On a hill near Spoleto and 1 hr. from Rome, a walled 12C castle, overlooks the beautiful Valnerina, mountains and valleys all about. Strettura Castle consists of 5 beautiful apartments, each with hand-crafted tiled bathrooms + kitchens, unusual décor and unique furnishings.
The restoration of this fairy-tale castle and its landscaped gardens is a work of art. Its contemporary and original make-over allows it to stand supreme in the world of Italian castles.
There is 24 hour porterage, a pottery that offers ceramics courses, a small beauty farm that includes a range of therapies, a trattoria, a bar and a large, outdoor, salt water pool, hewn out of the rocks.
WiFi available in every suite.
The atmosphere is magically mystical. Aesthetes and those seeking a retreat from ordinary life will love being enveloped in the dreamiest of settings.
Strettura village, with a grocer's, a baker's, a post-office, a butcher's + another 2 restaurants, is just a 5 min. stroll through magnificent scenery.
TURRETS + TOWERS V BALCONIES + TERRACES : Set amidst the rolling Apennine mountains, 12C Strettura Castle is a traditional Italian castle. Turrets + towers, rather than balconies + terraces, its architecture was determined by days of yore. Designed as a refuge and to protect its aristocratic inhabitants, not a party place for frolicking on the battlements, where you risked being speared by an arrow ! So, while we offer terraces for most of the apartments, neither Zodiaco nor Ducale has one. However, both Zodiaco and Ducale make up for this lack by being super-large and really wonderful. Ducale, with its amazing sitting/dining room, especially wonderful for the cooler evenings with its large stone fire-place, overlooks the castle courtyard. And Zodiaco, with its smaller stone fire-place and, with its amazing conservatory, overlooks the hills and valleys. These 2 apartments are the most special of all of the apartments. And, there are many tables and chairs, where you can eat al fresco, in the castle courtyard and by the pool.
LOCATION, ACTIVITIES + LOCAL AMENITIES: Located on the edge of Strettura village, endless walks in beautiful country, easy access to the train stations - about 15 mins by car, from where you can get to practically anywhere in Italy eg Rome is just 55 minutes away by train or car, and, Spoleto just 10 minutes by car. In the grounds, there is a pottery, a small beauty farm that offers a range of therapies including hammam massages, the most ancient of all types of massage, as well as a beer-making unit, a residents’ bar in the courtyard and a restaurant that is open to the local community, specializing in good, fresh local produce. We also offer cookery courses. The outdoor ornamental pool is a leisure pool, ideal for relaxation and meditation. Not suitable for lap swimming because of its irregular shape. Around it are many sunbathing areas, overlooking the stunning mountains all around. The village, with a grocer's, a baker's, a post-office, a butcher's + 2 restaurants, is just a 5 min. stroll through magnificent scenery.
CASTLE LAYOUT: The castle consists of its central core, inside of which is a court-yard. To one side of the courtyard is a tower that contains 3 apartments. At the top of the tower, is Torre Azzuro (1 bedroom with large terrace/views all round). In the middle of the tower is Torre Verde (1 bedroom with large, walled terrace/views from one side). And, there is another 1 bedroom apartment on the ground floor of the tower, not shown here. Within the main body of the castle is a large reception area with 24 hour porterage. Zodiaco, (with conservatory + 2 bedrooms + study), is at the top of the west wing of the castle. APT Mansarda (with 3 bedrooms + terrace, is next to it). These 2 apartments can be booked together to sleep up to 11 persons and, then, occupy the entire west wing of the castle. Ducale is at the top of the main body of the castle – very private. Leading from the courtyard, there are tiny lanes that meander to the beauty farm, the pottery, the beer-making unit and the restaurant.
