5 Best Hotels in Perugia, Umbria and the Marches

This friendly, centrally located, converted 18th-century palazzo off the bustling pedestrian-only Corso Vannucci features spacious rooms soothingly decorated in muted colors; some include original frescoes and beamed ceilings. Rooms on the upper floors at the back have great views and are quieter than those in front. Guests can refill their water bottles and have tea or coffee all day long from a convenient refill station on the main floor; complimentary snacks are also available from the front desk.

Beguilingly comfortable guest rooms set on lovely grounds—where gardeners go quietly about their business—along with a small but charming spa and a well-regarded restaurant make this historical hotel south of Perugia worth a stay. For memorable ablutions, take advantage of the huge showerheads, commissioned from a Florentine artist. The hotel's excellent restaurant, the Pantagruel, has a wine list with more than 500 labels.

Though a tad old-fashioned, this elegant, centrally located hotel dating from 1884 with a magnificent spa is the most upscale accommodation in town. Sophisticated rooms are individually decorated, with lovely marble bathrooms, and offer views either over the town's rooftops or the Umbrian countryside. The formal in-house restaurant prepares Italian classics, while the bar in front offers outdoor seating in the summer with panoramic vistas. The pièce de résistance is the subterranean spa, including an indoor pool under medieval vaults and a clear, lighted bottom showcasing 3,000-year-old Etruscan ruins underneath.

The friendly and laid-back owners will pamper you at this small agriturismo (farm stay) where two cottage apartments open onto gardens and the pool is right on the edge of corn and sunflower fields. You may wake up to find that local produce from the surrounding farms has miraculously appeared on your doorstep. The farmer across the way takes pride in showing guests around his small winery and offering tastings of his potent white wine.

Don't let the rustic appearance of the buildings fool you—this is one of the plushest agriturismi (farm stays) in Umbria. The rooms are furnished in varying ethnic styles, with nice little extras thrown in such as bedside kettles and an array of teas and herbal infusions. The owners also organize a series of outdoor activities.