Anchoring an Umbrian piazza where medieval towers stand guard, this classic village home’s buttoned up, stony exterior camouflages its lively, just a little bit groovy, contemporary interior. Inside the vivid, two-bedroom property, perched above chestnut forests, distant villages, and verdant Apennine foothills, there’s a festive sunken living room backed by a splashy terrazzo wall, swirling details found across round windows, wide arching doorways, and even a unique, pop-art-inspired handrail, plus daisies filling the garden beds, and a retro, rectilinear lap pool.

The newest addition to the La Segreta entrepreneurial portfolio that includes a collection of restored Italian villas, an EVOO label, and an estate-grown red wine blend, this vacation home rental in Italy stands apart as an independent property located at the heart of a classic Umbrian village. Part of a greater project dedicated to preservation of slow living and molto dolce, the multi-story, restored townhome occupies a central piazza in the traditional enclave of Collazzone, where days dawn to the clang of church bells and vegetable patches outnumber cafes and boutiques.

The multilevel village home has been transformed into a tall, bright and handsome modern perch with contemporary styling and a definite touch of 1970s cool. The villa has two bedrooms featuring large, sparkling bathrooms with rain showers. Glinting terrazzo-tiled floors gleam throughout the property. A sunken living area gives off distinctive disco den vibes with its splashy, terrazzo wall and built-in seating, and the home’s more traditional kitchen showcases well-aged chestnut ceiling beams complementing the contemporary appliances and a cozy, eat-in farm table. Fixtures and finishes showcase a touch of whimsy, too, in the form of fat round windows, double arching doorways and curving wall niches, plus a selection of lighting and hardware ranging from the bubble-shaped to sleek and gold.

Outdoors, the garden is a terraced wonderland, with daisy- and lavender-filled stone beds descending the home’s privileged lot overlooking the verdant Umbrian countryside. A stark pool dominates one level of vivid green turf, an upper terrace holds an outdoor dining pergola strung with twinkle lights and flowering jasmine vines, and an outdoor food prep area outfitted with a barbecue and fireplace is tucked into the landscaped terrace divided by rosemary bushes and sage tufts.

EXPERIENCES

A welcome dinner, a private chef or cooking lessons can be booked upon request. Private airport transfers, babysitters and guided day trips can be arranged.

AROUND

Located on a central piazza in the medieval village of Collazzone, this vacation home rental in Italy is perched over the Tiber River valley. The town’s cobbled streets are home to a simple café, a pizzeria and an ancient church that’s bells toll regularly marking the passage of time. The region is a slow-living lover’s paradise, a place where neighboring hilltop towns and Roman monasteries fill the view, and history is revealed in the local architecture, including the town’s Gothic duomo. Vineyards and olive groves create part of the natural patchwork that extends below the home and village, and restaurants in larger nearby communities like Todi offer tastings and menus dense with locally produced foods, wines, and foraged finds. 

The nearby town of Deruta is famed for its Renaissance majolica ceramic workshops, some of which offer tutorials. Perugia is the region’s cultural heart, buzzing with clothing stores, gelaterias and cafes, plus its must-visit National Gallery of Umbria featuring works by Perugino and Piero, and the sweet-lover’s mecca, Baci, the world-renowned chocolate factory where love-messages meet chocolate bonbons, and lessons in making the latter are available. 

UNESCO World Heritage site Assisi is easily accessible from the home, and features medieval streets and the famed, fresco-embellished Basilica. Wine aficionados will want to wander the region surrounding the village of Montefalco, where Umbria’s Sagrantino wineries are concentrated, and great day trip options include Orvieto, Cortona, and Montepulciano.

LOCATION

Collazzone, Umbria, Italy. Nearest airport: Rome or Florence, approximately 2 hours each, or Perugia, 30 minutes.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: April to October