The villa is perfectly located about 10 minutes outside of the medieval town of Todi... far enough out to truly be in the quiet countryside, but close enough to town if you forget to get milk at the grocery store or you want to pop in to Todi for a casual dinner. There are magnificent views of the Umbrian countryside from the terrace and from each of the rooms. You also have a great view of Todi on the hillside in the distance. We had a treat one night -- the festival of Santa Maria della Consolazione in Todi ended with a large fireworks display -- we were able to sit on the terrace and watch the fireworks while sipping Grappa and eating fresh figs picked from a local tree.
The house is well equipped. We had chef friends come from Sardinia, and with the tools and space available, incredible meals were prepared - grilled meats, hand made pasta, etc.
But the best part about this place is the host, Gian. From the moment he corresponded with us before our arrival to the goodbyes several weeks later, he was a great host, tour guide and new friend. His family has a long history with the property, so he not only knows the region, but is able to suggest many local spots of interest, from area festivals to restaurants worth a visit. He brought us wine from the local cantina that processes his grapes into white and red wine; and gave us bottles of his wonderful olive oil, which we enjoyed throughout our stay.
We had days in which we arose early to photograph the countryside at dawn and traveled to Tuscany; other days, we hung around the house, each person doing their thing: swimming laps, tanning, reading, working on a laptop, visiting the Sunday flea market in Ponterio, the closest market town. There's plenty of space for everyone. The washer came in handy, and the wifi was very good.
It's a great location from which to make day trips. Over a month's stay, we visited Perugia, Orvieto, Deruta, Chianti, Val d'Orcia with Montepulciano and Montalcino; Spoleto, Assisi, Bevagna, Montecastello di Vibio, Montefalco and the cutest little small village across the valley, Ilci.
If you are planning a trip of a week or more to Umbria, Torre del Mago is a perfect home base.
