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Umbria is the region between Tuscany and Rome, growing more lush as it undulates into Lazio, and offering a wealth of medieval hilltop towns, vineyards and olive groves, elegant villas, and incredible art collections as it goes. This is a countryside of breathtakingly beautiful vistas, memorable food and wine, and the ‘old’ Italy, with a heart full of tradition. And what could be more romantic? Our Gurus have scoured the whole area and hand selected the best hotels for couples in Umbria. You'll find everything on our list from stunning five star country escapes, to spa hotels, properties set amongst the vines and cosy B&B hideaways. Use our guide and start planning your next special escape for two!
For the Romance of Umbria
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- Relais Todini is an idyllically positioned 12th century villa, turned 12 room, five star, country house hotel to the south of Todi. The views are incredible in every direction, the hotel has an excellent, but relaxed restaurant, with a wine cellar, plus a beautiful pool terrace and spa. The decor is almost as memorable as the view — with exposed beamed ceilings, frescoes and murals, and art and antiques; each room and suite is different. There’s also an elegant sitting room, sunny terraces, and glorious gardens.
- The Palazzo Seneca is an elegant, 16th century palazzo in Norcia, beautifully converted into a romantic hotel. As well as 24 rooms and suites, minimally decorated with antiques and contemporary design pieces, the palazzo has grand communal spaces: a light drenched lounge, a contemporary spa, and an atmospheric fine dining restaurant. The brothers who own the hotel come from a long line of hoteliers, and you can tell.
For the Album
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- The Nun Assisi Relais & Spa stands out in this list for its contemporary design — it occupies a 13th century monastery, so it couldn’t be more historic, but the flair with which it has been converted, and redesigned and decorated, makes it feel very modern. The vaulted ceilings go especially well with contemporary Italian furniture in white leather. The best of the 18 rooms and suites have original frescoes on the walls, and even the simplest have exposed brick and terracotta tiles. The restaurant is a gourmet affair, and the spa is good enough to be included in the name.
For a Special Occasion
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- Castello di Montignano is a grand property turned small country house hotel, complete with a beautiful spa, a wedding license, and incredible views. Accommodation is in rooms, suites and apartments — 12 rooms in all, so there’s not a huge guest-list with which to share the spa, courtyard pool, and charming restaurant. You can take cooking classes, book a wine tasting, bring your pet, and even arrange a babysitter.
For the Views
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- The Castello di Petroia is a proper fairytale medieval Italian castle, set on a hilltop overlooking its own 900 acre estate, between Gubbio and Perugia. The converted interiors are extremely comfortable, whilst also retaining some incredible original features — some of the 11 rooms and suites feature both ancient four-poster beds, and contemporary hot tubs! Around the castello are gardens and grounds, with a pool and sun deck, and you can walk for hours, or borrow one of the estate’s Freesian horses and explore on four legs. The restaurant is set in an especially historic part of the castello, and is beautifully candlelit of an evening. And the hotel has a wedding license.
- Nikis Resort is a wonderful escape in the Umbrian hills outside Gubbio, converted from a stone farmhouse with magical views. Its 20 rooms and suites are some of the most stylishly contemporary on this list, with original terracotta floors and beamed ceilings, but chicly minimal furnishings in neutral colours. Nikis has two pools and a selection of spa facilities, a hot tub with stunning views, and a traditional looking, and very elegant, restaurant.
For Four-Poster Romance
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- L'Orto Degli Angeli is an elegant, 14 room hotel converted from a 17th century palazzo in the hamlet of Bevagna, in the centre of a triangle created by Assisi, Todi and Spoleto. The property is rich with original features — tiled terracotta floors, vast fireplaces, wood beams and antiques — and the excellent restaurant occupies a lower ground area which was once a Roman amphitheatre. Outside are beautiful private gardens, with kitchen gardens providing produce for the restaurant, and there’s a dreamy shaded terrace. You can also take cooking classes. Intimate, affordable and relaxed.
For Foodies
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- The Villa di Monte Solare sits atop a green hill, overlooking its own estate of vineyards and olive groves. Now converted into an elegant, 15 room hotel, the villa retains many of its most beautiful features, like the beamed ceilings, terracotta floors, exposed brickwork, and frescoes. The furnishing is plush, yet simple. The hotel has two pools and a spa, plus tennis courts, a cooking school to go with the restaurant serving Tuscan and Umbrian classics, and an excellent wine cellar.
For a Spa Break
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- If you’re very serious about your spa experience then the Borgobrufa Spa Resort is probably the resort for you, it’s the largest in Umbria, and known for its impressive treatment menu, and serene and beautiful, child-free grounds. There are 50 rooms and suites, traditionally dressed, with terracotta or wood floors, beamed ceilings, and exposed brick. The largest suites have a living space, and their own private indoor pools. And there’s a choice of restaurants, so you could easily not leave the resort for your whole holiday.
- The Altarocca Wine Resort is a spa resort on a vineyard, in a glorious spot on the edge of Orvieto. Our favourite of the 36 rooms and suites have private terraces overlooking the surrounding countryside, or over the chic outdoor pool terrace. But all of the rooms are fresh and elegant, with beautiful views and traditional details like terracotta tiles, white muslin drapes and antiques. The restaurant serves Umbrian classics, and has a terrace with a view too, and of course the wine list is extensive. The spa offering includes an indoor heated pool, a Finnish sauna, hammam, and massage and treatment rooms.
- Borgo La Chiaracia is a five star spa resort on the Umbria/Lazio border, close to Orvieto and Lago di Bolsena. Designed to pamper, the sleek, state-of-the-art spa has beautiful pools — indoor and outdoor — plus hot tubs, a sauna and a number of elegant treatment rooms. The restaurant is headed by a chef who has earnt his stripes in Michelin-starred kitchens and the wine cellar is extremely impressive too. There are just 26 rooms and suites, spread between three traditional buildings, and surrounded by lush, serene grounds.
For a Rural Retreat
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- The Abbazia San Pietro in Valle is a remote abbey in the Umbrian hills, turned comfortable, 19 room county escape. There is an historic simplicity to the decor, though, with terracotta floors, whitewashed walls, original dark beams and austere religious decoration in each room. The oldest parts of the abbey are 8th century, Benedictine, and there’s a beautiful frescoed chapel, where you can get married, if you’re Catholic. The food is excellent; they run cooking courses, and the Prosecco flows freely!
- Torre Palombara is a small property converted from the dove tower of an elegant villa, nestled into the Umbrian countryside, over the hill from the edge of Terni. It has just seven rooms and suites, decorated with antiques, to complement the original features which included tiled floors, beamed ceilings, large, shuttered windows, and pigeon holes — for the doves. The best suite has a private terrace. Outside is a large garden with a pool, and lots of secluded terraces and hidden corners. There’s no restaurant, but the hosts do offer an alfresco breakfast, and restaurant recommendations.
- Converted from a 16th century farmhouse, the Relais Casamassima is ideal for couples looking for a bucolic getaway. There are five guest rooms, all private-feeling, and arranged around a leafy central courtyard. Decor ranges from classic Umbrian romantic to more contemporary, minimal style. There’s a pool with a view that stretches far into the Umbrian hills, and the land surrounding the old farmhouse is still a working farm (farm produce is used in the hotel’s breakfasts, and in the light lunches and suppers they offer by arrangement).
For Luxury Lovers
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- Perugia’s Hotel Brufani is large and luxurious, set on a hill and offering views across the city and beyond. The facade is grand, and it has an aristocratic past to match. The interiors of the 94 rooms and suites have been dressed to match, but in a range of styles and colours, and levels of fussiness about the decor. The spa and restaurant are both suitably impressive too, and the service is excellent.
For an Intimate Escape
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- Tenuta di Canonica occupies an ancient watertower overlooking immaculate gardens, olive groves, orchards, and the medieval town of Todi. There are just 13 rooms in the tower, with beamed or vaulted ceilings, antiques, and sponge-painted walls in Umbrian hues. The hotel has a pool, a library, billiards room, and a restaurant where you can take cooking classes. A perfect Umbrian escape.
- Borgo di Carpiano is a whole medieval hamlet turned country house hotel 12km from Gubbio — its chapel has become a library and drawing room featuring original frescoes, and its terraced meadow now has an infinity pool and jacuzzi. There are just ten rooms and suites, many with living space as well as bedrooms, and private balconies and terraces. All are carefully resorted and decorated, and feature beamed ceilings and wooden floors. The excellent restaurant sources a lot of food directly from the grounds, and has a zero miles food policy.
For Great Value
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- Vannucci is a charming, 30 room hotel converted from a terracotta-painted villa in the bustling market town of Citta della Pieve, close to the border with Tuscany. Lush mature gardens surround the villa, and there’s a pool terrace, spa facilities, and an elegant restaurant which spills out into the gardens. They also have a pizzeria trattoria. Inside the decor is a comfortable mix of traditional and contemporary design, with plenty of public space for relaxing indoors too.
- The Alla Posta dei Donini is a 48 room hotel formed from two interconnected historic villas in Santa Martino In Campo, just south of Perugia. The exterior has the austere charm of the area, with a boxy shape and tall, narrow windows. Inside are high ceilings welcoming cool breezes, into classically decorated hotel rooms — the best suites have several rooms and original frescoes. There’s a pool outside, and a spa inside, with great facilities.
Best B&Bs
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- Il Ghiottone Umbro is a pretty B&B in Todi, with three light, bright and contemporary rooms in a former mill, on the edge of the historic part of town. Expect wonderful views, a garden with a terrace, an onsite cooking school, and stylish decor that references the building's original use and features original details in a contemporary way.
Still not sure where to book?