A Brief Overview of the House and Region
Villa Torri
The villa was originally constructed in the early 1600s by a farming family whose ancestors still manage the surrounding 50 acres (20 hectares) of farmland. Today the family grows sunflower crops in the summer that bring the hills alive in an explosion of yellow.
Villa Torri fell into ruin for many years but was completely reconstructed in its original footprint in the early 2000s. Today it is still undergoing periodical updates and renovations to keep its design intact but convenient for guests. The stones in the walls of the house are the locally mined stones that were salvaged from the rubble of the original villa.
Gualdo Cattaneo and “Le Torri”
Gualdo Cattaneo, which is a hilltop town about 10 km from the house, has a 1000-year history and is important to Umbria’s cultural heritage. It was founded in 975 by Count Edoardo Cattaneo, a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire. Because of its high elevation and proximity to rival city-states, the village was frequently fought over and governed by Foligno and Spoleto.
In 1494 Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia, of the famous Borgia family) commissioned the building of a triangular fortress with truncated towers and underground passages. That fortress still stands today and is worth a visit.
There are multiple small hamlets in the area around Gualdo Cattaneo (San Terenziano, Barattano, Grutti, Marcellano) that were medieval fortresses and castles that were used to defend Gualdo Cattaneo during the Middle Ages (13th – 14th centuries). “Le Torri”, which you can see from the house across the fields, was one of these defense fortresses that still exists today.
The Martani Mountains
These are the Martani Mountains, and they are an ideal location for lovers of the outdoors who don’t want to miss out on discovery and history. If you love hiking and trekking, there are a myriad of hiking and mountain biking trails where you can enjoy the unique landscapes and views of Umbria while visiting ancient villages and religious sites. Visit Umbriatourism.it for more info!
Welcome to Umbria!
Known as “the Green Heart of Italy”, Umbria has a fascinating history, friendly culture and amazing food and wine. It’s been at the crossroads of Italian history – the historical home of the Umbri and the Etruscans, the home of famous saints like St. Benedict and St. Francis of Assisi, home to historically significant towns like Perugia, Gubbio, Spoleto, Orvieto and Assisi – and much more. Umbrians are down to earth people who are proud of their heritage and history and committed to preserving their region’s unique and important past.
Visit umbriantourism.it for more information and suggested visits while you enjoy your time at Villa Torri.