Palazzo Grande: Luxury and History in Umbria

Palazzo Grande is a 500 year old, fully restored, luxurious 20,000 square foot stone villa in the heart of the Umbrian countryside, close to Perugia (the medieval capital of the region of Umbria), numerous stunning medieval villages, the Basilica of St. Frances of Assisi, world-renowned wineries, Cortona, Siena, the wine regions of Tuscany, Lake Trasimeno, and much more. Visit our website at www.palazzograndeumbria.com. Originally an ancient convent and then the summer home of the noble Baldeschi family as well as a stopping point for medieval traders traveling from Florence or Siena to Perugia, the palazzo now warmly welcomes guests who want to experience the world-class food, wine, art and culture of Umbria while enjoying modern amenities and a careful mix of antique and contemporary art and furnishings. Palazzo Grande’s four floors feature 17 available bedrooms; a dining room seating up to 20 beneath the original frescoed ceiling (https://vimeo.com/377534484/686e570015 ); a commercial kitchen; a media room in which to watch movies or TV, or listen to music; a billiards room; a fully stocked bar accommodating 20 or more; a well-equipped gym and massage room; a wine cellar; a medieval, fully consecrated chapel; and much more. An elevator provides easy access to each floor. The 17 available bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom, a safe, and other luxury hotel-style features, are furnished with antiques and period furniture and art. 13 of the bedrooms have king-sized beds (in Europe, sometimes referred to as “double beds”), and 4 have two twin-sized (“single”) beds. One of the bedrooms, a small suite, is located on the ground floor; three are on the first floor, near the dining room, kitchen, and media room; and the remaining 13 are on the second floor. About half of the second floor bedrooms have a small sitting area and steps to an elevated loft with a bedroom and bathroom. Each bedroom can be individually locked. Outside, a large terrace garden has been restored in traditional Italian style, but with striking contemporary sculptures, lighting, and audio system. A large, fully restored swimming pool with modern gazebo, changing rooms, and audio system is set in a meadow adjacent to the main house; the woods surrounding the meadow, all part of Palazzo Grande, feature hiking trails and black truffles (a truffle hunt can be arranged in season). A newly restored tennis court, large lawn for events, 70 acres of working farmland, and a 600-tree olive grove complete the property. Filippo and Emanuela live at Palazzo Grande with their young family and their Golden Retriever Pablo, and are available to satisfy guests’ every need. They prepare an included breakfast daily and are accomplished chefs who will also cook other meals for an additional fee. Filippo, who recently received his sommelier certificate, and Emanuela speak excellent English, are highly knowledgeable about Umbria and Tuscany, and can arrange activities ranging from wine-tasting to horseback riding to bicycle tours, as well as making reservations at the numerous tremendous restaurants in the vicinity and recommending day trips throughout Umbria. Palazzo Grande, a historical residence in the heart of Umbria, allows you to re-live the enchantment of the past, to taste the flavours of Umbria’s traditional delicacies, and to enjoy a peaceful stay in the midst of its surrounding park. Despite the size of the palazzo, large parties and functions of any sort are not permitted without advance approval, appropriate documentation and additional charges. For more information and detailed suggestions about where to go and what to do in the area, please visit the Palazzo Grande website at www.palazzograndeumbria.com.