We wish you a very warm welcome to Villa Gioianna, a ridiculously beautiful Villa overlooking Lake Trasimeno and located right in the middle of the most wonderful area for fabulous food, gorgeous wines, culture, outdoor sports and art. Umbria was named Foodie Destination of 2023 by Lonely Planet and we deserve the accolade!
Guests contemplating a stay in May/June 2025: Please read the following before requesting a booking. Only for these dates, we are offering individual rooms for periods less than a week, one of the few times in 20 years of hospitality. If you ever wanted to stay at Villa Gioianna for just a few days, now is the time! Prices are in British pound sterling and based on a minimum three-night booking. Prices reflect the imposition by vrbo of 21% tax. We understand that vrbo will add this tax to all bookings after May 5, 2025. This charge is not assessed with direct bookings.
May 7-14: 120/per room/night. Four rooms available, ensuite bedrooms with shared common rooms.
May 16-24: 507/night for four rooms. Exclusive use of the house and grounds.
May 25 – June 4: Now fully booked.
June 7-12: 507/night for four rooms. Exclusive use of the house and grounds.
June 16-23: 120/per room/night. Four rooms available, ensuite bedrooms with shared common rooms.
We hope this is straightforward, but if you have any questions, please enquire and we will respond promptly.
Villa Gioianna is a country estate composed of an historic villa with three floors plus a magnificent cantina with billiard table and bar, gardens, olive grove, fruit orchard and woods sitting upon a hill above Lake Trasimeno, where it commands a superb view of Tuscany, Umbria and the Lake.
Food, Glorious Food ! You are spoiled for choice of a number of wonderful restaurants, trattorie and cafes nearby. We can recommend excellent cooks, each of whom loves to spoil guests with delicious, homemade meals using our produce and other locally sourced ingredients. From a traditional nonna to an enthusiastic "New Italy" cook to Michelin-star chefs, we will find the right culinary fit for you. Combine a meal with a cooking, pizza or pasta lesson from a vivacious Italian Mama. Get close to the land and learn to forage, hunt truffles or pick olives and taste the fresh oil right after pressing. Food festivals abound. Or, if you prefer, go completely luxe with a gourmet tasting menu with accompanying wines.
A world-class winery is minutes away, many more within a half hour.
REVIEWS:
We have been on vrbo since 2007, renting since 2005. Recent reviews include the following:
Janice, Stayed November 2022
“This is a gorgeous villa , we loved our stay in Umbria. The local scenery is spectacular, location excellent . So much to see and do in this part of Italy. The villa itself if filled with beautiful antiques and very comfortable. I am already missing my bed at the villa, it was so comfortable. The host will give you unlimited information about the are too! I would highly recommend a stay!! The villa is rented out most of the year, so it may not be available when you want it. ”
Sue, Stayed July 2022
“Anna was a most attentive and helpful host throughout our 14 day stay. Thirteen of us from four generations of the same family - aged 2 to 75 - had a fabulous stay at Villa Gioianna - the well-maintained pool was big enough to accommodate all of us, and our noisy children loved having the run of the extensive estate, in complete safety and privacy. We had two wonderful cooks who prepared and served us our delicious suppers, and one of whom - Nonna - gave the children a memorable treat in the form of a hands-on lesson on how to make fresh ravioli. There are wonderful visits to be had locally in beautiful, unspoilt Umbria - but the best times were spent relaxing in and around this beautiful property. Thank you, Anna, for arranging everything so perfectly for us.”
Marion, Stayed September 2021
“We stayed at the villa for two weeks. It felt like a dream come true! The villa, the location, the grounds, the pool... We felt so relaxed and comfortable - living the dream! The location of the villa is perfect for short trips to local towns and villages or for longer trips further afield. One of favourite trips was to the winery right next door for a tasting and to stock up on wine. Anna was a joy to communicate with - full of friendly guidance and good tips. We hope to be back.”
Marie, Stayed July 2021
“We had an AMAZING family holiday in Anna's lovely house. All our dreams were realised in this stunning environment full of vineyards, olive trees and sunflowers. Mario and Andrea were very kind and helpful during our 2 weeks stay and Anna has been a great host with excellent communication. She's a very talented writer and gave us all info we needed and great tips to make the max out of our visit: Grazie mille per tutti Anna!”
OVERVIEW:
The Villa was constructed in 1918 but experts have dated its origins much older. The 'padrone', or wealthy landowner, of the surrounding farms built it as his residence and he and his descendants lived here until the 1970s. In the early 21st century, the Villa was renovated and updated, but with respect for the original architecture, spirit and history of the house so that it retains the warmth and ambiance of an Italian family country home. This is NOT a house specifically built, decorated or run as a commercial tourist venture with no heart or soul. This is a traditional, real, elegant Italian country villa where the elite of Rome and Florence would take their holidays. It is full of history and memories and lovingly decorated and maintained to reflect the character of the owner and to delight our guests.
The Villa now has, among other changes, modern mechanical systems and applicances. Terracotta and hand-painted tile floors, whitewashed walls, walnut doors and wood-beamed brick ceilings form a simple background for the carefully detailed interior furnished with splendid antiques, sumptuous textiles, supremely comfortable beds and gorgeous lamps dressed with lampshades designed by the owner and made with vintage and antique fabrics. Each bedroom is air-conditioned.
You arrive at the Villa via an avenue of cypresses and lime trees, passing through a mature park of 4.5 acres of woods, vineyards, olive groves, fruit trees and flower gardens. The Villa is a small working estate that produces olive oil, fruit, vegetables, wonderfully fragrant roses, flowers and herbs. We garden sustainably and recycle or compost virtually all of the waste produced by the Villa.
OLIVE OIL:
Our olive oil is our pride and joy. In late October/early November we harvest the olives by hand in the traditional method of 'stroking' the tree, then quickly press them at our local mill. Olive oil from our region - the border of Tuscany and Umbria - is highly prized for its peppery, spicy taste and has been given its own special regional designation. Guests are welcome to join in the olive harvest.
NEAREST TOWN:
The medieval town of Castiglione del Lago is the nearest market town (6 km), sitting high on an olive tree-covered promontory jutting into the west side of the lake.
For touring, Castiglione del Lago provides easy access to the superstrada linking Perugia and eastern Umbria to Siena, Chianti and western Tuscany, and is the embarkation point for ferries servicing the lake islands. The new town has all the conveniences and services of a thriving town.
LOCATION:
A few kilometers away is Chiusi, whose old town is worth a visit for its Etruscan museum and good restaurants. The new town has excellent transportation links, with high-speed train connections to all destinations on the Naples-Milan high-speed train line, including Rome, Florence and Orvieto, and convenient access to the A-1 Autostrada. Within an hour's drive of the Villa are many historic Umbrian and Tuscan hill towns such as Assisi, Arezzo, Cortona, Montepulciano, Orvieto, Pienza, Perugia, Deruta, Spello and Montalcino, as well as other less well-known, but perhaps more charming, smaller villages. Many of central Italy's other leading historical and cultural centers (Rome, Florence, Todi, Siena, Spoleto, Gubbio and Urbino) can be reached in less than two hours.
AIRPORTS:
The nearest airports are Rome, Pisa and Florence. Each is about a 1.5 to 2-hour drive away. Bologna is a bit farther, approximately 2.5 hours. Perugia airport is the closest (approx 40 minutes).
CREATURE COMFORTS
*High quality linens
*All cotton comforters made from traditional Umbrian and Tuscan textiles, feather down duvets and choice of feather or hypoallergenic pillows
*Sumptuous ensuite bathrooms
SUITABILITY
*Groups of friends, tour groups
*Yoga, Mindfulness, Pilates retreats
*Anniversaries, Family Reunions, Birthday Celebrations
*Business events, seminars, training sessions
*Weddings
*Photo-shoots
*Film locations
INCLUDED
*Exclusive use of the Villa (four floors), grounds and pool
*All linens and towels, including pool towels
*Daily pool cleaning
UPON REQUEST
We would be happy to recommend other conveniences and services such as:
*Home-cooked and first-class chef-cooked meals
*Cooking lessons
*Breakfast
*Refrigerator filled prior to arrival
*Yoga lessons
*Tours, drivers, airport transfers
*Wine tasting tours
*Horseback riding or biking tours
*Many, many wonderful things to see and do in our area !
GREEN CREDENTIALS
*Recycle 100% of plastic, paper products and glass/metal.
*Compost all vegetable matter and food scraps.
*Severely limit the use of chemicals in the gardens.
*Garden sustainably.
These are our CIR and CIN numbers, which every Italian holiday rental accommodation operating legally in Italy is required to display on all adverts and which assures you that we are licensed by the Comune and the Region to rent as a holiday home:
Comune: CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO
CIR - Codice Identificativo Regionale: 054009C201009776
CIN - Codice Identificativo Nazionale: IT054009C201009776
