Villa in Serra Alta. Sleeps up 8

CIN IT054018C204032802

The villa, once a medieval convent, has been beautifully transformed into a charming country residence with a swimming pool, surrounded by silvery olive groves atop a scenic hill.

It is the perfect retreat for families seeking to experience the heart of Umbria — a place where nature, history, and a timeless, almost mystical atmosphere blend harmoniously.

The main villa accommodates up to 8 guests, while the nearby Dependence offers two independent apartments, each sleeping 4 guests. In total, the property can host up to 16 people.

When renting only the main villa, guests will still enjoy exclusive use of the entire estate and the pool, the dependance will be empty.

Villa + Dependance: click here for rates and info

LOCATION

Within easy walking or driving distance, there is a small village with a grocery/bar/greengrocer and bakery. The villa is just 5 km (3.1 miles) from Foligno, a vibrant city rich in art, history, and culture, offering a wide selection of restaurants, museums, shops, monuments, parks, and cathedrals.

Throughout the year, Foligno hosts numerous historic celebrations, art exhibitions, and food festivals.

The famous town of Assisi, birthplace of Saint Francis, revered all over the world, is only a 15-minute drive from the villa. The property lies in Umbria’s renowned Wine and Olive Oil district, an area celebrated for its excellent wines and superb extra-virgin olive oils.

Several of Umbria’s most charming destinations — Perugia, Spello, Bevagna, Spoleto, Gubbio, Todi, and Lake Trasimeno — can all be reached within 15 to 40 minutes by car.

A short drive away lies the Abbazia di Sassovivo, one of the most beautiful abbeys in central Italy. Guests can even reach it on foot through the olive groves surrounding the villa. There are also many scenic walking trails starting directly from the property, ideal for those wishing to explore nature at a gentle pace.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VILLA

Completely repainted in 2023 and refreshed with new modern beds and contemporary furnishings, the villa blends Umbrian tradition with elegant, understated style. Original features such as large fireplaces, arches, exposed beams, the ancient wooden doors and medieval niches carved into the stone walls and terracotta floors, coexist harmoniously with modern elements, including a spacious contemporary kitchen.

The villa is arranged over two levels. The main entrance opens onto a beautiful cloister that serves as a central connection between the various wings of the house. This is the original cloister where, centuries ago, the nuns of the convent used to meet and pray together.

On one side lies the large, fully renovated kitchen (2020), equipped with modern, functional furnishings. From here, guests can access the former vegetable garden of the nuns, now transformed into a delightful outdoor dining area with tables for up to 20 people, a large hammock, and a barbecue. This garden area enjoys pleasant shade during the first part of the day. The kitchen also connects to the laundry and ironing room. This area is enclosed by a low wall and a fence, making it particularly safe and convenient for families with children, allowing parents to dine or relax outdoors, while keeping the children away from the pool area.

On the opposite side of the cloister is the main living area, featuring a dining room overlooking the pool, a smaller secondary kitchen with access to a characteristic stone cave (perfect for storing wine bottles), a billiard room, a TV area with a corner sofa, a reading room, a small bathroom, and an elegant lounge with a fireplace.

The villa offers several indoor dining options: one table seats up to 12 guests, while another table in the main kitchen can, on request, be arranged to seat up to 20 guests for special occasions. For events, a catering service can provide additional covered seating with gazebos or suitable temporary structures.

From the living room, a staircase leads to the first floor,

entirely dedicated to the sleeping area, consisting of:

• 3 double bedrooms (2 with queen-size beds, 1 with king-size bed)

• 2 single bedrooms

• 2 bathrooms (one with walk-in shower, one with bathtub)

On request, a single foldable bed or a baby bed can be added at no extra cost.

A small cave carved into the rock now serves as a wine cellar. Here guests can still see the beginning of an ancient underground passageway, long sealed off, which according to legend once connected the convent to the nearby Benedictine Abbey of Sassovivo, used in the past for secret meetings.

Thanks to its very thick stone walls, the villa remains pleasantly cool even during the hottest months, and therefore does not require air conditioning. Fans are available for guests’ comfort.

GARDEN AND POOL

In the beautifully maintained garden surrounding the villa lies a large swimming pool (6 x 12 metres), offering breathtaking views over the Umbrian valley and the mountains beyond. The villa enjoys a private, secluded position on top of the hill, with several sitting and lounging areas equipped with umbrellas—perfect for al fresco dining, sunbathing, or simply admiring the view and spectacular sunsets.

In front of the main villa, there is a charming enclosed garden with a spacious dining area: a large table with an umbrella, two smaller corner tables, a barbecue, and a hammock nestled among the rose bushes. Shaded by the villa during the first half of the day, this area is ideal for outdoor meals and relaxing moments. The space can accommodate up to 16 guests or more by adding the additional tables placed in the garden.

For families with children, safety is ensured by a low wooden gate enclosing the dining garden, as well as secure main doors on the ground floor. The entire property garden is fully fenced.

At night, the property becomes even more enchanting, illuminated by soft lighting along the villa’s façades, LED lights around the pool, and glowing light spheres scattered throughout the garden, creating a truly magical atmosphere.

RENTAL RATE minimum stay 1 week 

The rental rate includes:

 • Welcome pack and toiletries • Linens and bathrooms change once per week • Utilities (except for heating) • internet wifi • English speaking property manager available locally

The rental rate does NOT include:

• Final cleaning: €250 (villa); €350 (villa + dependance)

• Daily cleaning: €800 per week (villa); €900 per week (villa + dependance)

Daily cleaning is provided every day except Sunday (2 hours daily for villa and 3 hours daily for villa + dependance, 2 staff members), including cleaning of bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas (not including Kitchen), Garden maintenance once a week and Pool cleaning twice a week.

Payment terms for final cleanings, daily cleanings and garden/pool maintenance:

Guests are required to pay the amount directly to the villa owners before arrival (no later than one week prior to check-in). The payment method is to be agreed, preferably by bank transfer to the owners’ account.

Optional services on demand (paybale locally):

• Heating is metered

• Cooking service, breakfast delivery

• Extra change of linens and towels

• Extra cleanings

AMENITIES:

Wi-Fi Internet in the villa and garden

Swimming pool (6 X 12 metres)

Billiard room

Outdoor dining and lounging furniture for a large group of guests, up to 20

Television with satellite channels

Washing machine - Dishwasher

Barbecue - Wood Stove

Private parking inside the property

Air Conditioning in the apartment on the first floor of the dependance 

ROADS

The free motorway (E45) is only a 5-minute drive from the villa, providing easy access to the main cities and attractions of Umbria and central Italy. From the motorway exit, a paved country road leads into the countryside and gradually becomes unpaved as it approaches a small group of houses.

Please note: it is recommended to keep to the left of the houses, as the road passing through them is too narrow for vehicles. After the small hamlet of Serra Bassa, turn right, and within a few minutes the country lane reaches Villa Serra Alta, where the road ends.

The final stretch of the unpaved road is narrow, but accessible for cars and large enough for minivans.

DISTANCES:

The small village of Uppello: Less than 1 km (easy walking distance)

Free Motorway: 4 kms

Perugia Airport: 20 Kms

Rome Airports: 180 kms

Train station: 4 kms

Foligno 5 km

Spello 10 km

Assisi 22 km

Trevi 14 km

Bevagna 15 km

Montefalco 17 km

Perugia 38 km

Gubbio 64 km

Spoleto 30 km

Terni 61 km

Todi 70 km

Orvieto 105 km

WHAT TO ENJOY DURING YOUR STAY...

ART, (GASTRONOMY/FINE CUISINE), TOURS, NATURE, SPORTS, CULTURE, RELAXATION

·International Art festivals:  The most important are the "Giostra della Quintana" historic festival in June and September, the "Segni Barocchi" festival in September, and the "Primi d'Italia" pasta festival in September.

· Antique markets (the largest is in Pissignano)

· Wine Tours in the vineyards and cellars

· Active Days (guided or self-guided walks/hikes in the surrounding forests - cycling - river rafting - hiking, free climbing etc.)

· Bike riding (cycle lane from Spoleto to Foligno)

· Horseback riding

· Truffle Hunting Excursions followed by lunch including truffles

· Classic City Tours in Umbria and Tuscany

· Cooking Classes in the villa

· Gourmet Tours (which include olive oil, cheese, cereals, and cured meats)

· Winter fun (snow rackets, trekking/cross country skiing) in the mountains

· SPA (an easy driving distance from the villa)

· Foraging Excursions followed by tastings (mushrooms, asparagus, edible flowers and wild herbs);

· Especially suitable for children (Pizza making, Truffle hunting with dogs, Riding with donkeys in the mountains followed by a picnic, Farm visits, an outdoor adventure park and more).

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