“La Torricella Villa in Sabina” is a wonderfully stylish country villa with three separated wings for families and friends, in the fascinating and conveniently-located Sabine Hills.
We came from Australia to La Torricella for a week. We were joined by a family of four from Rome – dear friends whom we hadn’t seen for a while - and we had chosen La Torricella as an indulgent out-of-town escape where we could spend time together.
We loved the three-storey medieval farmhouse wing; with a luxurious master bedroom on the top floor. We lazed in the king-sized bed and enjoyed stunning views over olive groves to hills and towns beyond. It had a mid-level bedroom for up to four children or adults, plus a bathroom and toilet. And, it had a ground-level sitting room that we used as a games room and as a place to talk.
At the opposite end of the villa is the light-filled, single-storey new wing; with two bedrooms (one with balcony overlooking the fields), each with king-sized beds and separate bathrooms and toilets.
Between these private wings is the heart of the villa; a large kitchen, dining and family-room space. The kitchen is large and well-equipped. This space is surrounded by large windows and glass doors that lead to the outdoor dining area, or to the garden and olive grove, or to the grassed area where the swimming pool tempts you to laze about. We spent most time in this very happy part of the villa.
All the rooms were large. The owner’s wife, Kate, has furnished the villa with a mix of luxurious and shabby-chic furniture and homewares. She’s done it with flair and attention-to-detail, as though the villa is her home. It has everything, and feels like a comfortable place that will welcome you and embrace you on every day that you stay there.
On temperate days, we explored the surrounding countryside. We drove to Spoleto in Umbria in less than an hour; we drove to Rome in an hour. we discovered other lovely hill-towns of Umbria. Around us in the Sabine Hills were remnants of the Roman Empire for us to discover. There were villages with local markets and food shops; restaurants and bars; and plenty to keep us intrigued. We really enjoyed that the Sabine Hills are a bit wild and under-developed – like Tuscany used to be.
All-in-all, La Toricella was a wonderful find – great for relaxing in spacious comfort with family and friends, great for discovering attractive parts of Italy that are less well-known, and great for the soul!