The Place
Forests, fields and fruit trees surround this ancient converted watchtower. Its pool looks over the stunning Tiber Valley and it is an ideal place for anyone who likes exploring and fancies getting lost in the Umbrian countryside. Todi, a small hill town, is a 15-minute drive from the hotel and has many attractions such as a cathedral, which sits above original Roman cisterns.
Part of the building dates back to Roman times. Maria and Daniele Fano and their son transformed it into a charming country hotel and kept the old stone walls, brick floors and vaulted ceilings. Visitors have described it as ‘unique and beautifully restored’. There are 13 bedrooms, including two independent garden suites, which are all individually decorated with warm colours, pictures, flowers and old wooden furniture. There is also a small reading room and a living room.
The restaurant serves traditional Umbrian dishes outside when it’s warm and inside when cooler. Plan your days bearing in mind that no food is served in the afternoon, but Todi has a few appealing Italian restaurants ideal for lunch.
This hotel is the perfect place for chilling out but if you want to be more active there are cooking classes or you can visit the Todi art festival, which they hold in the late summer. Also, check Duncan Petersen’s excellent ‘Walker’s Tuscany in a Box’ for any nearby walks, such as the one starting at Chiusi.