Romantic Valentine’s Day: villages, castles and fairy-tale atmospheres in the heart… of Italy! | Agriturismi.it

The most anticipated festival by lovers is upon us, and which frame is more dreamy and romantic than a medieval village, perhaps nestled in a gentle hilly landscape dominated by a legendary fortress? Here there are some tips to enjoy a Valentine’s fairytale in the heart of the peninsula, with a relaxing break at a farmhouse.

Cortona

Our romantic getaway begins in Tuscany, and more precisely in the Etruscan town of Cortona (Arezzo), at the border with Umbria. Located on a hill that in the past ensured the control of the surrounding territory, the town opens up with its stone marvels: the ancient fortress of Girifalco, commissioned in 1556 by Cosimo de’ Medici, the imposing Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta of the twelfth century, the Basilica of Santa Margherita, the town’s patron saint. Striking is the Hermitage of the Celle, founded in 1211 by St. Francis of Assisi, whose name refers to the small dwellings of hermits carved into the surrounding mountain, which stands in front of a beautiful waterfall. Cortona still retains some of its old walls, but the splendor of the ancient Etruscan times also lives at the foot of the hill, at the ancient altar and burial mounds, where wonderful treasures were found. The town center is dotted with medieval and renaissance palaces, and the amazing Palazzo Casali is the seat of the Etruscan Museum Academy, which gathers various collections. For those who want to enjoy the fabulous atmosphere of Cortona, the Farmhouse Ca’ de Carlicchi is located just outside the historic center, and it offers a romantic stay in the refined and recently renovated house.

Montefalco in the fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli

We now move into what is literally the geographic heart of Italy: Umbria. Here, in the province of Perugia, we meet the pretty village of Montefalco, in a panoramic position surrounded by olive groves and vineyards (it is also a renowned center of wine production of Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco!). The village, known as the “balcony of Umbria” thanks to its position, is home to one of the most important centers of Italian art, the Municipal Art Gallery housed in what was once the fourteenth-century church of San Francesco. Masterpieces of art of Umbria and Tuscany are preserved within these walls, like the apse frescoed by Benozzo Gozzoli with episodes from the life of St. Francis of Assisi and a beautiful painting by Perugino. The beautiful old city walls with the four ancient gates, and a real gem is the castle of Montefalco, where among others Frederick Barbarossa and Frederick II sojourned. For a romantic getaway, the Farmhouse Tenuta Stella is perfect for a weekend in an old stately residence decorated in a typical rustic style, where you can taste wine, olive oil and jams.

Moving now to the eastern side, here we are in the Marche, at the discovery of the ancient town of Corinaldo, a few miles from Senigallia (Ancona). Located in a hilly landscape, between the Adriatic and the Apennines, the center maintains a wall built in 1367, with doors, ramparts, towers and bastions. Not to be missed , just outside the walls, the collegiate church of Saint Francis and the early Christian basilica of Our Lady of the Plan, with the adjacent archaeological site. Interesting is the Hall of customs and traditions, which keeps clothes from the sixteenth century. Less than a kilometer from the heart of the village, stands the Country House Leondina, furnished in keeping with the rural setting, overlooking the gentle hills beyond. Here you can taste the typical products of the “Land of Frattula” from oil to wine, salami, cheese, and products rich in tradition.

The charming atmosphere of Civita di Bagnoregio

The next stage will take us in the province of Viterbo, in the Lazio region, in the small isolated village of Civita di Bagnoregio. This location (not far from Orvieto and Todi) is a truly unique setting: perched on a hill of tufa, and only accessible through a pedestrian bridge, Civita is also known as “the dying city” because of the gradual erosion of the hill on which it stands and the numerous landslides. The village lies in fact in the quaint valley of gullies, between Lake Bolsena to the west and the Tiber valley to the east. Founded by the Etruscans, the village retains some medieval houses, the church of San Donato, the birthplace of St. Bonaventura and the port of Santa Maria, with two lions holding a human head between his paws, in memory of an old popular uprising. Nearby, surrounded by olive groves, meadows and forests of chestnut, is Farmhouse Il Meleto, with a big garden full of lavender, roses and oleanders. The farm is located in an old stone building, recently renovated , respecting the original style, with apartments featuring tiled floors and beamed ceilings.

Farmhouse Il Meleto, Civita di Bagnoregio

Our romantic journey ends in Molise, in the beautiful Termoli (Campobasso), characterized by a promontory on which stands the ancient village, surrounded by walls overlooking the sea. The symbol of the city is without a doubt the Svevian Castle, built in Norman times but fortified by Frederick II in 1240. For lovers of hiking, the Maiella, Roccaraso and the Abruzzo National Park are within easy reach. Among the hills at about 300 meters above sea level, surrounded by olive trees, wheat and sunflowers and a few minutes from the Adriatic Sea, ideal for a relaxing stay in good company is the Farmhouse La Quiete, which also features cozy wooden bungalows apartments.