Villa Mundi

Ecclesiastical Update for Food & Wine Worshippers

Chock full of cool, contemporary art with a garden full of fruit, a winemaker across the street, cheesemakers as neighbors, and a fully loaded cooks’ kitchen at its heart, this 18th-century convent, reinvented with both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sings praises of a new sort—a hymn of gastronomy, tranquility and good living.

Old and new collide inside its rugged country walls, with vibrantly eclectic converted living spaces and an artistic flair throughout. The villa’s décor is uncontrived and easygoing, accented by vintage pieces, photographic art, and relaxed furnishings that inspire slowing down and settling in. Created expressly as a retreat for gastronomes and oenophiles to explore the notion of terroir, it has kitchens both indoors and out, and the bountiful harvest of Le Marche begins right out the door, delightfully punctuated by pre- and post-prandial splashes in the villa's two pools. 

Billed by its owners as a perfect place to enjoy food, the remodeled convent occupies a garden brimming with fruit—peaches, grapes, pears, apples, figs, and prunes, in season. Olive trees encircle the property, and vineyards spiral outward into the fertile countryside, a sea of endless green for miles. 

The house is ideal for six guests, a family, or two couples wth a total of three children.

AROUND

Italy’s Le Marche region, tucked between mountains and sea, is a lesser-known part of the country, yet every bit as alive with all that makes Italy shine—the hilly landscapes, rich culinary and wine traditions, artisanal families and photogenic architecture. A simple walk through the property’s garden leads to Cantina Bacelli, the closest vineyard, and the notable Verdicchio vintages from another neighbor, Cantina Colognola, are available a bit further down the road. Loftier wine estates with tasting rooms blanket the region, and village markets are not to be missed, offering local produce, cheeses, breads and fish. Start the week off at Apiro’s Sunday market; hit Cupramontana on Mondays, and create your weekend meals after Saturday’s market in the villa’s home village of Cingoli. 

Known as the region’s “Balcony Town” Cingoli is set on high, with views of the entire region spreading out below it, and the Adriatic Sea shimmering in the distance. Cingoli’s Old Town displays a mix of muted pastel buildings mixed with more austere, stony facades, and several Renaissance portals and noble palaces elevate the small town, set near a river. Known as one of Italy’s “Most Beautiful Villages,” the panoramic community mixes rural/agricultural tourism with easy beach access along the Riviero del Conero about 45 minutes’ drive away. This section of coastal Le Marche is home to both sandy and pebbled beaches and small, mostly medieval coastal villages. It is also known as an olive-oil-producing area—this is Italy, of course—and the homeowners recommend neighbor Olindo’s cellar for the fruity, peppery elixir and nearby Cantina Colognola, about three minutes from the property, for another great oil.

LOCATION

Cingoli, Le Marche, Italy. Nearest airport: Ancona (35km); Perugia (100km)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: April to October