Villa Gelsomini - Todi - Umbria

You choose! You can pay for a group of up to 8 people, or you can pay for a group of up to 14 people. Your privacy is totally guaranteed - you get exclusive use of the villa, no matter how large or small your group. Now that's what we'd call holiday flexibility, and at a great price too!

Villa Gelsomini is a charming family home only 7 km from fairytale Todi and just a little over an hour’s drive from Rome airport. Set on the very edge of the tiny hamlet of Fiore, you are just a couple of minutes' walk from Fiore's excellent bar-trattoria “La Rosa dei Venti” - a great spot and open all hours. From an early morning coffee to an afternoon beer or a brimming bowl of pasta in the evening, they'll welcome you whatever the hour! The view from their panoramic terrace is almost as lovely as Villa Gelsomini's, so you can enjoy watching the sun go down by your pool or linger on their terrace for a meal after a busy day sightseeing. The bar is close enough (and the area so safe!) the young will love being able to wander up the road to buy a coke and lounge on the terrace with the "local yoof".

The lower floor of peacefully quiet Villa Gelsomini sleeps up to 8 in stylish comfort as you can see from our photos. Add the upper floor to your booking, and hey presto you've got a fine villa sleeping up to 14. The upper floor is an optional extra available only if you are already booking the lower floor - thus your group's privacy (be it larger or smaller) is guaranteed, along with your exclusive use of the swimming pool.

Villa Gelsomini is a little over 100 years old, set in a garden of mature olive trees. The villa has been refurbished in superlative good taste, using traditional Umbrian materials. You’ll see there’s even a pretty suite at one end of the lower floor accommodation. By simply closing the door in the corridor, those who occasionally need a quiet retreat, will be delighted with the comfort and privacy offered by their very own sitting room with dining area and kitchen! There are three kitchens in total at Villa Gelsomini, so even a large group will never feel under pressure when it's time for a cup of tea!

After a heavy day sightseeing or soaking up the sun, you may decide to stroll down the road to eat out at the trattoria if Giselda isn’t cooking for you. Didn’t I mention Giselda??? Well, she’s a wonderful asset to the house! Giselda not only maintains the house in good order - she calls two mornings a week to clean (included in our price of course) - she’s also an outstanding cook. You can book her to prepare authentic Umbrian dinners for any night of your stay - except Saturdays when she’s busy preparing the house for arrivals and just can’t stretch to cooking too. If you want to sample her home-grown, home-cooked food, nothing could be simpler. At 25 euro per person with wine included, you can afford to treat yourselves to a very special Villa Gelsomini holiday experience. Giselda transforms her ingredients, fresh from her farm, into meals that positively zing with flavour! Her daughter in law, Mila, is yet another Gelsomini asset! Mila will do your shopping for you - especially handy before your arrival! She charges the cost of the shopping (she'll give you all the till receipts) plus 25 euro for her time and petrol. She will babysit too - and she helps and translates with Giselda's cookery lessons, plus she offers special wine tours if you'd like. Despite the very reasonable rental price, Villa Gelsomini is set for seriously spoiling its guests!!!

There are endless wonderful sights to be seen from your villa. Orvieto, with its cathedral as fancy as a tiered wedding cake, its fascinating Etruscan museum, glorious art and wine cellars offering some of Umbria’s best wines is a must. Perugia is Umbria’s capital city and bursts with fine art, enticing shops and handsomely sophisticated bars. Both Orvieto and Perugia are within an hour’s drive. Assisi (twinned with Jerusalem) is about the same distance and is another absolute must for your sightseeing list! Saint Francis rests in the beautiful cathedral of this important hill town. Pilgrims from the entire world drop by to pray for peace in this imposing, but nevertheless homely feeling place. The splendid frescoes of Giotto and the three dimensional marquetry on the choir stalls are well worth seeing for those who have no wish to pray but who will still enjoy marvelling at the soaring arches and cerulian blue ceilings decorated with golden stars. The southern Umbrian towns of Spoleto, Norcia (Umbria’s “truffle capital”) and Amelia and Narni all make happy, easy day trips too.

In short, Villa Gelsomini is the perfect spot to chill in beautiful surroundings - and it’s also the perfect base to explore Umbria, land of mystic saints, medieval hill towns, glorious wines, stunning art and warmly welcoming Italian charm.

Villa Gelsomini is the real McCoy for those looking for an authentic Umbrian holiday experience at a great price!