The Garden House
Review Submitted: September 6, 2008
Date of Stay: May 2008
Imagine a stately country villa, with room to swing a, well, a broom - in nearly every room. Build it with ancient Umbrian stone and substantial beams - vaulted ceilings, broad arches, generous windows and garden doors. Nestle this modest palazzo on the sundrenched side of an Umbrian mountain, and equip it with all the conveniences of a modern, upscale country home. Voila, the Garden House. Nearly new, in the traditional style. The builder should take a bow.
We eight 'foodies' stayed a week and would all come again to forrage the Umbrian towns and Tuscan markets for the fruits of the land, and to return at end of day to the Garden House to cook the food, drink the wine, recount the adventures, and enjoy the comforts of a first rate rental.
The home is well supplied with everything such a group could need. It is near enough many towns and cities, but pleasant enough to just stay right there, as some of us did, some days. The rooms are very comfortable, the ensuit baths are luxurious, and the common rooms invite socializing. The only the only implement which might have provided even less impetus to go out would be a good espresso machine. Now don't misunderstand - there were at least five different coffee making devices - all first rate - but I missed my cappuccino enough to make the trek to town for it. I'm trying to quibble, here.
If you are a nighthawk, you should also be handy with switchbacks on mountainsides. Garden House is up a very windey road for about the last 1/2 mile, and at night it was a challenge for some of us.
Garden House is an hour from Siena, and some of us even made the two-plus hour drive to Florence; there is plenty to do within an hour or so from Garden House - Perusia, most of the Tuscan hill towns are easy, and the nearby villiage of Montone boasts at least one fantastic eatery, the Captain's Table, or words to that effect... elegant, medieval, friendly, traditional Umbrian food (mostly the fruits of mountains and woodlands) at a fair price.
Owner's Response: We've taken the hint and have now added a cappuccino and espresso machine (alongside the existing stove-top espresso maker, filter coffee machine, cafetiere and kettle) so I think it's fair to say all possible methods of coffee making are now covered! And if you make your own bread in the bread machine and have eggs from the henhouse and fruit and veg from the garden you might find you never feel tempted to have breakfast out (or indeed leave the house at all). That said, there is an extremely good cafe and pasticceria a short drive away and lots of restaurants nearby (directions are provided on our website page of local places to eat).
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