Villa Bastiola - Apartment Ulivo (self catering)

Absolutely super apartment in beautiful lush Umbrian countryside. Stayed 2 weeks and wish it was for longer. Apartment well appointed and kitted out with tasteful décor and furnishings. Hope to come back next year!!

This is the third time we have stayed in Villa Bastiola. The first time was for two weeks which was far too short so last year we booked for 4 weeks. This was still not long enough so on our return we immediately rebooked for six weeks this year. Guess what? We still don't want to go home on Saturday. The Villa has maintained it's standards of comfort and cleanliness. The kitchen is well equipped and it is a pleasure to cook the fresh food bought locally. There is a EuroSpar just down the hill in Verna. Unlike the supermarkets in England the choice of vegetables changes from day to day so it is fun to plan your meal as you shop. If you don't feel like cooking there is I Madriani, just a short walk away, which serves great pizzas and Da Mimma, a short drive away, which serves excellent fish and steaks. The best part of the holiday is to throw open the shutters in the morning or to sit on the terrace and to drink in the ever changing scenery. Photographs can never do it justice. On most evenings we just sit and watch the sun go down. The sunsets are absolutely stunning, ranging from pale pinks and blues, through silvers and golds to intense oranges and reds. Villa Bastiola is an ideal base for exploring other parts of Umbria and also Tuscany. But it is just as good for relaxing in the Umbrian countryside and doing absolutely nothing.

We have stayed in the apartment in Villa Bastiola last year and this year and enjoyed every minute. The apartment is exactly as described on the website, very comfortable, great kitchen, very clean, fantastic views, lovely garden. Sally-Ann and Marco are very friendly and kindly and we enjoyed Emma's company. This is a wonderful area in Italy and we visited most of the local historic towns like assissi, Arezzo, Perugia, Sansepulcro, Gubbio. We love driving in the mountains surrounding the villa and eating great Italian food, including the lovely restaurant 2 minutes walk away.

We have spent one glorious month at VB. Admittedly we were lucky with the weather - only two days of rain - but the combination of fantastic countryside surroundings with the comfort and amenities of the Villa made our holiday just perfect. Sally ann, Marco and the inimitable Emma make you so welcome. The location is perfect for sightseeing in Umbria, convenient for shopping and I Mondriani, the restaurant 5 mins walk away, is great for reasonably priced eating out. In addition the weekly maid service allows an easy pace of life. We can't think of a better self catering apartment with its well equipped kitchen and brilliant situation. Many thanks to the Marconi family and their music for a great holiday. I hope that we will be allowed back next year.

We visited Villa Bastiola in april 2012 for 9 nights, with our little toddler, aged 1. The apartment was beautiful, a fabulous big luxury kitchen, where we enjoyed many an evening cooking pasta and risotto! There were two beautiful bedrooms, both tastefully furnished and comfortable and from each window, we enjoyed the most beautiful breath-taking views of the Umbrian landscape. For our little girl, a cot was provided in the second bedroom, made up so beautifully and pretty. A soft play mat and all the toys and books (in English!) she could ever want for, not to mention a big soft play mat, a fantastic walker and a baby bath tub too. We had lots of fun making words out of the colourful letter blocks and making a 'leaning tower' out of the stacking cups! :) The outdoor space (weather permitting) was beautiful, it was safe, secure and our daughter enjoyed playing in the Wendy House and playing with the sand in the sand pit. The apartment was perfectly located for visiting many of Umbria's and Tuscany's cities and villages, for us, these included day trips to Montone, Gubbio, Cortona (from under the Tuscan Sun), Spello, Siena and assisi. On arrival, we met Sally ann and Marco, Sally ann (English) who was just lovely, welcoming, friendly and kind! Nothing was too much trouble! She helped us plan where to visit and what to see. On holiday, we had a medical emergency, where I was admitted into hospital for surgery, very frightening being in Umbria, where English is not widely spoken. But, Sally ann was fantastic, visiting me before surgery with my overnight bag and offering me much-needed assurance by translating the surgeon's diagnostics and intentions. Despite my hospital stay, we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday in Umbira and we would definitely recommend Villa Bastiola to all of my friends and family!

My husband, my daughter and I stayed in Villa Bastiola in May - June 2010 for a period of a couple of weeks. We were welcomed by our hosts Sally ann and Marco (and Emma also). They could not have been lovelier and incredibly helpful. Upon our arrival the kitchen was set up wth local produce and supplies to start our holiday. The apartment has been beautifully restored to a very high standard for their visitors. Along with the most beautiful linen in the bedrooms and bathrooms. The view from the Villa is just astounding. Panoramic views and stunning sunsets. We loved being able to visit the lovely medieval villages like Gubbio and assisi. We were also very privilidged to wake up to hear Marco (an amazing Jazz pianist)practising in the morning. What better way to start the day. We could not have wished for more with our stay with the Marconi family. A truly wonderful experience and one that I hope that we can repeat one day. Thanks Sally ann Marco and Emma for the most wonderful two weeks

We visited Villa Bastiola with our friends in September 2007 and were warmly greeted by our hosts Sally-Ann and Marco, who made us feel right at home with their friendliness and generosity. Our apartment was very well appointed with a great kitchen for preparing and cooking fantastic meals with locally grown foods and wine. The bedrooms and bathrooms are very comfortable with beautiful linen from the nearby Busatti shop in anghieri, a lovely place to visit! The living room has everything to ensure a relaxing stay - comfortable furniture and a host of interesting books and games to play. The villa is perfectly positioned for visiting nearby towns and smaller medieval villages - Citta de Castello, Gubbio, and assisi to name a few. We loved this rural, peaceful area in Umbria, and from the villa's windows we were spoilt with the most amazing panoramic views of hillsides and an ever-changing sky with beautiful sunsets. We would love to go back again one day! Thank you Sally-Ann and Marco, we enjoyed visiting you so much.

Our stay at Villa Bastiola was a long sought after dream. The home is beautifully historic but with modern conveniences and comforts inclunig a well set up kitchen for those who wish to cook. It is ideal for four people. There are beautiful views from every window. The location is central to many places of interest both large and small and restaurant just around the corner was a real bonus. The nearest town (and supermarket) is about 10 minutes away by car. The information provided prior to our arrival was accurate and clear enabling us to find our way there easily. Sally ann was very helpful with advice and information - especially as English is not widely spoken in Umbria. Whilst we loved the place and would happily recommend it to anyone I think it would be difficult to access without a car.

We stayed at Villa Bastiola for 7 nights, sharing with another couple. It was a perfect location to call home for a week, very comfortable with a lovely kitchen to do some home cooking, something you miss whilst travelling constantly. Sally ann and Marco were very welcoming and friendly and happy to assist with any queries. We took the opportunity to catch up on laundry too as these facilities were made available for our use. We spent our days exploring the beautiful hill-top towns such as Cortona, Umbertide, Citta di Castello, Gubbio and assisi and Spello. The driving was very relaxed on quiet country roads, allowing us to appreciate the countryside and take in the views. We enjoyed our time in Umbria and Villa Bastiola was a wonderful base to explore this lovely region.

Villa Bastiola has become a favourite place to stay in Italy. From the stunning views across the hills and olive groves when you open the shutters in the morning, to the delicious local meats and cheeses (and chilled Prosecco) we tuck into on the garden terrace in the evening - just perfect. The apartment has been restored beautifully, so that it feels really traditional while having all the conveniences of a well appointed kitchen, and en suite bathrooms. We find it makes a great base to explore Umbria and Tuscany; we've discovered countless ancient walled towns and villages that have kept all their charm and never seem packed with tourists. But the icing on the cake is the family that owns and runs Villa Bastiola, Sally ann and Marco. They strike the perfect balance of acting as welcoming hosts, ready to offer recommendations and directions (in English!) if wanted, while never intruding. We've stayed at the apartment several times, and whenever we're there it feels like 'ours'. Wishful thinking, perhaps.