Bellona di Sotto came into existence in the middle ages as a beacon tower; by the 14th century it had grown, room by room, into a fortified farmhouse – a serene, charmingly asymmetrical building that seems as much part of the Umbrian landscape as the hills themselves. The recent restoration has left the building’s exterior virtually intact while updating the interior with impeccable taste. Walls painted in crisp white and floors laid in herringbone brick or terracotta tiles highlight lovely old beams, ancient wood ceilings and exposed stone walls. Light and mountain breezes filter into the large rooms; those facing the valley enjoy wonderful views of lush, forested hills. Each bedroom, aside from one on the first floor, is air conditioned and each has its own modern bathroom. The owners’ love of cooking and entertaining is evidenced by two very well equipped kitchens, one serving a dining room with a long table, the other an outdoor kitchen adjacent to a beautiful stone loggia with a second long table and a traditional Umbrian wood-burning barbeque. Below the house, a swimming pool shares a sunny terrace with loungers, a shady pergola and a third dining area with a barbeque. There is also an amphitheatre with full lighting and yet another dining area under a gazebo. An ideal spot for the active as well as the (temporarily) indolent, Bellona di Sotto is wonderfully located for touring both Tuscany and Umbria, whether by car or on foot along trails for all levels.
