Updates from Umbria
Villa Torre
I wanted to reintroduce Tenuta di Murlo, the luxury hotel spread across 18,000-acres of rolling Umbrian hills, dotted with vineyards, olive groves, farms, and wild fauna. There are three deluxe hotel rooms by the main area - near Il Caldaro restaurant and the greenhouse-like orangerie (popular for breakfast) - and then nine luxury villas, meticulously transformed from crumbling, centuries-old farmhouses, watermills, churches, and castles into the modern, beautifully appointed accommodations they are now.
Not a collection of villas offering concierge services; a hotel offering full hotel services, with accommodations in a private villa.
While providing all the services and level of assistance of a luxury hotel, instead of traditional hotel rooms located within one building, guests have the privacy, space and independence of their own private villa. Instead of a central hotel building, there is the fattoria - a working farm with a demonstration kitchen for cooking classes, aperitivo hours offered in the summer months, the concierge desk, the boutique, and the hub for any activities on property - and Il Caldaro and the orangerie, the restaurants. Instead of a communal swimming pool, each villa has its own private pool (with the exception of the large pool shared by the three deluxe rooms). There is room service and delivery directly to all the villas and in addition to meals, snacks, and drinks, guests can request anything from sunscreen to firewood, laundry service or grocery shopping. All without having to stop into the hotel lobby.
New Villa Opening Spring 2027
With all the finishing touches wrapping up this spring, Tenuta di Murlo will unveil its newest accommodation - a three-bedroom villa with its own personal spa. The spa is in the former stables and will have an indoor pool (and an outdoor pool), a hammam, and a sauna.
What’s in season now?
Fall is a time for harvest. The grapes were all picked last month during the vendemmia - an expert keeps a close eye on the grapes until it is the perfect moment - and are being made into the estate’s own wine. The olives will be picked this month, and mushrooms like galetti and porcini can be foraged on the grounds (and brought to use in a cooking class at the fattoria).
Why Tenuta di Murlo?
Unlike other castles-turned-hotels in the area, Murlo feels vast and private. Its acreage is unmatched (it is one of Italy’s oldest and largest family-owned estates), and those seeking a castle experience need not share with other guests. 11th-century Castiglione Ugolino sits on a hilltop with 10 bedrooms, a pool, and even a private chapel. For a more intimate setting, two-bedroom Molinella has a secret, subterranean jacuzzi below the living room in the former vaulted basin of the 13th century water mill. Murlo’s trails can provide full days of hiking, horseback riding, or biking, or even driving around for what they call, “the Murlo safari.” In warmer months, the natural pools created by the Molinella river, a tributary of the Tiber, offer a secluded spot for a dip.
What’s nearby?
Assisi - the grand Basilica of Saint Francis is not to be missed, but one should also wander up into the town to see the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built in the ruins of an ancient Roman temple to Minerva.
Deruta - pottery shops abound with all sorts of handpainted ceramics, from the classic rooster pattern to more modern stripes and motifs.
Perugia - the charming town of Perugia is known for its chocolates, but also be sure to pick up a porchetta sandwich from Antica Salumeria Granieri Amato.