Home Base: Todi, Spello, Spoleto, Trevi etc?
Feb 18th, 2008, 06:25 PM
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Home Base: Todi, Spello, Spoleto, Trevi etc?
We need help in picking our home base for the last 4 days in Umbria.
Would appreciate feedback for best town or outside the town to use as a base, for exploring more of Umbria. An apartment would be best as we can do some of our own cooking .We appreciate farm holidays also.Price range
from 80-120 euros.
Thank you,
Would appreciate feedback for best town or outside the town to use as a base, for exploring more of Umbria. An apartment would be best as we can do some of our own cooking .We appreciate farm holidays also.Price range
from 80-120 euros.
Thank you,
Feb 18th, 2008, 10:15 PM
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I think it depends on several things you do not mention in your request, i.e. will you have a car or not, where are you staying before that, etc.
Personally I loved Todi and Spello. Spoleto is very rundown, they are in the process for many years now I think of repairs after earthquakes, etc. If I remember correctly, Trevi was an industrial-type town (but I may be wrong).
We stayed in a gorgeous place in Bevagna which is a small, flat town very convenient to most of the Umbria area. We paid 90 Euros in the hotel for a triple room which included a lovely breakfast and was huge by any standards.
Personally I loved Todi and Spello. Spoleto is very rundown, they are in the process for many years now I think of repairs after earthquakes, etc. If I remember correctly, Trevi was an industrial-type town (but I may be wrong).
We stayed in a gorgeous place in Bevagna which is a small, flat town very convenient to most of the Umbria area. We paid 90 Euros in the hotel for a triple room which included a lovely breakfast and was huge by any standards.
Feb 19th, 2008, 03:36 AM
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I forgot to mention that yes , we will have a car.We will be on a five week trip(husband and I ) and three weeks with our sons and family ,a week at the start of that just with our 3 granddaughters.
When we get to Italy on 9th of August , we (9 of us) will be staying in Umbria up above Assisi (Nocera Umbra) .OUr sons and family fly back to Canada and we continue on for another 2 weeks. One of which will be in Chianti. We would like to go back to Umbria , in a different part for the four days before heading to Rome for the last 3 days of our holiday .
I have looked at a lot of websites for a place to stay , however not too keen on anything I have seen so far.
hence, looking for help.
Spello sounds good , just have not seen anything that works for us.
Perugia is more of the area where we will be for our first week with the kids.
When we get to Italy on 9th of August , we (9 of us) will be staying in Umbria up above Assisi (Nocera Umbra) .OUr sons and family fly back to Canada and we continue on for another 2 weeks. One of which will be in Chianti. We would like to go back to Umbria , in a different part for the four days before heading to Rome for the last 3 days of our holiday .
I have looked at a lot of websites for a place to stay , however not too keen on anything I have seen so far.
hence, looking for help.
Spello sounds good , just have not seen anything that works for us.
Perugia is more of the area where we will be for our first week with the kids.
Feb 19th, 2008, 04:06 AM
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I can recommend the hotel we stayed in Bevagna called Palazzo Brunamonti. It was very convenient for visits in most of Umbria (we were there for 9 days total). Check out the reviews on trip advisor if you are interested.
Feb 19th, 2008, 05:41 AM
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I have stayed in or near Bevagna a half dozen times. The owner of Enoteca Piazza Onofri in central Bevagna has a dozen of recently remodeled apartments in the town center. I believe the website for the enoteca will direct you to his apartment website. (Parking spaces are abundant)
A few km west of Bevagna is my favorite: Le Case Gialle. Mauro and Silvana have four or five apartments that I believe they will rent for less than a week. They have a website.
Hope this helps.
A few km west of Bevagna is my favorite: Le Case Gialle. Mauro and Silvana have four or five apartments that I believe they will rent for less than a week. They have a website.
Hope this helps.
Feb 19th, 2008, 09:40 AM
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Bevagna is only about 25km from Nocera Umbra, so I don't think it qualifies for being "in a different part" of Umbria.
Perhaps you'll want to be further south, say around Todi. From there you could easliy reach Orvieto and Civita d'Bagnoregio. Also - the Piano Grande by means of the tunnel just north of Spoleto.
Perhaps you'll want to be further south, say around Todi. From there you could easliy reach Orvieto and Civita d'Bagnoregio. Also - the Piano Grande by means of the tunnel just north of Spoleto.
Feb 19th, 2008, 12:13 PM
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Also stayed at Le Case Gialle
www.lecasegialle.com
This agriturismo is an organic olive oil farm. There are five, I think, apartments for 2-4 people. You can see the hilltown of Montefalco from the grounds. (You can also see Assisi in the distance from the end of the drive). The owners can set you up with wine tasting tours and other ideas.
It is a kicked-back kind of place; guitars and bikes to borrow, a small nice pool, herbs to pick, and lovely views across the olive grove.
You can take dayhikes or walks from the property. There is a little town up the hill with a castle (I think this town is haunted...we had an eerie experience there. But could have been the combo of too much wine, a full moon and active imaginations).
We did most of our shopping down in Bevagna (mentioned in above posts) which we liked very much - good shops for fresh pasta, pastries, and some good restaurants as well.
You can drive to many places (including for us Montefalco, Spello, Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio, and day trips 1) Florence 2) Sant'Antimo/Montalcino/Siena; those are long day trips, of course, but worked for us and our plans.
This may be too close to the area you are already staying in in Umbria, but definitely worth checking out.
www.lecasegialle.com
This agriturismo is an organic olive oil farm. There are five, I think, apartments for 2-4 people. You can see the hilltown of Montefalco from the grounds. (You can also see Assisi in the distance from the end of the drive). The owners can set you up with wine tasting tours and other ideas.
It is a kicked-back kind of place; guitars and bikes to borrow, a small nice pool, herbs to pick, and lovely views across the olive grove.
You can take dayhikes or walks from the property. There is a little town up the hill with a castle (I think this town is haunted...we had an eerie experience there. But could have been the combo of too much wine, a full moon and active imaginations).
We did most of our shopping down in Bevagna (mentioned in above posts) which we liked very much - good shops for fresh pasta, pastries, and some good restaurants as well.
You can drive to many places (including for us Montefalco, Spello, Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio, and day trips 1) Florence 2) Sant'Antimo/Montalcino/Siena; those are long day trips, of course, but worked for us and our plans.
This may be too close to the area you are already staying in in Umbria, but definitely worth checking out.
Feb 19th, 2008, 03:46 PM
#11
"Spoleto is very rundown." Huh? We stayed in Spoleto for about a week a little over a year ago and walked the town, up and down, several times. It didn't look rundown to us. Loved the Hotel San Luca.
I think anywhere within the triangle of Bevagna/Todi/Spoleto would be great for exploring southern Umbria.
I think anywhere within the triangle of Bevagna/Todi/Spoleto would be great for exploring southern Umbria.
Feb 19th, 2008, 04:48 PM
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Todi is a very pretty town and it's easy to get into/out of for day trips. We stayed at Hotel Fonte Cesia this last October and loved it. From Todi we explored all over Umbria for 4 days.
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Feb 19th, 2008, 09:35 PM
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Yes Jean, I did find Spoleto to be very rundown. I was there 4 months ago so maybe it has changed since a year ago when you were there. We spent several hours there. Most buildings were under scaffolding and looked very decaying. I was later told there was much structural damage to the town due to an earthquake so......
Feb 20th, 2008, 03:49 AM
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A huge appreciation goes out to all of you for your suggestions and insights.
WE decided to contact Le Casse Gialle and they can accommodate us . So we are very pleased.It looks lovely , just what we were wanting .
We love Umbria and while we could have gone further south , we will be able to access most places we wish to visit , fairly easily from Bevagna.
The next thing will be to contact Autoeurope and see if we can pick up a rental car in Foligno when we first come to Umbria by train (Foligno)then travel by car to Nocera Umbra.
We will be arriving on a Saturday and I understand that the car rental closes at noon hour. Does anyone have insight into this?
As a note: I wrote and told the owners of Le Casse Gialle where I heard about them.
Thank you again.
WE decided to contact Le Casse Gialle and they can accommodate us . So we are very pleased.It looks lovely , just what we were wanting .
We love Umbria and while we could have gone further south , we will be able to access most places we wish to visit , fairly easily from Bevagna.
The next thing will be to contact Autoeurope and see if we can pick up a rental car in Foligno when we first come to Umbria by train (Foligno)then travel by car to Nocera Umbra.
We will be arriving on a Saturday and I understand that the car rental closes at noon hour. Does anyone have insight into this?
As a note: I wrote and told the owners of Le Casse Gialle where I heard about them.
Thank you again.
Feb 20th, 2008, 05:40 AM
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Glad you found Le Case Gialle. I happen to be Mauro's agent in the US for his olive oil business. I donn't know what it means since the only thing I have ever done is read a letter sent to mey by the Dept. of Agriculture.
For what its worth, I recommend that you lunch at Enoteca Piazza Onofri in the center of Bevagna. Good, local food and wine. Also,if you're in Foligno you must lunch at Il Becco Felicio. Its a few blocks from the train station and ask anyone for directions. Its a local landmark and Salvadore is an event all by himself. He was written up in Food and Wine mag six or so months ago.
A couple more places I have enjoyed: La Bastiglia, at the top of Spello is a nice hotel with an adventurous kitchen. And a few km south of Trevi is Taverna del Pescatore. A small restaurant by a stream with a comfortable outdoor space. Good food, wine and service. There is, however, one tiny sign on the road so one must pay attention. And, fo course, if you are in the area I Sette Consoli in Orvieto Alta is my favorite restaurant in all of Italy.
Hope this helps.
For what its worth, I recommend that you lunch at Enoteca Piazza Onofri in the center of Bevagna. Good, local food and wine. Also,if you're in Foligno you must lunch at Il Becco Felicio. Its a few blocks from the train station and ask anyone for directions. Its a local landmark and Salvadore is an event all by himself. He was written up in Food and Wine mag six or so months ago.
A couple more places I have enjoyed: La Bastiglia, at the top of Spello is a nice hotel with an adventurous kitchen. And a few km south of Trevi is Taverna del Pescatore. A small restaurant by a stream with a comfortable outdoor space. Good food, wine and service. There is, however, one tiny sign on the road so one must pay attention. And, fo course, if you are in the area I Sette Consoli in Orvieto Alta is my favorite restaurant in all of Italy.
Hope this helps.
Feb 20th, 2008, 06:18 AM
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This is fabulous , DRJ, how kind of you to give us more info.
We will certainly print up what you have given us.
I hope to do a trip report when we come back.I have never done this before and writing is not a great skill of mine , however we are in this life to share so I will atempt it .
Am I correct in assuming that you are an Architect?
I operate a small Interior Design and Decorating business from my home.
Thank you again.
We will certainly print up what you have given us.
I hope to do a trip report when we come back.I have never done this before and writing is not a great skill of mine , however we are in this life to share so I will atempt it .
Am I correct in assuming that you are an Architect?
I operate a small Interior Design and Decorating business from my home.
Thank you again.
Feb 20th, 2008, 06:57 AM
#17
Flame123, if scaffolding is a sign of a decaying town, then most places I've been to in Italy over many years would qualify as decaying, including Florence and Rome. Quite the opposite, scaffolding is the sign of a town prosperous enough to repair its buildings which are usually several hundred years old.
Feb 20th, 2008, 12:23 PM
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The little town a km or so west of LCG is Gualdo Cataneo. It has a mellaceria and a bar and little else, but its an easy walk from LCG.
Another good eatery in Bevagna is Ottavio, near the southern gate and there is a large (mostly unused) parking lot just outside the gate.
If you travel to Perugia you should look into Slowtrav.com and find the directions to the large parking garage at the base of the escalator system that leads to centro. The directions are, IMO, a lifesaver.
Architetto veccio. Guilty.
Another good eatery in Bevagna is Ottavio, near the southern gate and there is a large (mostly unused) parking lot just outside the gate.
If you travel to Perugia you should look into Slowtrav.com and find the directions to the large parking garage at the base of the escalator system that leads to centro. The directions are, IMO, a lifesaver.
Architetto veccio. Guilty.
Feb 20th, 2008, 01:16 PM
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I think you will have an enjoyable stay at Le Case Gialle. (I learned about it from DRJ & others on this site a few years ago; also it is reviewed nicely on Slow Travel).
Another good place to eat is in Montefalco - I believe it is called l'Alchimista. They had a traditional Umbrian pasta - maybe someone else knows, the name has something to do with a strangled priest? - with local saffron cheese in the sauce. So good.
You can rent a car in Foligno; we rented in Perugia (coming from Rome on the train) at the train station there and then drove after lunch and sightseeing to LCG.
Which apt. are you staying in? Three of us shared il Portico and the couple with us had la Terrazza (sp?). Sweet!
Another good place to eat is in Montefalco - I believe it is called l'Alchimista. They had a traditional Umbrian pasta - maybe someone else knows, the name has something to do with a strangled priest? - with local saffron cheese in the sauce. So good.
You can rent a car in Foligno; we rented in Perugia (coming from Rome on the train) at the train station there and then drove after lunch and sightseeing to LCG.
Which apt. are you staying in? Three of us shared il Portico and the couple with us had la Terrazza (sp?). Sweet!
