In the green heart of Italy between spirituality and nature
Small fabulous villages with centuries-old history, legends and ancient traditions, castles, rural churches, abbeys, monasteries and cultural cities.
La Casella is totally surrounded by an environment that can be defined as a “widespread museum” for historical and cultural abundance. Here you can get lost in the wonders of the past and find yourself regenerated in a present to be protected.
“…il Signor’Iddio l’ha privilegiata di tutti i doni temporali e spirituali e […] non fecit taliter omni nationi (non fece altrettanto per altri Paesi)…”
(God gave to Umbria all material and spiritual gifts and […] He did not do so with any nation)
Ludovico Iacobilli (1598-1664)
“Discorso della provincia dell’Umbria”
in “Vite de’ Santi e Beati dell’Umbria,
Foligno 1647, tomo I
There are countless options of travel and discovery for those who choose La Casella as a starting point; here are some suggestions, but at our Club House we will be happy to give you further information.
Toscany
Medieval castles, sweet hills, ancient villages, cypress avenues, fabulous vineyards, olive groves and gold fields: these are just some of the elements that form the fantastic and harmonious landscape of this southern part of Tuscany. That’s Orcia valley, where nature plays the lead role; it is a land with a surreal and timeless atmosphere, which produces the most precious and appreciated Italian wines: Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano, Rosso Orcia, and other marvellous DOCG wines.
The Land of the Etruscans Orvieto: a small city, a great story. After the settlement of the first Villanovan community around the ninth century B.C., Etruscans have chosen this area for building the most fascinating and richest city of their extraordinary culture. We suggest you to visit the
Orvieto subterranean world, the Duomo, the Chapel of Saint Brizio with the frescoes by Luca Signorelli and the Well of Saint Patrick
Civita di Bagnoregio: one of a kind. Only a long, narrow bridge connects the ” dying city” to the rest of the world. The little village consists of medieval houses and has got a population of a few families.
Lake Bolsena in Viterbo territory, in the middle of Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria, is the greatest volcanic lake in Europe
Perugino’s Umbria
Città della Pieve is a medieval town, birthplace of Pietro Vannucci, known as Perugino – teacher of Raffaello. It preserves some of the most important works of the famous painter.
Lake Trasimeno is in the green heart of Umbria, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, among reeds and enchanting white water lilies, a real natural paradise.
Castiglione del Lago: it is located on a calcareous hill under which there are the remains of many Etruscan tombs. Here you can visit the castle and the medieval walls of the Palazzo Ducale, connected by a walkway to the Rocca del Leone, one of the most important examples of Umbria military architecture.
Spiritual Umbria
Assisi is the mystical city par excellence, home of Saint Francis, Patron saint of Italy, Saint Clare and Saint Rufino. It is rich in religious, artistic and archaeological sights.
La Scarzuola: it was an ancient convent where, according to tradition, Saint Francis lived for a while. Today it is famous as a theatre-village, designed and built in the 1950s by the Milanese designer Tomaso Buzzi as his personal idea of the Ideal City concept.
Sagrantino wine and Ceramics in Umbria
Todi: history, art e nature; “the most liveable city in the world”.
“… il perfettissimo aere et salutifero di questa città, l’abbondanza di grani, preziosi vini, ottime carni e tutto quello che è necessario per vivere umano…”, Bando della Fiera di Pentecoste, 1562
“…Perfect and healthy air of this city, wheat richness, precious wines, best meat and everything necessary for human living…”, Announcement of the Pentecost Expo, 1562
Montefalco: the “Bannister of Umbria” – history, art and tradition. The homeland of Sagrantino di Montefalco and Montefalco Rosso, wine excellence of Umbria.
Bevagna: it has the Bandiera Arancione (Orange Flag) and “most beautiful villages in Italy” certifications and it is known for the precious paintings produced since ancient times and for the reenactment of the ancient Gaite.
Deruta is the city of majolica. Here you can visit the oldest Italian ceramic museum that conserves the oldest document of this art dating back to 1290.
Orcia valley and the Wine Route
Pienza is an architectural and urban jewel considered as the “Ideal City“; a true Renaissance city designed by Pius II, a great humanist Pope.
Montalcino, the homeland of Brunello wine, is overhung by the fourteenth century fortress which offers a unique panorama. Here you can visit the historic cellars.
Montepulciano is a harmonious Renaissance city known for historical Etruscan cellars where the Nobile di Montepulciano wine is aged.
Bagno Vignoni is a very unique small village characterised by a huge Renaissance swimming pool in the square around ancient buildings.
Abbey of Saint Antimo is one of the best examples of medieval monastic architecture, where, even today, the celebrations are accompanied by Gregorian chant.
