Long term lets (over 1 month) Short-breaks (4 days or less) Corporate bookings
Changeover day:
Flexible
Access:
Car not necessary Lift access to property Nearest amenities: 0 km
Notes:
Sorry - no pets allowed Suitable for children No smoking at this property Self-catering
Home description
"Terrazza Bella", our most popular apartment, is so-called because of its very pretty terrace with panoramic views of the hills - an extremely unusual luxury in the historical centre of Spoleto. A glamorous, light and airy apartment, it has a very large sitting/dining room with a brand-new kitchen, fully fitted along the lentire ength of one wall – inc microwave, dish-washer etc, 2 double bedrooms (with adjoining balconies that stretch the full width of the apartment) and a bathroom, including a full-size tub/shower and bidet and, there is a washing machine. Ideally, it is suitable for 2 couples or 1 couple + 2 children.
This luxury apartment is in the middle of an important and significant 14C Roman building that has been completely restored. It is on the official tourist map of Spoleto (available at the information office) listed as La Rocca dei Perugini – one of 33 listed buildings in Spoleto. It was originally built in the 6C as the strong-hold of Perugia to watch over the citizens of Spoleto, whom the Perugians, alias "the Barbarians", had just conquered! However, while the building itself is ancient, as with many very ancient buildings, parts of it were irreparable and so had to be gutted. Hence, the entire centre of this ancient building has been replaced by a few luxury modern apartments that cannot be seen from the outside - it's very clever and very beautifully designed.
Our apartment is at the top with views from the kitchen/dining room and the terrace of the hilly countryside, dwellings scattered around and nearby roof-tops. So that, while your immediate surroundings are modern, the context you are in dates back to the days when Spoleto was a Latin colony and Roman community. There are also views over the mediaeval street of Porta Fuga from the bedroom balconies.
The entrance to the apartment is through a wide Roman stone passage with a luxury all glass business centre on the left and in-built small glass alcoves displaying small luxury items on the right. A few metres along this passage is a lift or stairs, which take you up through the centre of the building to our apartment.
The Terrace - seats 6/8
Sitting room area with SKY SAT TV/ DVD/Video - Eng sp channels + CDs/videos/DVDs
Kitchen/Dining area opening directly onto Terrace.
Kitchen/Dining area opening directly onto Terrace.
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/3502
The Umbria region
The Umbria region of Italy has been called "The Green Heart of Italy", due to its central location and equal distance from Rome and Florence. The area is less discovered than its eastern neighbor, Tuscany, but just as magnificent. Umbria is a beautiful, unspoiled, countryside area of rolling, forested hills, vast grassy meadows covered with flowers, large olive grove plantations, and several lakes and valleys. The landscape is dotted with many picturesque medieval villages, and the people of the area are known for their distinctive cuisine, friendliness and hospitality. Like so much of Italy, food, wine, and entertainment are the core of Umbria's charm. A vacation here is a feast of the senses. So, bring your camera, leave your diet at home, and explore this tranquil treasure.
The town of Perugia is the capital of Umbria and one of the best preserved medieval towns in Italy. A walk down the main street, Piazza Il Novembre, gives visitors incredible views of the town's medieval and Renaissance structures, like the centrepiece of town, the Duomo. The town overlooks the Tiber River, and a sunset dinner overlooking the valley will provide life long Italian memories! Take some time to visit The National Gallery of Umbria, which contains paintings from the 13th to the 18th century by masters such as Piero della Francesca, Benozzo Gozzoli, Beato Angelico, Pinturicchio, Perugino and others.
The hill town of Orvieto is known for three things: wine, ceramics, and its famous Cathedral. The broad marble pillars of this magnificent church are carved with biblical scenes that tell the story of creation. The Duomo has some fascinating frescoes by Signorelli, and sits next to a famous gelato shop. Local stores carry varieties of the town's famous Orvieto Classico white wines, and ceramics that built the town's reputation.
Todi, located about 20 miles south of Perugia, also sits atop a hill overlooking the Tiber River. The town is centred around the Piazza del Popolo, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. One of the most popular sites is the Temple of S. Fortunato, with 14th century frescos and a crypt which preserves the remains of the poet Jacopone da Todi, the town's namesake.
The town of Spoleto once thwarted the great Hannibal as he journeyed south. Today, Spoleto is a brilliant reflection back to medieval times and has some of the most incredible scenery to prove it. Some of the town's impressive sites include a 1st century AD Roman Theatre, the 4th century Christian Church of San Salvatore (one of the world's oldest surviving churches), and the Rocca Albornoziana - one of the most magnificent of Italy's castles. Each June, the town welcomes the world to the Festival of Two Worlds dance and theatre festival, a two-week long celebration of the performing arts.
The town of Assisi gained fame as the birthplace of St. Francis, a simple friar who around the year 1200 challenged the Church to adopt a more simple lifestyle. Today the town is known as the City of Peace, and is rich in medieval architecture and religious artwork. Perched on the slope of mount Subasio, Assisi's main attraction is the Basilica of St. Francis, one of the artistic and religious highlights in all of Europe. From top to bottom, the church is frescoed by the famous artists of the day. The view of the surrounding area from outside the Basilica encompasses the richest valley in all of Umbria.
Other hill towns in Umbria are less visited than the more populated centres, but offer opportunities for an experience in Italy at its most natural. Panicale, Paciano, and Gioiella are all quaint little towns that are deeply rooted in their agricultural heritage. Olives, grapes, cheese, dates, wine, and other similar products are the heart and soul of these small hamlets. They offer visitors a look at Italy through native eyes. Of course, being in Umbria, they are filled with their own gorgeous views, and the food in their little out-of-the-way restaurants and bistros shouldn't be missed.
A trip in Umbria is a trip back in time. Medieval mists stretch across Roman landscapes. The Renaissance mingles with the Middle Ages. Vintners work vineyards owned by family members for 500 years. Farmers drizzle bread with freshly pressed olive oil. Women kneel in churches filled with artwork by famous artists. Children kick soccer balls down cobblestone streets. An Umbria vacation is a delight for the senses. Take your time and enjoy the show.
Spoleto / Historic Centre area
Terrazza Bella is very handy for the train station and the bus station for those of you who may not wish to hire a car since you can get to practically anywhere in Italy by train or bus from Spoleto - the timetables are comprehensively spelt out on the internet.
Spoleto is close to Assisi, Foligno, Trevi, Bevagna, Perugia, Todi, Orvieto, San Gemini, Gubbio and Lake Piediluci. It is about 1 1/2 - 2 hours from Lake Bolsena and Lake Trasimeno. It is about 1 1/2 - 2 hours from Rome, 5 hours from Venice, 4 hours from Naples, 3 hours from Pisa and about 2-3 hours from Florence.
Spoleto is perfectly positioned on a hill and surrounded by mountains so there are plenty of activities available...horse-riding, rambling, cycling, white water-rafting.....etc
Living in this apartment in this historic building means that you have all the advantages of contemporary, open-air living while still experiencing what it's like to live in the most ancient and beautiful part of Spoleto. The street that La Terrazza is in is pedestrian as are many of the tiny streets immediate to the apartment – this means that you can meander at ease through the ancient streets past flower shops, wine and truffle shops, many boutiques and shoe shops, bars and cafes and, of course, a myriad of interesting restaurants - cheap and expensive (though nothing here is really expensive compared to other city prices)… up to the famous La Rocca and the Duomo. And, immediately opposite La Terrazza is a posh internet point called Spider. The owner, Andrea, welcomes foreigners because he can speak English – unusual in these parts. It is 2 euros an hour for full use of the internet and Andrea will also throw in some computer tuition for free - he’s a really nice guy ! Or, you can have 36 hours for 25 euros ! Spoleto is a fairy-tale city that has ancient Umbrian origins. Once upon a time it was the head of Umbria, in 217BC actually ! It, then, became a Latin colony and Roman community. Life in Spoleto flourished and many splendid monuments were built. Then, at the end of the 6C, Spoleto became the residence of one of the most important Dukes of Longobard. The town that centuries ago had heroically driven back Hannibal, became self-governed, and was then destroyed by the Barbarians. Fortunately, this atrocity didn’t adversely affect the cultural growth of Spoleto much. From that period onwards, many magnificent monuments and works of Art have been added to those that survived the atrocity.
Inside and outside the city walls, there are significant remains of the Umbrian polygonal kind and the Mediaeval Roman type. And, both mediaeval and “modern” monuments amalgamate with Roman ones. For instance, the Cathedral was constructed in 1067 on top of a church built in the 9C, which in its turn had been constructed on an even more ancient and classic building; S. Salvatore was constructed at the end of the 4C with building materials taken from a Roman structure nearby; S. Eufemia was constructed in the 12C on the site of an “island”, where there are walls and mosaic remains; the crypt of S. Isacco, near S. Ansano, originated in the temple of the Forum near the “Arco Del Druso”; and, the church and monastery of S. Agata was constructed on top of the Roman Theatre; the outstandingly beautiful church of S. Pietro was erected on a pagan site that had evolved into a Christian necropolis; the fortress of Totila was built over an amphitheatre; the Ponte delle Torri was built on top of Roman remains; and, the Rocca was built on an ancient Acropolis.
Strolling within the walls of this tiny, exquisitely pretty city, one can see monuments, churches, towers and all kinds of other buildings of historical interest as well as works of Art galore. Spoleto boasts numerous world famous institutions such as The Italian Centre for Studies on the Early Middle Ages, the Festival of Two Worlds (colloquially known as the Spoleto Festival) and The Experimental Opera Theatre. And, if you walk up to the Cathedral, you’ll see an example of what is arguably the most beautiful piazza in the whole of Italy – the very piazza that was featured in one of Brigitte Bardot’s early films and where her character lived and died.
However, it is not essential to be steeped in history to be able to appreciate the spirituality and awesome beauty of Spoleto. The spirit of its fascinating past is immersed in every stone and cobble. Within this mediaeval setting, you can also enjoy the finest wines, the best truffles and the most mouth-watering olive-oils in Italy in the myriad of bars and restaurants dotted in and around the tiny, arched streets. You can literally savour some of the best cooking in the world here. You can sit for hours in the piazzas, sipping real cappuccino and enjoying ice-creams to die for. And, for the really irreverent among you, there are always the shops and, not-to-be missed by any self-repecting Italian, that most famous of all Italian activities, the passagiata that takes place between 5.30pm and 7.30pm, come rain or shine !!! Or, you can simply watch the folks parading from the balcony of La Terrazza – but best join in…more fun !
For the more sporty, there is horse-riding, swimming, fishing, cycling, walking, white-water rafting etc......these and many more activities can be investigated at the tourist office in Piazza Municipia in central Spoleto. Here there are also maps with places of special interest marked on trails (including the Rocca dei Perugini that houses La Terrazza just outside of which was where the Spoletini fought off Hannibal in 217BC) as well as many more walking trails in the hills round about.
Yes, of all the Italian cities, Spoleto is arguably the most beautiful and one of the most diverse in what it has to offer the world traveller. Very much a town and country experience, you can lounge in bars, gelaterie and restaurants, meander up and down the cobbled arched streets or, you can don your walking kit and set off into the hills, treading the very same foot-paths of the millions of pilgrims who have trod this path since time immemorial. Walk for a maximum of 15 minutes in any direction from anywhere in Spoleto and you can be in the mountains, immersed in the most spectacular scenery…….bright green valleys, hills covered with olive groves, thick woodland, monasteries, castles and tiny villages dotted here and there – a truly magical environment ! Particularly, if you start your walk from across the aquaduct.
Glamour and style….. Or, walking boots and a stick ! The choice is yours !
Spoleto has been quoted as being Prince Charles’ favourite city – indeed, he has a place in the hills looking down on this mediaeval city. But, please, don’t let this put you off !! In any case, I love Spoleto, Italians from all over Italy rave about it, it is SO beautiful……..what more can I say ! It is an experience not to be missed.
How to get there
-Fly to Rome or Ancona then take the train to Spoleto on the Ancona line. Or you can fly to Perugia.
-Cheap flights with Ryan Air.
-Car hire available from Avis either from the airport and we will send you directions or, alternatively, if you take the train to Spoleto, then, providing you book through their local Spoleto office, Avis will deliver a car to Spoleto station for you if you request it. Their number is ((0039)348 265 4005 – someone there speaks English). And, an interesting website that I’ve seen with apparently good deals is www.euro-cars.com
-If you decide to do without a car, then please arrange with my husband to pick you up at Spoleto station at a time to suit you both. His number is (0039) 349 739 3501.
-But, you do not need a car as both the train station and the busses are conveniently close.
-If you do have a car and require a secure car-space, then you can hire ours immediately outside of the apartment for 50 euros a week (the rate we pay).
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Rome or Ancona or Perugia (20 km): 70 km
Railway:
Spoleto - a few minutes walk: 1.5 km
Activities near Spoleto
Sports: Tennis in town Watersports Waterpark Horse Riding Fishing
Great for: Walking holidays Beach or lakeside relaxation Good nightlife City breaks Cycling holidays
Facilities
Luxuries:
Internet access, DVD player
General:
Central heating, TV, Video player, CD player, Telephone, Satellite TV, Wi-fi available
Single beds (2), Double beds (1), Cots (1), Dining seating for 4, Lounge seating for 5, Sleeps maximum of 4
Other:
Linen and towels provided. Highchair available.
Outdoors:
Balcony / Terrace, BBQ
Access:
Lift access to property, Parking space
Further details indoors: It is a very stylishly furnished apartment with comfortable, soft leather lounge furniture, a single bed made up as a sofa-bed with many cushions and SKY/SatTV/VCR/DVD with a vast choice of English-speaking channels inc BBC (and Prime), CNN, FOX etc as well as many English speaking film and documentary channels. Further there are a large collection of videos, CDs and books to suit all tastes. The elegant, fully fitted kitchen includes a microwave and a dish-washer.
All the fixtures and fittings are of the highest quality; and, the kitchen and all the furniture was brand-new as from Aug/Sept 2004.
The bathroom contains a full-size tub, a shower, bidet and WC.
There is internet access just across the narrow, traffic free street in a stylish internet point called Spider, owned by Andrea, who also speaks English and is a friend of ours. So, if you ever need any help on anything, Andrea is the person to ask.
The large sitting/dining room, (complete with Sky Sat TV with many English speaking film, documentary and news channels plus VCR/DVD), has 2 double sets of wooden patio doors (1 of them all glass) and a large wooden shuttered window - all along the front of the room. The doors lead onto the huge terrace - an absolute luxury in the historic centre of Spoleto – looks really great when the large window and both double doors are wide-open onto the terrace as the 2 spaces merge into one, creating a very large "conservatory" ambience. The terrace, while private, is open plan; about 5 metres away, is the beginning of another large terrace that belongs to the other apartment that is a twin of ours, except in reverse.
Please say if you require secure parking at 50 euros a week.
Please request a high chair and/or cot - available at no extra charge.
Further details outdoors: The terrace seats 6 for dining and there is space for sunbathing. Other garden furniture and sun-loungers are available. There is some shade. And, there are plenty of potted plants and shrubs. In all, this pretty area is an ideal spot to arrive home to after a tiring day sight-seeing, pour yourself a glass of Orvieto and chill-out to the sun setting over the opposite hills.
And, of course, being situated in the city centre of Spoleto, you have on your door-step a mind-boggling choice of specialist shops....wine, truffles, clothes, art-works etc, restaurants and bars as well as parks, museums and churches to meander around.
For those of you who may not wish to hire a car, you can get to practically anywhere in Italy by train or bus from Spoleto - the timetables are comprehensively spelt out on the internet. Though, if you prefer to have a car, it is possible to park in one of the lanes just a few minutes walk away or hire our private space from us directly at the back of the apartment for 50 euros a week.
One of the principle reasons we bought this apartment is that, not only is it beautiful, it was, to my knowledge, the first apartment in the historical centre of Spoleto to be advertised commercially as a holiday let on the world market! See our personal website for other central Spoleto apartments - link below.
In this building, there are only 3 apartments with large terraces - the other is a floor down - and all the other apartments have just tiny balconies.
Further details
The Booking Information is sent automatically in response to an enquiry.
Lettings of at least 3 weeks attract a discount - the longer the letting, the bigger the discount. See Booking Info for further details.
There are no additional charges !
We provide all utilties gas c/h, unlimited hot water etc plus towels, linen (beach towels, if requested) etc plus a Welcome Pack…wine, bread, butter, milk, tea, coffee, sugar, all the condiments, fruit, pasta, olive oil etc….enough for our guests not to have to worry about food shopping before settling in ! All for free.
Days booked in addition to a week are costed at the weekly pro-rata rate.
Flexible arrival/departure days,
You can usually arrange to be picked up at the station and taken to your apartment, free of charge. Also, on the day of your departure, you can usually arrange to be dropped off at the station free of charge. Depends on availability of Laurie's taxi service !
You can book for a minimum of 3 days at a daily rate that is 20 euros a day in addition to the weekly pro-rata rate. 1 and 2 day bookings are 30 euros a day in addition to the weekly pro-rata rate.
Mobile phone available on request for refundable deposit of 100 euros.
Conditions
No pets please. Sorry !
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: Euros €
Convert to:
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
9 Oct 08
1 Nov 08
650£ 524
0-
0-
2 Nights
1 Nov 08
1 Dec 08
590£ 476
0-
0-
2 Nights
1 Dec 08
1 Apr 09
490£ 395
0-
0-
2 Nights
1 Apr 09
1 May 09
610£ 492
0-
0-
2 Nights
1 May 09
1 Nov 09
770£ 621
0-
0-
2 Nights
41
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.
Please see more details and lots more photos on my personal website, which also shows details and photos of 30 + other apartments in and around central Spoleto - you will automatically receive access to this website in response to an enquiry.
An extra tarif is charged over the Christmas period - see Booking Information for details that also contains info re attracting discounts and the cancellation conditions. It is automatically sent to you on receipt of an enquiry.
The rate includes up to 4 persons - extra persons are 50 euros/week each.
Discounts available for bookings of 3 weeks or more or for booking more than 1 apartment simultaneously.
Beware of owners who ask you to pay for heating separately. Often you'll end up paying as much as you're paying in rent .
Bookings that include Christmas Day or New Years Day should not have Christmas Day as their arrival day.
Availability notes
To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/3502
Click to view availability for this property.
Contact owner
To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/3502
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