Country House Montali

Country House Montali provides the perfect antidote for the stresses of modern life. In this beautifully located haven nothing breaks the serenity and peace. Clean hilltop air and healthy food revive the body, while the spirit is soothed by tranquillity and splendid views.

The panorama seems to stretch for miles over the gentle Umbrian hills that ripple down towards Lake Trasimeno, Tuscany and the Perugia Valley. To watch the colours of the landscape gradually change at sunrise or sunset is a special experience and the view is to be especially savoured when relaxing on the terrace around the swimming pool.

This unique and delightful retreat has been created by a young couple who were determined to escape the urban rat-race. Alberto and his Brazilian wife Malu are widely travelled and have spent some years in India. However, when it came to settling down, they knew that Umbria, with its wonderful, almost mystical landscape and deeply rural traditions allied with opportunities to enjoy a rich cultural life, should be their home. They found the farm of their dreams on the crest of a hill below the Castello dei Montali, 5km by 'white' road above the Colle San Paolo, just south of Lake Trasimeno. With acres of olive groves and woods and a total of just ten rooms in two separate buildings, there is more than enough space for everyone. The bedrooms all have en suite shower rooms and hand-carved teak furniture. On rare occasions, intimate concerts are performed by internationally acclaimed musicians or dancers - usually friends of Alberto he met during his travels.

In the original farmhouse (which is home to Alberto and his family) Malu and Alberto have created a small bar and dining room hung with works by Alberto's brother, a painter. In this calm and restful setting, delicious fish-free and meat-free meals are enjoyed. Tables are separate, so there is no obligation to socialise, yet many new friendships are forged by discussions of the day's visits and discoveries, either over dinner or coffee. The cuisine is so inventive (Alberto ran a vegetarian restaurant in Perugia for some years), that even committed carnivores will find their palates intrigued and their stomachs replete. Over the past six years the cuisine has instigated the highest praise from Simply guests as well as the Vegetarian Society, which awarded it the accolade of 'Best Guesthouse, B&B or Hotel' in 2002. The accent is on classic Italian cooking - home-made pasta is a speciality - using Montali's own organic produce and virgin olive oil, with recipes from around the world adding variety.

Within an easy drive are Perugia, Assisi, Todi, Cortona, Montepulciano and Orvieto and, as there are plenty of walking trails, down to the shores of Lake Trasimeno for instance, a week passes all too quickly - as has been testified by many guests!

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