The Village
The villa sits on the edge of Torre Alfina, a medieval village overlooking the Paglia River valley with the mountains of southern Tuscany in the distance. Built around an historic castle and surrounded on three sides by the Monte Rufeno Nature Reserve, Torre Alfina is formally recognized as one of Italy’s "most beautiful villages" (i borghi piu belli d’Italia).
Within a 5-minute walk, you will find two restaurants, a small grocery store, two cafés, a bakery, and an award-winning artisanal gelateria. Traditional festivals are held throughout the year, our favorites of which are the annual Sagra delle pappardelle e cinghiale (Festival of homemade wide pasta and wild boar) and the international Torre Alfina Blues Festival.
Read here what a popular blogger had to say about the sagra in Torre Alfina. Take a short video tour to get an even better sense of this quintessential Italian village.
The Area
An easy train ride from either Rome or Florence, Torre Alfina sits at the convergence of the three most popular tourist regions of Italy: Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria. This makes the villa a perfect home base for exploring the Umbrian hill towns of Orvieto, Perugia, Civita Banoregio, Todi and Assisi, or the Tuscan hill towns of Sorano, Pitigliano, Montepulciano and Montalcino. Traffic-free day trips to Florence and Rome are made especially easy with free parking at the Orvieto train station. For some excellent insider tips on Florence and Rome (as well as Siena, Assisi, Todi, Deruta and more) check out Gillian's Lists.
Activities
Start your day with a short stroll to the cafe for a cappuccino and cornetto. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets through the village to the main gate of the castle. Take a step back in time with a guided tour of the castle to marvel at the furnishings and lifestyle of centuries past. Explore the Monte Rufeno nature reserve that borders the village where you can hike in the Bosco del Sasseto, described by many as a "fairy tale" woods. If your timing is right, one of the unadvertised activities includes glider rides on the outskirts of the village.
When you are ready to venture beyond Torre Alfina, there is something for everyone within an easy day's drive.
Wine lovers will delight in tasting some of the country's most famous vino, found just over an hour's drive away in Montalcino (home to Brunello) and Montepulciano. Or stay closer to home and get acquainted with the region's finest Orvieto Classico. No need for a "designated driver" to miss out on this activity as we can recommend a marvelous personal concierge for all of your day trips.
If you're looking for outdoor activities, consider a day at Lake Bolsena, Italy's fifth largest lake and Europe's largest volcanic basin. Children especially love a visit to the "Park of Monsters", the larger-than-life stone sculptures in the gardens of Bomarzo less than an hour away. On Fridays, a stop at the bustling morning market in Acquapendente is a must.
For a more relaxing way to enjoy nature, unwind at one of the many thermal spas in the area or visit one of the beautiful Mediterranean beaches of southern Tuscany.
We are happy to help you plan day trips, book activities, and make local restaurant reservations. Please see our Experiences page for more ideas.
