We’re big believers in immersing ourselves in the local culture when on holiday. After all, there’s no quicker or easier way to get a feel for a place than by exploring the local villages or towns and meeting the locals in person. Rent an Italian villa within walking distance of a village and you can enjoy an authentic Italian breakfast each morning – just head to the local cafe and prop up the bar with your espresso and cornetto. Then you can shop for the ingredients for your lunch at the local village store before heading back to your villa to spend the day. And then why not finish the evening back in the village enjoying a delicious meal? Check out these Italian villas within walking distance of a village and I can promise that you will enjoy a relaxing holiday like no other.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is to be found in the glorious town of Spello, Umbria. Look out of the windows to one side of the property and you’ll be gazing out at the rolling hills of Umbria, but head out the front door and you’re immediately in the charming cobbled streets of this authentic Umbrian town.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is to be found in the lakeside town of Ranco on the banks of Lake Maggiore. It’s a short walk to a choice of restaurants and a local village store, but even better, hop on the nearby boat network and you can find yourself in one of the other lakeside towns and villages in just a few minutes too!
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is, once again, to be found in the magical town of Spello, Umbria. New for the 2021 season, it’s absolutely beautifully furnished and offers the best of both worlds – a self catering property but with all the amenities you could wish for right on your doorstep. So, if your best pre-holiday intentions of rustling up a romantic dinner for your partner each night quickly evaporate, then you can easily head to one of Spello’s wonderful restaurants to enjoy a relaxing and delicious meal instead!
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is to be found perched above the lakeside village of Suna on Lake Maggiore. Head down through the private garden and you’ll find a secret gate that leads you to the lake. Here you’ll find a selection of authentic bars and restaurants. Alternatively, walk further on and you’ll reach the larger town of Pallanza offering an even wider choice of places to eat out.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is to be found close to one of our favourite towns in Puglia, Carovigno. It’s extremely picturesque with whitewashed buildings and a caramel coloured castle lining the many alleyways that stand within the old town’s walls and towers. However, it’s also the perfect location for foodies. Carovigno is, without doubt, an important stopping point if you’re a lover of food, home to a number of internationally acclaimed restaurants.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is the most traditional villa within our list and is situated within walking distance of the historic walled town of Anghiari. Stay here and you can shop for groceries at the town’s weekly Wednesday morning market or eat out at one of the many excellent restaurants.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is situated in the charming and authentic village of San Mamete on the shores of Lake Lugano. Head to the local store and rustle up a feast fit for a king or queen, all to be enjoyed from your private terrace enjoying exceptional lake views.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is found in the bustling, authentic town of Montefalco, Umbria. One of our favourite towns in Italy, there is so much packed within its ancient walls. Monday is market day in Montefalco when you can stock up on provisions but we can’t urge you enough to eat out as much as possible during your stay. The standard of restaurants in the town are exceptional, and dinner can be washed down with one of the impressive local reds that the region is famous for.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is our third option in Spello, Umbria. We’re not going to apologise for including so many villas in this charming Umbrian town though! It really is a special place to stay and Villa Giardino was the property we tried and tested when we visited Spello for the very first time. You won’t be able to resist falling in love with the interior decor, private garden and pool. And we reckon you’ll be just like us and end up eating out for breakfast, lunch and dinner too!
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is a short walk from the lakeside village of Portovaltravaglia on Lake Maggiore. One of our favourite lakeside towns, the village boasts a bustling weekly market, 2-3 excellent restaurants, a modern supermarket and selection of bars and cafes to enjoy.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is found just a short walk from the heart of the village of Paciano on the Tuscany / Umbria border. Home to our favourite bakery in Italy, it’s also where you’ll find some superb restaurants – La Loggetta, Oca Bruciata, Il Casale and Locanda Manfredi all come highly recommended! Incidentally, the latter is a favourite haunt of singer, Ed Sheeran.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is found in the heart of the lakeside village of Lesa on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Surrounded by a delightful and established garden, it’s hard to believe that when you step outside the door, you’re just a stone’s throw from the beaches, shops and restaurants of the town.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is found in the heart of Monopoli in Puglia. With its charming and prosperous fishing port, Monopoli is a thriving town all year round and we enjoy visiting off season just as much, if not more, than visiting during the peak Summer months.
This Italian villa within walking distance of a village is found in the heart of Florence. OK, so Florence is clearly not a village! But we couldn’t resist including at least one of our Florence apartments on the list. Situated in the San Frediano district of Florence, this is a location where you can still mix with the locals, despite the influx of tourists that Florence sees each year.