Umbria food and accommodation
 

Am intending to go to Umbria in the last week of Sept for a week with husband and our 2 year old son. Have not done anything re accommodation as this was a last minute trip. We're thinking of staying put and renting a house for the week and making trips from there. Any suggestions/recommendations would be greatly appreciated by a working mom who is running out of time! Thanks in advance!
Su

I spent a very nice and comfortable two weeks at a place called Vacanze Ideale just outside Paciano. They are little cabins with lofts, set in the hills.

I can't help with the house renting, but I can report that without trying very hard we had great food everywhere in Umbria. Let us know where you end up staying and what towns you plan to visit, and the restaurant recommendations will follow.

We stayed at Le Case Gialle, near Bevagna, and loved it but it was only a one-bedroom apartment so I'm not sure if you would prefer something larger or not.

I agree with Jean. Almost everything I ate in Umbria was delicious and we didn't really put any effort into restaurant searches beforehand but instead just kind of menu-shopped whenever we were hungry.

Tracy

Check out the rental review page at www.slowtrav.com they have tonnes of reviews and advice about renting in Italy.

This site has helped friends and I in the past in and around Rome, Tuscany, Sicily, and a bunch of other places and is worth a look since they have things to fit many tastes and budgets: http://www.italiancollection.com/en/index.html

As for food, someone else asked something yesterday which brought a place to mind I always loved as a kid:

http://www.castellodisorci.it/italia...%20DEI%20SORCI

The countryside is amazing, the location is lovely, the food is great, and honestly, who doesn't love haunted castles?

I have stayed at Le Case Gialle 3 times and love it. The location is a perfect base for exploring most of Umbria. The property is beautiful. Great hosts. A solar heated pool. Be sure to buy some of their organic olive oil. Each fall, I order 6 bottles and have them shipped to me.

Also stayed at Le Case Gialle and we were very happy with the choice (five of us in two different apts):
www.lecasegialle.com

Just keep in mind that if you don't feel like staying in and cooking it is a bit of a drive to get to restaurants. That said, we probably ate out at least half of the nights we were there; Bevagna is not too far down the hill and has good restaurants. Or we ate on our way home from a day trip.

Of course, we did not have a hungry two year old with us!

Zoecat, I am hoarding my last little bottle of LCG olive oil. May I ask whereabouts you live, and how the oil is shipped to you? Thanks!

zoecat, I would love to know where to get the olive oil shipped as well. We brought home two bottles, one one for our inlaws, and they are long gone. I kept a bottle as a souvenir but I would love to get my hands on a few more bottles!

Tracy

Antico Frantoio Brizi in Montefalco rents a charming garden private house that has a marvelous view of the Umbrian valley (the town of Montefalco is called "the balcony of Umbria"). It's right in the area of the cloistered convents, and therefore is exceptionally quiet. One of the very best things about staying in Montefalco is that you can drink the local Sagrantino wine with dinner and not need to drive home! Sagrantino is among the very finest -- and strongest -- of Italian reds.

The Brizi family has long, historic ties to Montefalco and still operates one of the regions finest olive oil mills (listed in Fred Plotkin's Italy for the Gourmet Traveler). They are charming, charming hosts.

http://www.montefalconido.it/eng/house.html

Should you stay in Montefalco -- which is cooler than staying on the flat Umbrian plain -- the restaurant Il Coccorone is one of the finest in the region. Also, the very small museum of San Francesco in town has some of the prettiest Gozzoli freschi in Italy.

I have to confess that mainly being a vegetarian, the meaty Umbrian cuisine is not my favorite, although anything made with the Sagrantino wine (risotti, or biscotti dipped in Sagrantino) can be outstanding. Not to me missed.

Annabelle2 and Tracy,

I emailed Mauro on the website contact email address and requested the olive oil. He does have a limited quantity available for a limited time (and sometimes none available), so make your request in Sept or early Oct, right before the harvest.

I live in the USA. I sent Mauro a personal check in US dollars (no credit card is accepted for the oil) for the amount due based on the current conversion rate.

The oil is shipped Fed Ex and arrives within a week of ship date. It is packed very well- no possiblity of breakage.

I think it comes out to about $25 a bottle- well worth it! The oil is dark green, thick & peppery and will become more golden as time goes by. Yum!

Location of Montefalco:

http://www.montefalconido.it/eng/location.html

Thank you, zoecat.

Thanks for everyone's input! Think we are going to end up staying near Spoleto. We were looking for a house so that my son had a place to run around. Also, I currently live in an apartment so thought a house would be a nice change. Thinking we're going to stay put for 3 days and go out on trips for 3 days. Looking forward to cooking there. Do they have farmer's markets or does everyone just go to a supermarket? Any other restaurant suggestions would be great! Thanks!

SuY,

You might consider staying in one of these beautiful houses near Spoleto-

http://www.eremodelsole.com/Home/tabid/143/Default.aspx

Here is a review containing some additional food information about Spoleto-

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/vr/review.asp?n=2548

Be sure to visit the Piano Grande and Norcia area, an easy and beautiful drive from Spoleto. I always enjoy lunch at Taverna Castelluccio located in the village of Castelluccio (the hilltop village in the Piano Grande).

I like using the Touring Guide of Italy Umbria guidebook. Their daily excursions suggestions with detailed maps are excellent.

Restaurants we loved:

Osteria el Trivio
via del Trivio 16
Spoleto
Tel. 743-44349
www.osteriadeltrivio.it

Ristorante del Mercato
Piazza del Mercato 29
Spoleto
Tel. 74-345325

Ristorante Umbria [Wonderful views from outdoor terrace.]
via Santa Bonaventura 13
Todi
Tel. 75-8942737

Ristorante Picchio Verde
via Savelli della Porta 65
Gubbio
Tel. 75-9276649

Enoteca Osteria Antiche Sere [Only had a simple lunch here.]
Piazza Garibaldi 10
Bevagna

I would recommend Lapreghiera in the north. Lovely and peaceful, a 700 year old monastery. It has a swimming pool, beautiful countryside and lots of delicious places to eat nearby. Near enough to reach Florence, Assisi or Perugia without any of the husstle and bustle. www.lapreghiera.com

zoecat, thanks for the info on the olive oil!

Tracy