced the lovely terrace (photo 5), but due to the cloudy and cold weather I didn’t sit outside (well, next time). I especially liked the bathroom, as it had heated floor tiles, which came handy after my daily walks in the crisp weather. I also didn’t freeze, as the room heating was excellent and I could also use spare thick blankets. TV and minibar are available. No coffee/tea making facility though.
Breakfast was more than the typical Italian croissants – selections of cheese and cold cuts were available, as well as cereals, orange juice and joghurt. The coffee was freshly made and very delicious (but then again I was in Italy…).
The hotel has 16 rooms and two suites on 3 floors (elevator available). It is prepared for handicapped (see bathroom photo), but then I tried to imagine how people in wheelchairs would be able to manage the steep streets which often even have tiny stairs.

I liked my stay here very much, because the staff was very friendly and helpful and I got so many interesting tips for sightseeing and background information from “my” night porter. And the whole ambience was cosy as well.
Although the hotel is located in a dead end side street and is quiet, the bell clock of Palazzo dei Consoli has a very strange rhythm – it rings every 15 minutes and tells the hour as well (4:15 p.m. for example is one ring for the 15 minutes, followed by 16 rings for the hour) – so if you are not used to this, bring earplugs.

I paid 70 Euro per night for my double room with single occupancy.

Locanda Rosati: Enchanting agriturismo near Orvieto

by Trekki

Locanda Rosati is a very similar enchanting retreat as Il Poggio dei Pettirossi, the previous one I have described. But while Pettirossi is more for individualists (one can decide if one wants to eat there or not for example), Locanda Rosati is more for the sociable visitors. It is a true agriturismo and this means that all guests will be seated around the table at dinnertime and it is almost inevitable that conversations start.
If I compare the premises, Locanda Rosati is certainly bigger and more contorted but lacks the fantastic view of Pettirossi. Ok, so much for comparison between the both.
Locanda Rosati was the farmhouse of the owners during generations and has been transformed into a guesthouse some years ago. The owners live across the street, so one or both are taking care of their guests with passion. The house itself has 3 storeys, the basement is for socialising with a huge library, living room and dining room, while the upper rooms have been converted into guest rooms. All is customised with old (antique) furniture and very much cosy. The rooms are equiped with newer furniture, but also in wood. I liked the design, it was made by the local wood artist Michelangeli, and he has placed little animals here and there, see my bed, right hand side – dormouse. Now guess how my room was called? The dormouse, haha. Consequently, each room was named after one little animal, it was on the room key and somewhere in the room. The rooms are spacious enough (for me, but I have choosen a smaller room anyhow) with bathroom (shower) and a nice view to the garden. I don’t remember if it had TV, but I don’t watch TV when on travels. No coffee/tea making facility though.

The premises are lovely as well, easy to spend a whole holiday there. This is what VT’s Mike and Sue did, they have
devoted their Orvieto page almost entirely to this locanda. On their page you can also see more photos than I took. And they have been there in summer, when it was warm enough to enjoy the pool (photo 2). While I was here, I could pick fresh lemons on my way to the pool (photo 1). The whole garden is so wonderful, some benches here, some benches there, some pathways overgrown with bushes, some herbs in bloom – a real view for heart and soul.

The food is also excellent – see my separate tip about Locanda Rosati restaurant.
What else? There is enough parking outside of the house, but inside of the premises. The gate is locked in the night, but someone of the family sleeps in the house every night, so there is one to let you in if you come back late (but it is advisable to inform them in advance).

All in all I paid 80 Euro per night (single occupancy of double room).

Update, March 2010: only website exchanged.

Il Poggio dei Pettirossi: Million Euro view in the heart of ValleUmbra

by Trekki

I discovered this most magic bed&breakfast or albergo only by chance as I simply did not find the one I was looking for (Torre Antico in Viepri, described by @poortrekkers (Emlyn & Denise)). So I headed further north of Massa Martana, direction Bevagna, and checked one of my travel books for further options. One mentioned an albergo with a gorgeous view into Valle Umbra and I decided to have a look. And oh my, I was speechless once I turned into the parking lot – I had the plain of Valle Umbra in front of me and a view that stretched from Assisi to almost Spoleto. When I asked if they would have a room and how much it costs, I was even more surprised! I would have expected something around 70-80 Euro, but no, 50 Euro only, inlcuding breakfast. So my decision was quickly taken and I moved into my room. The room was very big with huge bed, desk at the window, in-built cupboard (in the photo on the right hand side) and big bathroom with shower. The dominating colours were sun and earth, which gave the room a very relaxing atmosphere. No wonder that I didn’t have any “problems” with the weather – I stayed inside when it was raining cats and dogs and enjoyed the view out of the window. And often I was sitting at the terrace, reading.
The premises are very nice and inspring. They have 29 rooms (mostly double rooms but also triple ones or suites), all built in a row next to each other and separated from the main house and restaurant. With the big meadow in front of the rooms and the huge terracotta flower pots it all looks very much harmonic. Oh, I should mention that the rooms have TV, phone and a minibar. But these things don’t matter much to me. No coffee/tea making facility in the room though.
Behind the restaurant (at a higher elevation than the rooms) is the pool area, which has enough sunchairs and parasols for sunbathing and sitting in the shade. And all with this gorgeous view!! I also liked the huge round glass lamps in the pool area, which gave a very soft light in the evening (they are not in the photos here , but on my Bevagna page in two albums).

Breakfast was served in a room next to the dining area, of course with this magic view across the whole Valle Umbra. The choice was excellent, cold cuts, cheese, jam, fresh bread and croissants, orange juice, a kind of cranberry juice, fresh fruit and caffè (freshly made with a machine) or tea.
The main house is equipped with many old furniture and new design objects like very creative lamps (they have something with lamps). And there is a reading area in the basement and upstairs as well.

Would I stay here again? Yes and to be honest, I could go back right now, because now I could enjoy all, Il Poggio dei Pettirossi has to offer. Maybe I could spend the rest of my life sitting at the pool with a good book and their excellent coffee!! It is a real retreat!!

Oh, and their restaurant is excellent as well. In early spring it is open Thursday to Sunday, but in summer it is open daily.

Their website is in Italian only at the moment, but excellent made! Please don’t miss their video (I forgot to make one…) – it shows a lot: the relaxing atmosphere, their love for life, hospitaliy, beauty, design and Brazil (the music is Brazilian). Oh and it also shows a bit more of the pool area, including the huge lamps and their soft light during the night as well as the other light objects and the reading areas and the library.
See here:
Il Poggio dei Pettirossi video.

Il Poggio dei Pettirossi on Google Mapso

Abbazia San Pietro in Valle: The most wonderful room I ever had

by Trekki

And the subtitle is “magic has a name – Abbazia San Pietro in Valle”. I stayed here for one night only, as I was in desperate search for a bed on my way south from Norcia. I wanted to see the church San Pietro in Valle anyhow and realised that there is also accommodation. So I found my way uphill (challenging for me, haha) and placed the car under the glittering silvery green roof of olive trees (note: they take also care for a car’s soul given this maybe most beautiful parking spot a car can ever wish for) I went uphill to search for the reception desk. A nice lady greeted me, seated me in a little very stylish welcome lobby and served me caffè and orange juice (freshly squeezed by the way). Yes, there were enough rooms available, because they’d just opened the season end of March. After I finished my drinks, she led me through the huge terrace and through a little gate into the abbey’s cloister. We walked upstairs on the first floor and in one of the rooms we passed she made the incidential remark that this would be the reading room. Reading room!!! How could one concentrate on a book if one sits in this room (photo 5) with all this furniture around?? We finally arrived at my room and I couldn’t help but gasp in amazement – this room was the most perfect room I ever saw to stay and sleep at far away from home (but on the other hand… where is home?).
The rooms are nothing else but the former abbey cells with most of their former features like the old terracotta stones on the floor, the wooden ceilings, in-built shelves and fireplaces still in place. The hotel’s leaflet writes that every room is different. Mine had this magnificent shelf built into the thick stone walls with partly wooden and partly stone files. A little candle here, a little pot with dried flowers there, some vases, some books – as if the former inhabitant only left his room for a prayer in the church. Opposite on the wall was the fireplace, also built into the thick stone walls. The former entry was modified to a closet now, the outer door of course locked forever. A little desk and chair completed the spare but very efficient and plain beautiful interior.
The bathroom was restored in the same concept: the old floor stones still there, and the modern amenities (shower, sink, toilet and bidet) only built into the stone walls.
There is a small TV in the room. No coffee/tea making facility in the room though.

Unique quality? Everything was unique quality here. I spend some time to walk around the stone stairs and take some photos. But given the lack of sun, they are quite darkish. For better photos, please check the hotel’s website.
In the evening, after a splendid dinner in Il Cantico just below the hotel, I stood for a long time and watched the night through my window and was wondering if the monks might have appreciated this location as much as I (and certainly the other guests as well) did. But then, a monk’s life is spiritual, and I cannot imagine a better place that has spiritualiy written in big letters all around. Despite it was cold and rainy, I slept with open windows and could smell the fragrance of wet grass in the morning when the “sun” (ok, not sun but daylight) woke me up. Yes, that’s something I did – let the light wake me up and not the alarm clock. In this environment I didn’t dare to make noise or let my mobile phone do it. Sounds stupid? Maybe.

Breakfast was served downstairs in the former refectory and consisted in a huge selection of what was tpical for the region: wild boar sausage (most probably from Norcia), goat cheese, self-made jam, yoghurt, fresh fruit, cereals, croissants and fresh bread, cakes and tartes and a selection of coffee, caffè or tea.

In my room was a little leaflet with information about the wellness and beauty treatments they offer. On the website is more information about this part of their service. They also have a sauna in the basement.

For my one night including breakfast I paid 90 €. That’s more than I would normally spent, but given this location, it was worth every penny.
Would I recommend it? Yes, very much so!!
Would I stay here again? Yes, very much so, but then a bit later with hopefully better weather. I’d bring tons of books and would sit in the garden forever and read……

Check the definition of “low season”

by Trekki

Although I haven’t been in Umbria yet, I am preparing my upcoming trip and found some inconsistencies with the definition of “low/high season” details of accommodation. Even if one hotel/B&B/agriturismo in a certain town or region has defined their low season, this isn’t necessarily valid for the one next door. In other words: I am looking up places to stay at for April – most of the ones I have checked define April as low season, but some don’t.
So if you are researching and come across high season prices for your proposed time, check others nearby and you might find low season prices.
Well, Easter, summer and Christmas is defined as high season throught Umbria’s places to stay.

Hotel IL CASTELLO: A picturesque accomodation

by melaverde

The hotel was a castle or a gentleman's residence in the past. Nowadays it's a pretty confortable accomodation right in the heart of the castrum, with a view onto the breathtaking scenery of the Valley and the surronding hills.
The rooms r modest but very clean, the cooking is fairly good, the staff is friendly and the rates r inviting.

Beautiful hall. Swimming-pool (outside).

La Palota: Good location near the main Piazza

by BBBinder

A group of 6 of us stayed here. All of our three rooms were very nice with pleasant views of the street. One couple was lucky enough to have a balcony with a view into the valley below. The breakfasts were excellent and the management friendly and helpful. Prices were reasonable too.

On the top floor they have a large common room with glass all around with specatular views of the sunset. A bottle of wine is a good idea too.

Camere Santucci: A haven for us in Assisi

by rubbersoul75

This hotel is not in the Historic area of Assisi, rather the modern section (Santa Maria Degli Angeli) down the hill. It is a couple blocks from the Basilica of Santa Maria Degli Angeli.

We were extremely happy with our stay here. Massimo, who runs the private rooms and attached restaurant was a great host.

Our room, and the others we peeked into were well appointed, modern and had seperate baths. Most importantly the rooms had A/C and were at a very reasonable price. We had a heat wave when we visited and the A/C was working overtime to keep us comfortable.
Breakfast is standard continental (coffe, brioche, some cheese and spread).

The restaurant served excelent regional cuisine and was filled with locals in the evenings (a good sign). We liked our meal so much the first night and decided to eat there the second as well. 2 excelent dinners, steps from our room. Truffles are prevelent in this area and the restaurant used them well in a number of dishes.

good host, A/C, good price, and good restaurant

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Umbria Hotels

532 Hotels

Other Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Residenza di Via Piccardi, Gubbio: Home away from home: Residenza Via Piccardi

Villa Sonia: A relaxing accommodation in the heart of Umbria

Hotel Gattapone: Good value in the heart of Gubbio

Locanda Rosati: Enchanting agriturismo near Orvieto

Il Poggio dei Pettirossi: Million Euro view in the heart of ValleUmbra

Abbazia San Pietro in Valle: The most wonderful room I ever had

Check the definition of “low season”

Hotel IL CASTELLO: A picturesque accomodation

La Palota: Good location near the main Piazza

Camere Santucci: A haven for us in Assisi

Explore the World

Questions and Answers