The Setting :
The term 'La Maliarda' can best be translated as a stunning place or person with whom you fall in love on sight. When you take the winding road from the Vale of Spoleto up through the olive groves to our spectacular but deserted convent and church, you find La Maliarda, perched at 550 metres overlooking the beautiful Vale of Spoleto. Sitting in its own olive grove, the house looks out onto the breathtaking Umbrian landscape of small farms, sunflowers, churches and monasteries, with the vineyards and hilltop town of Montefalco, the Balcony of Umbria, in the distance. Behind the house the forests of pines, cypresses and oaks stretch up and away to high pastures that provide excellent walking. The sounds of convent and church bells punctuate the hours. Many of our friends, seduced by the attractions of the pool, the surrounding Umbrian countryside and the backdrop of the deserted convento, look no further, and spend their holiday in sybaritic inactivity!
Cultural Attractions.:
The most popular local attraction is Assisi, birthplace of St Francis, with its cathedral, renaissance art, monasteries, Roman temple and castle, but it is only one of several. Spoleto is within an easy drive (cathedral, castle, Roman amphitheatre, and pretty town centre). Montefalco has a museum in a church with a collection of Benozzo Gozzolis, and there are Peruginos at Trevi and Spello. The list is endless. Even small places like Trevi (surely the prettiest hill town in central Italy), and Bevagna have their own theatres, and Spoleto has a long-established International Music Festival. Throughout the year there are centuries-old festivals in all the towns and villages, with ancient spectacles like flag-throwing and jousting, all presented with tremendous Italian style. These are not put on for the tourists, but are genuine traditions. And in every town and village there is the passagiata, when everyone takes a stroll in the cool of the early evening.
Day Trips:
Perugia, the provincial capital, is an easy 50 km up the dual carriageway with cathedrals, museums, university, ancient city centre, and excellent shops. A few miles further is beautiful Lake Trasimeno where ferries ply between the resorts along the shores and island attractions. Other charming towns include Arrezzo, Gubbio, Todi, and Orvieto. Iris Origo's beautiful English garden is at La Focce, near Monte Amiata. Deruta has specialised for centuries in hand-painted china. Rome is a most comfortable hour and a half by train from Spoleto; it's worth paying the little extra and taking the fast train. Visit the ancient and mediaeval monuments and the Vatican: they say that a lifetime in Rome is not enough to see it all.
Other Activities:
cathedrals, rennaissance art, go-kart racing, Umbrian cuisine and wine.
marks the location of the property in Foligno area
