Relais Casamassima

Rooms

All suites are huge, homely and characterful spaces that you won’t want to leave. Seductive lighting throws a warm glow on bare stone walls, a decorative wooden bed is reflected in a mirrored armoire, and peonies sit on an antique chest of drawers. A canvas of a nude dominates an anteroom, and Anna has included thoughtful little extras like bottle openers should you fancy a soak with a glass of red (choose Suite 2 or 4).

Suite 1 is themed in cool greys and blues. Its bathroom, with a large shower, is distinguished by a rustic mix of new and old: a gilt-framed mirror on an exposed stone wall touched with tiny mosaics. It shares a large terrace with seating with Deluxe Room next door, a double/twin room with a lofty beamed ceiling. Families with older kids should book the two together.

Decorated in warm biscuit shades, romantic Suite 2 has a Jacuzzi tub and hydromassage shower. Outside there’s a stunning stone loggia sprinkled with fairy lights.

Decorated in sage green and purple with Art-Deco styling Suite 3’s fireplace is big enough to sit in. In the bathroom there's a magnificent shower with horizontal jets, and it also has a small balcony for stargazing.

The most recent addition is the B&B’s most decadent room, where we were lucky enough to stay: welcoming Suite 4 with its split-level bed and lounge area, and large bathroom with a big freestanding tub and walk-in shower. We were charmed by the exposed beams and original old barn brickwork.

Most rooms (other than Suite 4) have private terraces, and some have deliciously deep bathtubs. But safes, minibars, wide modern sinks on thick slabs of travertine, colour-changing chromotherapy showers, goose-down duvets and pillows, and organic toiletries are the norm across the board.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Fireplace
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is served in the conservatory, where the citrus trees were once housed in winter. Big windows overlook the garden and trees; there are smart cane chairs, cream china, and fresh flowers on glass-topped tables. Due to an early flight, we sadly missed out on breakfast, but you can expect homemade cakes and jams, eggs (from the hens) cooked as you like them, yoghurts, cereals, croissants, bacon, fresh juice, coffee and tea.

Light lunches can be served by the pool: Anna’s delicious omelettes and pastas, stuffed green peppers and tomatoes drizzled with olive oil, meringues and plum cakes, fresh hazelnuts, peaches, strawberries, cherries, and a wicked limoncello tiramisu. There's also a small selection of drinks in the stable guest lounge.

Anna's husband is a mean chef and, though they can't always provide it, we would highly recommend requesting dinner for at least one night. The menu is designed around what's in season; we were treated to a melt in the mouth spinach souffle, light fluffy gnocci with tomato & beef, followed by seared wild boar meatballs with a side of fennel and orange salad. It was incredible homemade food, washed down with their own red wine (they produce a small batch for guests only).

Unfortunately, there is no restaurant within walking distance, but you can take a taxi to Perugia (mere minutes) where there are plenty of dining options - ask Anna for recommendations.

If you want to take a little bit of your holiday home with you, an on-site shop sells the agriturismo’s own olive oil and wines - i-escape guests get a complimentary bottle of their choice.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Lunch by arrangement
• Room service

Activities

• Sample the local wines, starting with Casamassima’s own; its vineyards were planted at the end of the 1800s. Also try Montefalco’s elegant sagrantino reds - little-known outside Umbria - and Orvieto’s crisp whites
  
• Take your pick of Umbria’s hill towns. All have enough to keep you busy for the day - Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto, Todi, Spoleto and Norcia. More intimate are Montefalco, Bevagna, Spello, Trevi, Narni, Bettona, Città di Castello and Città della Pieve. Anna can organise guided tours
  
• We love Montone, closed to traffic and perfectly preserved, where you can feast on Slow Food at the lively little Il Capitano hostelry and visit the 11th-century frescoe’d chapel of San Francesco
  
• Follow the spectacular mountain road to Gubbio and immerse yourself in 2,000 years of history. There’s a Roman theatre still used in summer, plus palazzos, churches and the Duomo. Don’t miss the cable car that links the sanctuary of St Ubaldo to the summit of Mount Ingino, for breathtaking Apennine mountain views
  
• Trek or ride in the mythical Sibillini mountains of Monte Subasio Park: spot a wild cat or a porcupine, and discover the Gorge of the Inferno, where butterflies flit, rivers flow and the wild flowers riot in early June
  
• In summer, you can relax by the B&B's little pool, surrounded by lavender and pear trees - magical from dawn until sunset
  
• In winter, flop onto a large cream sofa in the sitting room in the stables. Dip into books, magazines and games, with music and a glass of the hotel’s red. Like home, only better
  
• Treat yourself to a massage in the tented garden spa - book in advance
  
• Play golf and tennis - both are close. Just ask Anna for directions and information

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Cycling
• Golf
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Wildlife
• Wine tasting

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome and there's plenty of space for them to run around, but the calm atmosphere, unfenced pool and steps everywhere are better suited to older kids.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Deluxe Room can connect with Suite 1 via their shared terrace, and older children could make use of the twin beds. Suites 1, 3 and 4 all have a single sofabed.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Relais Casamassima is tucked behind Perugia, 4km from the city centre. Perugia is in Umbria, central Italy.

By Air:
The nearest airport is Perugia (16km) - a 20-minute drive. Rome, Florence and Bologna airports are 2 to 2.5 hours away. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
You could take a taxi, but you’d be better off hiring a car (see below).

By Train from the UK:
If you'd prefer to travel overland from the UK, you can reach Umbria quite easily from London. The nearest station is Perugia, 4km from the B&B. Visit the excellent Seat 61 for information about train travel from the UK.

By Car:
We’d recommend hiring a car to help you explore the area - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

More on getting to Italy and getting around