Under the Umbrian Sun at Villa Torre di Pila
There’s a little known debate: Tuscany vs. Umbria. Some say Tuscany trumps Umbria, while others argue that Umbria has everything Tuscany has, minus the tourist crowds - and prices.
Villa Torre di Pila, set just 10 km from the historic centre of Perugia, Umbria’s capital city, makes a strong case for the latter.
The beautiful Umbrian estate dates back to the 15th century and in the 1700s, a local noble family, Marquises of Monaldi remodelled the property - then just a watchtower - into a grand villa. (The tower is a furnished lookout room today, with sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.)
By the turn of the 20th century, the property belonged to the Bartocci family and the estate was eventually donated to the city. It was purchased in 1930 by Count Francesco Guardabassi of Perugia, Italy, an Italian artist and opera singer. He hired Roman architect Ugo Tarchi to transform the mansion into its present-day form, inspired by Roman and Tuscan models from the Renaissance.
The property also has a storied past during WWII, where it became the headquarters for the German Army (1943-1944), and later the Allied Troops (1944-1945). Like many great estates in Italy during the war, the villa was looted of all its furnishings and treasures, and left abandoned for over four decades.
In 1989, the property was purchased by businessman Maurizio Petrini, who would restore the villa to its original splendour, re-generate the gardens, and add a glorious pool. There are several fountains, a swan pond (with a resident swan), and a small theatre on the estate.
The villa is set in the heart of a woodland, punctuated by groves of lemon, olive, and hazelnut trees which emit a rich fragrance throughout the over-12 acre property.
The interiors are exactly what you’d expect in an Italian villa of this calibre - frescoed walls, muraled ceilings, and intricate detail and adornment. There’s a gorgeous panelled library and the French doors to the sitting room are hand painted by local artist De Marchi. Almost every room has a grand marble fireplace.
A trophy property in the heart of Umbria, the property has 8 elegant suites on the two upper floors, with separate staff quarters. Today, the dreamy villa functions as a boutique hotel and romantic venue for elegant destination weddings.
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