Welcome to discover Umbria, Tuscany, Lazio
The Palazzetto, perfect base for day trips
​
Due to its excellent location on the border between Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio, Pornello is an ideal base to visit numourous highlights of the 3 regions: both Assisi, Perugia and Orvieto in Umbria, as well as Chiusi, Arezzo, Siena and Montepulciano in Tuscany and Bolsena and Viterbo in Lazio are reachable within an hour to an hour and a half. Your bullet list is endless: even a day in Rome or Florence is among the possibilities.
​
But also on a lazy day, when you're probably more eager to explore little gems nearby, many of them are hidden within a half-hour drive: get charmed by the smallest theatre in the world, taste the delicious white grechetto wine or spicy red sagrantino in one of the many cantinas. Get overwhelmed by the mishmash of architectural styles of La Scarzuola, splash in the cool waters of the "devil's hole". Indulge in local wild boar dishes or eat peccorino cheese in the picturesque Greppolischieto. Or just mayby you'd rather stroll through medieval Rotecastello or hike straight into the extinct volcanoes of San Venanzo. Cruising by vespa through the green heart of Umbria or even climbing the steep Monte Piglia on your steel steed, this barely touristy part of Umbria has something for everyone.
​
For whoever could profit from a bit of inspiration, some suggestions are highlighted below: from very local trips to day trips in Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio...
01
Vespa tour
Slowly cruising on a vespa in in the hills surounding the Palazzetto is a real treat: as Pornello is situated in the heart of the Monte Peglia Biosphere Reserve you'll discover the most astonishing views on Lago Trasimeno, Monte Peglia, the beautiful countryside of Umbria, La Scarzuola, olive gardens and small villages
Little gems nearby​
​
02
La Scarzuola
A visit to architect Tomasso Buzzi's bizarre, surreal world is not to be missed. What was once the Franciscan monastery of Monte Giove, Buzzi fleshed out into a fantasy world, crowded with all-seeing eyes, crowned little bees, a temple, a theatre, colonnades, a labyrinth, monster mouths, ponds, domes, clocks that are always at 7 o'clock,... One won't know where to look first or how to take it all in.
03
A knights night out in Rotecastello
Umbria has many feste and festivals, but that of Rotecastello is quite charming. This small hamlet has barely 14 permanent residents. Yet you can admire the colourful parade of knights, servants and fancy ladies in early August during the medieval festivities. The small restaurant, Locando del Borgo, also makes the drive worthwhile with its delicious Umbrian dishes. Those who continue on towards Todi will discover the world's smallest theatre in Montecastello di Vibio....
04
Slow living, slow dining
Well hidden in the hills around San Venanzo is the organic farm of Paulo and his mother Sandra. What began as an organic vegetable shop in San Venanzo grew into a life's work teaching children how to grow vegetables and raise small livestock. In the evening, the farm's chickens, goats, pigs and vegetables land on the plate of an extremely small-scale eatery. Slow living and slow cooking lead the way. Those who arrive at 8h in the evening will be treated to honest dishes until well past midnight.
05
Devil at work:
tane & borgone del diavolo
Sports enthusiasts who enjoy a good hike in natural surroundings will find what they are looking for in San Vito Castello: a quiet but brisk walk between the riverbed and the rocks along the Fersinone river. This is the heart of the Unesco Biosphere Reserve: indeed, this nature reserve was recognised for the presence of these exceptional rocks. To crown it all, take a dip in the Fersinone to see the "Borgone del Diavolo". From the small village Parano starts a second hike towards "Tane del Diavolo"
Umbria, the green heart of Italy
Unlike beautiful Tuscany, green Umbria is not overrun by a wave of tourists every summer. You still stroll peacefully through the narrow alleys of medieval hilltop villages like Spello, Bevagna, Asissi and Vinci and enjoy the many beautiful frescoes unimpeded. No rush to settle down on a terrace on a romantic piazza: there's always a table waiting for your company.
Take a balloon ride over the Montefalco's sagrantino vineyards around Asissi or be amazed by the power of the Roman waterfalls (Cascate delle Marmore) in Terni. Explore underground the dark Inquisition history of Narni or ferry to one of the 3 islets on Lago Trasimeno. Indulge your taste papillae at one of the numerous trattorias and go for a wine tasting at one of the wineries: have you ever tried a red sagrantino or a white grechetto before? Hire a bike or vespa for a trip around the lake or take a long walk through the Umbrian olive groves and vineyards between Bevagna and Montefalco. Or visit the strange mummies of Ferentillo. The Roman excavations of Carsulae or tiny Tiempieto di Clituno are also well worth a visit. Or find your inner peace in the St. Francis Basilic and Santa Chiara church in Asissi.
Under the Tuscan Sun​
For true culture lovers, Tuscany is an absolute must. From the palazzi, Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi in Florence to the Campo del Santo in Siena or the famous 14 towers of San Gimignano and even the almost 3,000-year-old Etruscan water system of Chiusi, every stone exudes the history of Italy.
Don't forget to take in the beautiful landscapes and monastries of Val d'Orcia or go in search of the small waterfalls of Val d'Elsa. Let the hot springs of Saturnia do their healing work. Go treasure hunting on the first Saturday of the month at Arezzo's antique market or simply go shopping in the Outlet Village of Valdichiana. Tuscany has something for everyone and is within reach of one hour to one hour and a half driving.
Lazio​
Few tourists reach Lazio for the sake of its distant location. Yet from Pornello, barely an hour's drive away, this beautiful part of Italy is definitely within reach. The Renaissance monster garden of Bomarzo immediately captures the imagination of young and old, and for the little ones it is a fun sport to recognise all the fairy tales on the facades of the village of Sant Angelo. Did you know you can spot an authentic Moai in Lazio? Climb up the steep bridge to the dying town of Bagnoregio. In turn, a day at the cobbled beach on Lake Bolsano is wonderfully relaxing in the absence of mass tourism. Have lunch in one of the trattoria's in the fishing village of Marta or explore the papal roots of Viterbo. Even a day trip to Rome (almost 2 hours away) is a possibility.
No better end to a hot summer's day than a refreshing dip in the pool. Once you return to Pornello fully satiated after a day of culture and nature, the clear blue water awaits you every evening. Who knows, you might even be tempted to a night dive under the stars.
Dare to throw open all the shutters and windows once dusk sets in. A subtle breeze of thyme, orgeano and lavender will make you breathe again. Precisely because it is located in the middle of the Umbrian hills and forests, the Palazzetto remains a wonderfully cool in the evening and at night. Enjoy the tranquillity of the Italian hill country and be enchanted by a beautiful starry sky in the garden. Catch your breath and enjoy absolute silence.
​
 View on the winery of Tenuto Castelbuono in Bevagna |  Piano Grande bij Castellucio |  Montepulciano |  Siena |
|---|---|---|---|
 Lago di Bolsena (Marta village) |  Pantheon in Rome |  Cathedral of Siena |  Val d'Orcia |
 The renaissance basilic of Todi |  Hot spring basin in Bagno Vignoni |  Roman theatre of Spoleto |  Dying city of Bagnoregio |
 Lago di Bolsena |  Santa Chiari in Asissi |  Detail of the facade of the cathedral of Orvieto | Siena, Il Campo |
 Fresco in the cathedral of Orvieto |  Spoleto, hill village |  Fontana Maggiore in Perugia |  Cathedral of Orvieto |
 Vitorchiano |  Fresco's in Asissi |
