The top floor of a 12th Century castle tower. Panoramic views

The castle was very rustic. It worked well for us as we were attending a balloon festival in Todi as my husband is a balloon pilot. The locals were very friendly and helpful as we had a problem with our jeep they were great. The owner too was helpful and generous. The downside to the castle is there are 52 steps to the top so therefore would not suit everyone.The views are to die for and if you like rustic this is for you.

This is a great place to stay if you are looking for quiet and scenic base from where to explore Umbria and even Rome. The apartment is spacious and comfortable with wonderful views. Our children loved playing kings in a castle and it is safe for children too as there is basically no traffic in the village. We already returned twice and are looking forward to our next stay at Villa San Faustino. This is an area full of history and there are so many ancient places to discover within a short drive that we always find something new that we fall in love with. My personal favourite is a restaurant on a farm just a short walk down the Via Flaminia (yes, the original Roman road goes past the village! - though it's now a quiet footpath) where we enjoyed a great 5 course meal for 20 Euros - all home grown zero miles travelled product, including the wine - whilst our children played happily with the locals. This is life!

A friend and I had a wonderful week in June when we returned to this very special place. The castle structure is amazing and this top floor apartment in one of the towers is attractively furnished, comfortable and well-equipped. I like the fact that, while it is in the centre of this beautiful, classic Umbrian village looking out over the square where village life is played out, being up so high gives a feeling of real privacy and a sense of apartness at the same time. Every morning, opening the shutters to let in the light, we'd always marvel at the painterly landscape spreading out before us. It is perfect, and then just up a few steps to the roof terrace where you can enjoy breakfast or a glass of wine at sun down, there are more stunning views. Don't forget the binoculars.
We had previously used the apartment as an excellent base to explore the region by car, visiting towns and cities such as Todi, Assisi and Perugia, and the lake of Trasimeno, but, this time, we decided we would get to know the immediate area more closely. Just ten minutes away is a section of the Via Flaminia which provides a lovely shady walk for hotter days. We quickly could see from the extensive network of paths in the area what fantastic walking terrain this was. Along the route were numerous sites of interest, and we saw that it was possible to walk along the Via to the Roman ruins of Carsulae, a site we had previously visited by car. These are very impressive remains and, luckily, as we had the place to ourselves, their aura was that much more powerful. Next time though, we want to enter on foot, along the Via Flaminia.
As the weather was so good, and because we needed a well-earned rest, we idled away a lot of our time, relaxing on the sun terrace or in the garden, reading, and making meals from the fresh produce that was available in the vegetable garden opposite. This place is so restorative, both spiritually and physically, that we never want to leave.
There are some fantastic places to eat within easy driving distance and one of our favourites is the local agriturismo restaurant that serves home made pasta. A very useful file with details of the local eateries/maps/guides etc can be found in the living room.
We found it easy to get to from Rome and, after a couple of days in the Eternal City, it's good to retreat to the peace and serenity of Villa Faustino. We look forward to returning!