The Best Hotels to Book in Italy’s Umbria Region

The living room of Il Ghiottone Umbro’s guesthouse, complete with fireplace and elegant “Scanditalian” design, is worth devoting many of your waking hours to. Though not too many – as this hotel is also a cooking school, operated by two chefs from Copenhagen. They take their love of Italian cuisine to the next level and now offer private cooking lessons for guests. You’ll feel right at home in the seasonal kitchen as you learn to prepare traditional and contemporary dishes from the freshest ingredients in Perugia.

Locanda della Posta will lure you into the “living room” of Perugia. As the sole hotel overlooking the main street of Corso Vannucci, the location is only rivalled by the deluxe suite with a Jacuzzi Frame – both equally deserving of your time and wandering mind. Immerse yourself in the cascade of chromotherapy and hydromassage cycles, before allowing your eyes to be treated to the same rhythmic experience as you stand on your private balcony and watch the town of Perugia pulsing into the night.

Open your suite doors to the manicured garden at Villa di Piazzano each morning and envision living in this ancient noble home in the 16th century. Follow the sounds of the birds through the lime and cypress trees, letting your nose lead you to the aromatic kitchen garden. Enjoy the afternoon sun with a dip in the pool, or beat the heat with a taste of Tuscany in the ancient wine cellar.

With its Michelin-starred restaurant, Vespasia, you’ll likely stumble into Palazzo Seneca for its Norcia-centric menu of sweetbreads, eel and sheep ricotta pasta. We urge you to stay, and allow the concierge to arrange an interactive gastronomy experience for you to enjoy. From cooking classes and wine pairings to cheese-making and black truffle hunting, you can discover how nearly every delicious dish in the restaurant is made – savour each bite – then retire to your deluxe suite for a mini bar nightcap.

Its comfortable setting off the evocative Montefalco square is reason enough to stay at Palazzo Bontadosi – but this luxury boutique hotel sweetens the deal the moment you arrive. Allow them to suggest favorite items off the a la carte breakfast menu, before leading you down to the private Aquam Spa for a complimentary hour of relaxation. The concierge has a towel at the ready, so you can dry off and set off for a wine tasting at the local winery.

A relaxing underground oasis a millennia in the making, the limestone pillars surrounding the Nun Relais pool date back to the first century CE. This ancient monastery brings a spiritual element to your spa experience, pampering you with beauty rituals and luxurious essential oils as you worship the water that cleansed the ancient Romans. Upstairs, you’ll find a more modern affair: the minimalist Privilege Suite N10 is dressed in locally-crafted furniture and boasts a stunning fresco from 1612 brushed upon the plaster.

Wherever you stand, sit, and sleep at Casale Valigi, there’s a good chance you’re within arm’s reach of a locally-made product. From the handloom and handwoven fabrics and lime-based paint to the stone staircase and terracotta washbasins, this rural hotel prioritises traditional handicraft from wall to wall. In the Pietra (stone) room, you’ll settle in surrounded by ancient stone walls, raw terracotta flooring and fantastic views of the Narni medieval fortress.

3,000sqm (32,290sqft) may make the Borgobrufa Spa Resort the largest in Umbria, but it’s the attention to every square inch of your body that makes it one of the best. Four private spa areas, including a pool and sauna, in this adults-only hotel will soothe your every ache. When you’re not diving into this world of wellness, get a more concentrated taste of Umbria with local wine and homemade ciriole pasta at Quattro Sensi.

Rescued from abandonment and restored for your pleasure, the medieval fortified hamlet of Castello di Postignano redefines resort expectations. The spa, bowling green, pool, billiard room and cosy fireside reading room are reserved for guests only, but there’s much more to explore throughout the hamlet. A wine bar stocked with cheeses, oils and homemade biscuits, a charming cafe with views of the Valnerina valley, a quaint rose garden, vintage shop and an 11th-century church will make you feel like a local in minutes. Feel like you could stay forever? You could: these village buildings are for sale.