Relais Casamassima

Five kilometres from the centre of Perugia in the Umbrian countryside.

There are just a handful of suites here, guaranteeing privacy and exclusivity. Each one is individually decorated, including with colourful artworks from around the world, and they are elegant and spacious. As well as traditional features such as wooden-beamed ceilings, characterful stone walls and fireplaces and antique-style furnishings, they have LCD TVs, mini-bars and stylish mosaic-tiled bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs. There are plenty of spots to relax, with comfortable sitting rooms and private terraces perfect for breakfast or an evening cocktail as the gardens are lit with glow worms.

This is a working farm, and you can enjoy delicious regional cuisine made with produce grown on the farm, including fruit, vegetables and award-winning olive oil, washed down with Relais Casamassima’s own wines. Learn how to recreate the local specialities yourself with a cooking class, and there is a shop where you can buy products and local handicrafts to take home.

Cool off with a swim and linger in the pretty gardens as you take in the scenic views over the valleys of vineyards and olive groves and listen to the chirping of crickets and cicadas and the tinkling bells of the sheep. For something more active, you can play tennis or golf nearby and trek the trails in the Sibillini Mountains, or explore historic Perugia and Assisi. Just ask Anna, the hotel’s legendary host, for her tips on what to see and do – she will give you all her knowledge on the hidden gems not to miss!