Description

Step out onto your terrace, gaze out at that picture perfect view and feel your breaths get a little slower, your mind feel a little calmer.

Villa Barco is a luxury villa in Umbria – the perfect spot to switch off and enjoy a slower pace of life – with a little luxe thrown in. Set on the border of Tuscany and Umbria, in some of the world’s most iconic countryside and within the stunning Castello di Reschio estate, you couldn’t hope to find a location that offers more privacy and peace, as well as lots to keep you busy if that’s what you’re looking for.

With stunning views, a range of outdoor living areas, terraces and a private infinity pool, you could happily spend all week just within the grounds of Villa Barco itself. Shopping and chefs can be arranged so that you need only do as much or as little as you like, and there’s plenty of space in this open-plan property for everyone in your party to find their own niche, socialising when the mood takes them and enjoying the quiet when they don’t.

A deep love of Italian craftsmanship has informed the design and renovation of the villa – terracotta floors, hand-painted tiles, lime-washed beams and more bring a rich, rustic feel and a sense of the estate’s history to the villa. The open-plan spaces are light and airy and perfectly designed for sharing with family and friends. Whether you want big, buzzy gatherings over delicious food long into the evenings, or simply a spot for everyone to retreat to for some me-time, you’ll find it here. Each of the luxury bedrooms is individually designed with eclectic treats from freestanding baths to modern four-posters to antique furniture pieces. Some come with hideaways for children, elsewhere there’s a separate guest cottage where nannies or grandparents can find a quiet moment away from the melee to recharge from time to time. It’s a villa that ‘just works’.

It’s also a villa that really makes the most of its views and location. Head out to the courtyard for breakfast in the fresh air as you gently start your day, linger in the sun by the pool in the afternoons, and sit for long, leisurely evenings at the outdoor dining area. Watch the sun set over the Umbrian hills, with a local tipple or two and some Italian delicacies, as the sky gets dark and a million stars start to twinkle.

The estate can arrange countless activities, from clay-pigeon shooting to horse-riding, and has its own wonderful enoteca, boutique shop and restaurant serving local specialities and classic Italian dishes. Thousands of acres of meadows, olive groves and oak forests make for endless walking routes. You can do as much as you want to, and when you fancy some time alone, simply close the front door on the world and make the most of the quiet of this wonderful villa.

It’s a heady atmosphere here – the very best of everything, from luxury bedlinens to beautiful antiques and artworks, food and drink to tantalise the senses at every turn, and always the aromatic wafts of rosemary, lavender and bay filling your nose in the warm Umbrian sun. We think we’ve found a little bit of paradise in the hills of Italy.