Mazzini 31

How would you describe Mazzini 31 in a nutshell?

Framed by the undulating landscape of Umbria, Mazzini 31 is an elegant and romantic 3-bedroom villa rental in Monteleone d’Orvieto. Modern luxuries and comforts are combined with century-old character, just a touch of whimsical, as well as contemplative and beautiful views. Think frescoes accented by bold interiors, converted caves and a luxury spa.

Tell us a bit about the history of the villa and the interior design.

The building is from the 14th century but its current layout is from the late 1700s when it was owned by a rich family and then divided into multiple residences among heirs. We purchased the more ‘noble’ of these apartments with frescoed walls and ceilings, a beautiful terrace annexed to it and the old stables of the building and turned it into a luxury vacation rental.

We wanted to preserve all that was original and of historic value but at the same time really infuse the home with contrasting elements of modernist design. We used materials and furnishings that felt noble and elegant and in a way are almost the modern versions of the old elements.

How would you describe the atmosphere at Mazzini 31?

It is an extremely romantic and elegant vacation home. On the walls you can still read and feel the patina of the centuries but the new interventions and the many updates we added make it extremely luxurious and comfortable.

There’s a touch of whimsical that we always like to infuse our projects with, to make them unexpected and intriguing, and this is particularly true in this house. The original rooms are so well proportioned and lovely that one feels comfortable and poetically inspired just being in them.

Tell us more about the stunning swimming pool and spa at the villa.

We love it! This area was the old stables of the building and there was still manure on the floor when we bought it. They also stored all their olive oil production there and you could still smell it! Because the house has limited outdoor space we thought of creating a private spa here with pool, hot tub, lounging inside and outdoor as well, a minibar/kitchenette and a full bathroom.

During renovation we found areas of the floor that looked cemented. As we removed the cement we discovered 2 underground caves carved into the stone, perfectly preserved. There were still old bottles of wine and barrels in there! We cleaned up the caves, restored the beautiful stairs and converted the larger of the two into a wine cellar for our vacation guests’ use. The entire spa area has in-floor radiant heat so even in the dead of winter this will be the most enjoyable pool around.

To you personally, what is so special about the whole experience of staying at Mazzini 31?

The special aspect of this rental is the peace and quiet of its surroundings. The views are contemplative and beautiful. The house feels like an elegant oasis that is also very connected to the rest of the world so in just a short drive you can be in some of the most beautiful cities of Umbria and Southern Tuscany. The whole experience of being there feels relaxing, away from it all yet not remote or isolated in any way. I can’t think of many places that feel this way. I think about it as a writer’s retreat!

What would you recommend to see or do in this part of Umbria?

Lots of very well known sites like the wonderful towns of Perugia, Assisi, Montepulciano Orvieto, Cortona. One of my favorite highlights is the the nearby convent of ‘La Scarzuola’. It’s a famous architectural utopian dream of blending a Franciscan monastery with a fantastical ideal city made of Tufa rock. It is still a work in progress but as charming as it gets. Another highlight are the summer festivals and Palios with processions that occur in all the towns from June through September. They are all great fun and all the locals volunteer and cook for everybody in piazzas, tavernas, and gardens which makes them all very convivial and fun events. Another great thing to enjoy is the monthly Antiques market in the city of Arezzo.