Villa La Bianca

CAMPELLO SUL CLITUNNO, near Spoleto

At a glance

The historic Villa Madonna alla Bianca dates back to at least the 16th century when it is supposed that it was used as a resting place for pilgrims visiting the adjacent Sanctuary of Madonna alla Bianca. The Countess Lavinia della Genga restructured and enlarged the “country house” and it became a kind of hunting lodge. Later, around the beginning of the 19th century, the villa came into the hands of the Fratellini family who once again added to the main structure with outbuildings such as stables, wood house, bird house and the interesting tower which was a typical Umbrian architectural element.

A grotto/cellar was excavated and a cistern was put down in the courtyard. Great attention was paid to the large garden park surrounding the villa, and frescoes were painted to embellish the vaulted entry hall. In 1885 the villa was purchased by an ancestor of the current owners. The villa has just completed extensive restructuring and renovation following the serious damage caused by the violent earthquake which shook Umbria some 10 years ago! It is now a spacious, elegantly furnished home with decorated walls and frescoed ceilings.

Accommodation is in two apartments which can be joined to form a single villa.

Arnoldo
Sleeps 6 + 4

The villa opens from the main square of the village of Campello sul Clitunno through large old wooden doors into the vaulted hallway which in turns opens into an enclosed courtyard and into the ground floor rooms. On the ground floor is a spacious entry salon, a large billiard room and the summer living room which opens to the garden at the rear. The dining room has a beautiful cross-shaped vaulted ceiling with suspended antique lantern and opens into the ancient kitchen with a huge fireplace and fascinating spit roasting contraption. The restructuring of the villa has now provided a new, modern kitchen opening from the original one with all necessary equipment and appliances.

A three ramp staircase leads to the first floor and a beautiful salon called the Room of the Nine Doors, so called because from it you have access to other areas through, as you guessed, nine different doors: to the green sitting room/study which is cosy in winter with fireplace, library, television and card table and to three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The windows of the three double bedrooms open to the village square and the church and There are two further twin bedrooms in the tower which is accessed by a small wooden staircase. These bedrooms are suitable only for children or young adults and there is no bathroom nearby (on the floor below).

Francesco
Sleeps 4

Adjoining the main part of the villa is a self-contained apartment which has an independent entry from the garden and is set on two floors. The accommodation in this wing consists of a queensize bedroom, one twin bedroom, two bathrooms, kitchen, dining room and living room and a large study/library on a mezzanine which opens to a large terrace overlooking the internal courtyard and the garden.

The garden is like a huge park and is planted with some wonderful large old trees, a bamboo thicket and spacious lawns. It is a wonderful place for relaxing and enjoying the peace and tranquility while admiring the view to the hilltop castle just a few minutes away.  For the moment there is no swimming pool but there is a good public pool just 500 meters from the villa.

Villa La Bianca can be rented in its entirety for up to 16 people in five double bedrooms plus two twin bedrooms for children and a double sofabed in the main villa.

A caretaker lives on site in a small apartment opening from the courtyard. She will prepare a continental breakfast each day (included in the weekly price) and looks after daily cleaning for 4/5 hours per day, five days a week (also included in the cost). Linen is changed twice weekly. A cook service, baby sitter and massage service can also be arranged.  Upon request we will arrange guided tours to wine and olive oil farms for tastings and also to some of the more historic locations of Umbria, Lazio (Rome) and Tuscany. Cooking courses can be held in the old kitchen of the villa.