The wonderfully romantic castle of Monte Lagello, built in 1027, is located on a hill in the heart of Umbria with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside towards Assisi. Beautifully restored in the 1990s, the castle has been converted into 23 privately owned apartments. With chestnut beams and terracotta floors throughout, our apartment has 2 bedrooms, modern bathroom, very well equipped kitchen, large and airy living and dining room with private roof terrace, the ideal place for al fresco meals on warm Italian evenings! The large, secluded swimming pool commands magnificent views and is set in spacious grounds including 10 hectares of olive groves. This is the perfect location for those looking for a peaceful and relaxing self-catering holiday in the beautiful Umbrian countryside within easy reach of excellent restaurants and the many historic hilltowns where there are numerous local fiestas throughout the summer. Free WiFi throughout our apartment and by the pool.


Sightseeing and activities: Monte Lagello is within easy reach of the historic towns of Perugia, Assisi, Todi, Spoleto and Orvieto to name just a few. Surrounded by an abundance of art, architecture and culture including numerous food and music festivals such as the Chocolate festival and renowned Umbrian Jazz festival, both in Perugia, and the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto. Throughout the summer months there are countless local historic festas and sagre celebrating food, wine and music in local medieval villages, where you will receive a warm welcome, as well as many free open air concerts. Siena, Florence and other Tuscan gems are close enough for day trips and there is a good rail service from Perugia which means Rome can be visited in a day. Boating and water sports at Lake Trasimeno are half an hour's drive and closer to home there are lovely walks in the Umbrian hills with fantastic views. We provide information on the area in the apartment.

Food and Drink: Excellent restaurants abound in the local villages and countryside, many of which are ‘agiturismi’, serving locally grown produce and some offer their own wine. There is an even greater selection in the nearby towns with a number offering top class fayre in unforgettable settings. Both red and white wines are produced locally, varying from a very drinkable table wine to superior vintages. Our local vineyard offers free tours (including around the vines) and tastings and there are many other local 'cantine' where you can buy wine direct from the growers. 'Vino sfuso' or 'loose wine' is dispensed from 'petrol pumps'! Nearby Torgiano is almost virtually dedicated to wine production and has a both wine and olive oil museums. Umbrian olive oil is among the best in the world and Monte Lagello produces its own organic oil which is available to buy.
There are guide books with restaurant recommendations in the apartment as well as our own list.
If you prefer to dine at home the kitchen is very well equipped (I love cooking) and there are excellent local markets as well as a choice of supermarkets. The roof terrace lends itself to 'al fresco' dining as the sun sets over the Umbian hills, and there is now an 'Umbrian BBQ' in the grounds for private or communal use - Ilario will provide the wood and give instruction!
As this apartment is our second home it is extremely comfortable and well equipped.
Local Amenities: Laundry facilities are available on site and there is a telephone/fax for emergencies. The local town of Marsciano provides all amenities with a weekly market, a supermarket and a wide range of shops and restaurants. As well as its historic centre, the city of Perugia offers excellent shopping facilities.