HISTORY OF VISTA DEL MONDO : COUNTRY HOUSE: Vista Del Mondo was a hermitage, used by St Francis as a mid stopping point, on his regular journey between Grecchio and Assisi. Years ago, when the hermitage was a ruin, I would walk here, to the top of the world. I would wander around the hermitage, caress its worn bricks, beams and old wooden doors and marvel at its beauty, its location and its history. I had no idea that in several years’ time, I would be partners with the owner of the mountain, a humble person, a famous builder, who has restored half of Spoleto and beyond, a deeply religious man, who performs his work as an act of homage to God and for whom money is not the goal. He set about restoring the hermitage to its former 'glory'. I use the word 'glory' advisedly. As Silvano is always reminding me, the pilgrims did not have lavish tastes. This house is a testament to a purity that combines splendour with simplicity. Nature provides the wonder. A holy stone, placed at the gates commemorates the richness of its history.
PEACE, PURE PEACE !: Situated at the highest point of this pilgrimage, Vista Del Mondo stands proud, surveying the Appenines, iridescent with snow in the winters, fertile with lush green and purple pastures in the summer. On the other side, the world tumbles away, towards Assisi, taking olive groves, vineyards, monasteries and a myriad of hill-top mediaeval towns in the sweep of a gaze. Stand still. The soft breeze tickles your skin. Hear birds singing and bells tinkling. Watch our flocks of sheep, goats, cows and horses roam freely in the nearby fields, all private land belonging to Vista Del Mondo and our other 2 villas on the mountain. Experience profound peace. At a distance, there are other home-steads and farms dotted around, leading down to Bazzano Inferiore, some private owners, others, tenant farmers. But, essentially, the mountain is yours ! Even if you are part of a large and noisy party, the peace, spirituality and beauty of this awesome place will not fail to embrace you.
EASY ACCESS TO THE WHOLE OF UMBRIA: Situated is the middle of Italy, in the Appenines, 20 mins to Spoleto, 90 mins to Rome, 45 mins to Asissi and Perugia, 2 hrs 30 mins to Florence (depending on traffic), 3 hrs 30 mins to Naples (also depending on traffic), the Amalfi coast and Pompei. Castellucio, the famous Gran Piano (with fantastic natural flower displays across this gigantic plain around about Easter) is 1.45 mins away. On the way to Castellucio is Norcia, which is worth a visit and where most of our white truffle is to be found (our area is abundant with black truffle all the year round - consequently, it's cheap to dine out on truffle, one of my favourite dishes, at around 10 euros for a bowl of ciriole al tartufo !). However, all around you, within a 60 min drive, are an abundance of small towns eg Todi and Spello which are all equally beautiful and fascinating.
Other Activities:
wine-tasting, olive-oil tasting, truffle trails, museums, churches, galleries, go-carting, white-water rafting...
