Casa Fontana - Umbrian Holiday Apartments

Apartment's view south

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Culture

From delicate Etruscan statues more than 3,000 years old to pioneers of modern design such as Vassarely, the visitor to our area can find the best of the cultural achievements of many ages.

The antiquities of ancient Rome and the medieval wonders of Assisi are within reasonable travelling distance. Actually Assisi is just across the valley from us, you can even see it in the distance from the upper parts of our terraces. As for the Quattro – and Cinquecento, many of their treasures are either right on our doorstep or easy to reach. Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Perugino, Signorelli, Fra Angelico, to name but a few giants of the Italian Renaissance, all created their masterpieces in Florence, Umbria and Rome.

Using our Casa as a base you can gorge yourself on sights such as the Sistine Chapel, the Signorelli frescoes at Orvieto, all the wonders of Florence and many Perugino altar pieces just around the corner from us. His birthplace, the hilltop town of Citta della Pieve, is a short drive away. These towns are all perched precariously on tops of a hills with sheer drops or steep slopes around providing an immense panorama of the surrounding countryside. Spoleto, Cortona, Gubbio, and Siena are an easy daytrip.

We have provided maps and compiled recommendations for excursions near and far. Apart from the obvious not-to-be-missed sights, we have also included some lesser known but delightful places to visit and art to see. Having nourished the soul, one needs to tend the body - these suggested excursions also include recommendations for a nice café or restaurant.

Exquisite Food And Wines Look no further than our weekly markets in Tavernelle and by the lakeside at nearby Castello del Lago. Everything is seasonal and the furthest import is from Sicily! As the seasons change, so do the market stalls. Purple artichoke gives way to tender green asparagus and blood red tomato to fat yellow pepper. Besides fresh vegetables and local olive oil, the most important ingredient in the cuisine of Umbria is the truffle, be it the black or white variety. It is often grated over “umbricelli”, a local egg-less pasta, a sort of thick spaghetti. Or it is cooked with crisp lamb or pork, giving the meat an incomparable aroma.

The region is justly famous for its wines. There is a wine route of DOC wines and the famous Lungarotti cellars near us. In fact the Lungarottis have established two interesting museums in their base town of Torgiano: Museo del Vino and Museo del Olio. Oil and wine are the true treasures of Umbria. The wine museum is fascinating, a large and totally eclectic display, everything from Greek wine jars to salacious Baroque engravings of Bacchanalia. The oil museum is equally fascinating in a slightly quirky way and gives you an excuse (as if you needed one!) to have lunch afterwards at one of the many excellent Torgiano restaurants!

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