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Rating
system:
In Italy, hotels receive a ranking from 1 to 5 depending
on the level of service, amenities offered and comfort.
A 5 star hotel is very plush and a 1 star
hotel is very basic. Farms and other unique establishments
are often not rated. Read the descriptions here, visit
the hotel's website and you'll never be disappointed.
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IN MEDIEVAL CENTER
PALAZZO
PICCOLOMINI — Piazza Ranieri 36 — Orvieto 05018
— ph: 0763341743 fx: 0763391046 — www.hotelpiccolomini.it
- email: piccolomini.hotel@orvienet.it
This 16th century palace has been restored to its
former grandeur and is a good choice in Orvieto. It is a 4
star property. It is located in the medieval quarter and
each of the 31 rooms have been decorated with care and attention
to detail (think traditional, classic décor). The rooms
have bath, TV, phone, air conditioning and mini-bar. There’s
a restaurant serving local cuisine, a wine cellar and nice main
rooms. A good spot in Orvieto.
MAITANI
— Via Maitani 5 — Orvieto 05019 — ph: 0763342011
fx: 0763342012 — www.hotelmaitani.com
- email: direzione@hotelmaitani.com
This 13th century palazzo is now a 4 star hotel.
The location is one of the best in town as it sits in the main
square with the Duomo (have a drink on the terrace for great views
and photos). There are 40 cozy rooms that are comfortable, prettily
decorated (in a mix of styles — each room decorated differently).
The rooms have bath, shower, TV, phone and air conditioning. Along
with the great atmosphere and service, there’s a terrace
with one of the best views in the city (of the Duomo). There’s
a bar and there’s parking. The hotel is family run. Location,
location, location.
HOTEL
AQUILA BIANCA — Via Garibaldi 13 — Orvieto 05018
— ph: 0763341246 fx: 0763342273 — www.argoweb.it/hotel_aquilabianco
or www.gattei.it/aquilabianca or email hotelaquilabianca@libero.it
The Aquila Bianca (a 4 star hotel) is located in the center
of town (it’s been recently restored too). The 37 rooms are
spacious and well decorated. Each room has shower, bath, TV, phone
and minibar. It’s a very neat hotel. The rooms are elegant
and very pretty (what you’d expect in a 4 star hotel). I
particularly like the lounge with it’s beautiful ceiling
and the cellar (a real one) where you can taste the wines of Orvieto
— you have got to go to this cellar! It’s stone, has
solid wooden tables, a dark and rustic atmosphere — very
very cool….or you can go and have tea in the salon…..breakfast
is served at this hotel in a bright and cheery morning room. You’ll
enjoy your stay here.
VILLA
CICONIA — Via dei Tigli 69 — Orvieto 05019 —
ph: 076392982 fx: 076390677 — www.hotelvillaciconia.com
- email: info@hotelvillaciconia.com
This is an
elegant 15th century villa set just below Orvieto’s
old city center — tranquil, peaceful - lovely. It’s
a charming place (4 star)...think beams, terracotta, lush
fabrics, frescoes, paintings, canopy beds - ANCIENT...gorgeous!
The restaurant here is wonderful and has a great wine cellar.
The restaurant serves Umbrian cuisine in a lovely setting with
a large fireplace — totally romantic. The 10 rooms are well
decorated, large and inviting. They offer bath, TV, phone, minibar
and luxury. Iron beds, most with canopy, antique décor
and feel...views on the gardens too. There’s a bar and a
garden. This is a terrific spot — love it!
VIRGILIO
— Piazza del Duomo 5/6 — Orvieto 05018 — ph: 0763341882
fx: 0763343797
Location,
location, location — right in the piazza with great views
of the Duomo (one of the prettiest duomos in Italy). This one
star hotel with 13 rooms with bath — simple comfort,
great location and a bar.
OUTSIDE CITY
— VILLAS/FARMS
LA
BADIA - Localita La Badia 8 - Orvieto 05019 - ph: 0763301959
fx: 0763305396 - www.labadiahotel.it
- email: labadia.hotel @tin.it
Said to be the oldest hotel in all of Italy….This former
abbey (Sts. Severo and Martirio) is over 700 years old! It sits
atop a hill and looks out over the countryside. The 29 rooms have
bath, TV, phone, minibar and panoramic views. Did I mention this
is a 4 star property? The restaurant is very good and serves
Umbrian specialties like panicetti all’Orvietana and coccinilio
al fuoco di legna — yum! Do order the Orvieto Classico wine!
The décor is antique and reminiscent of ages past….arches,
stone, brick, fireplaces….this is just another place to stay
that takes you beyond what you expected….there’s a pool
and tennis courts too!
FATTORIA
DI TITIGNANO - Localita Titignano - ph: 0763308000 fx:
0763308002 - www.titignano.com
- email: info@titignano.com
How I love this self contained village. Part of the fun is getting
here! Once you arrive, you’re totally transported back in
time — by the décor, the views and the ambiance. This
remote farm/villa/castle — and town, is on 4000 acres and
is owned by the Corsini family (since 1830). The Corsini’s
opened the main house a decade ago and offer 6 rooms and 3 apartments.
The rooms are comfortable, decorated with antiques and the place
has that "lived in look" — it’s full of charm.
You’ll enjoy the cuisine in the restaurant/dining room (some
tables are communal) and you’ll think the food will never
stop coming…..how great is that? The fireplace is grand and
warming — romantic (check out the family’s coat of arms).
There are nice lounge rooms with fireplace, a games room, a terrace
— fabulous. The views from up here in the hills are wonderful
and you can bike to the lake, sit on the terrace and contemplate
your good fortune or just relax by the pool. The food, the views,
the rooms, the location…..it’s great here. Additionally,
if you desire, you can buy the oil, wine or cheese produced right
on the premises.
CASTELROTTO
— Localita S. Casciano dei Bagni — ph: 057856245
fx: 057856146 — www.hyper.it/castelrotto
- email: castelrotto@hyper.it
There are 2 residences at this ancient farm in both Southern
Tuscany and Umbria…since it’s close to Orvieto, I’ve
chosen to put it in this section. The farm is a 13th
century structure - residence and has been restored, enhanced
and lovingly decorated. Alberto and Gianna Mori are the owners
and they rent out 2 apartments/residences on the property. This
is an ideal place to stay. The 2 residences are called La Canipaia
and Il Roggio and they command gorgeous views over the countryside
from the top of the hill (olive groves, vineyards, woods —
both Umbria and Tuscany!). The farmhouse/residence is quite grand,
made of stone with terracotta roofs. The residences have both
a living area, dining area, complete kitchen, bedrooms and so
much more to offer (including washer) — you’ll never
wish to leave! The décor is bright and charming —
totally comfortable and special — it’s in the details
here for sure. It’s secluded, yet close to many cities. The
comfort level is fabulous and your hosts are excellent. There’s
a pool, a picnic area and gardens. As an added treat, if you’re
here in December you can see the olive oil production. Castelrotto
is the only olive oil mill in all of Italy to continue to use
animal power — how cool is that? The farm produces Chianti,
olive oil and honey — you can buy what they make here and
you can experience many of the things one hopes to see in ancient
Italy. This is a great spot!
BORGO
SANTA MARIA — Monteleone d’Orvieto 05015 —
ph: 03485167321 fx: 0763832479 — http://web.tiscalinet.it/borgosantamaria
- email: bsantamaria@tiscalinet.it
There are
9 apartments at this "village" resort in Umbria. The
9 apartments came to be only after careful restoration of 4 country
houses. Each apartment has a name based on the function it had
in the past….
The walls
of these houses have warm colors, the floors are terracotta tiles,
the original wooden beams in the ceiling are still there, there
are brick fireplaces and the kitchens have pretty decorative tiles.
The décor is country and the furniture restored antiques.
The touches of the past are felt throughout….the comforts
of the modern age are also felt with new appliances, a TV, double-paned
windows and a safe. There are 5 — two room apartments (good
for 4 people); 3 — three room apartments (good for 6 people);
and 1 — four room apartment (good for 8 people). There’s
a swimming pool, a small pond for fishing, a garden with gazebos,
tables and benches (a bbq grill too), a playground, local products
for sale, a laundry room, bike rentals and guided tours to a local
winery (Orvieto). This is a terrific place, for groceries, just
head to the village (Santa Maria) where there’s a market,
pharmacy and restaurants.
POGGIOVALLE
CASE VACANZE — Localita Poggiovalle — Fabro 05015
— ph: 0578248125 fx: 0578248219 — www.poggiovalle.com
- email: info@poggiovalle.com
There are 16 apartments at this wonderful vacation estate/village
located midway between Rome and Florence. It was once a small
hamlet. The apartments have everything you need and are bright,
well decorated in country style and are comfortable. They’re
very pleasing. Each apartment has a fully equipped and modern
kitchen, bedrooms, baths, fireplaces (some of them) and a dining
area. There’s a laundry here, a shop to buy local foods and
a bbq area with pizza oven. There’s a chapel on the property,
there are gardens, a tennis court and a large swimming pool (actually
one for adults and a smaller one for the kids). In addition, there’s
much to do here: you can take advantage of the trails and either
ride, walk, jog or horseback ride. This is an ideal spot to base
out of, to relax, to sample the local fare — to explore —
a very comfortable place to stay.