This villa sits virtually in the shadow of an impressive medieval castle in the village of Torre Alfina, located in the middle of the Etruscan Highlands. The village is built around the castle, which belonged to the Monaldeschi and Bourbon del Monte families in turn, until it was purchased by Edoardo Cahen in 1880. The village has excellent views and two wonderful restaurants that are very traditional in style. There are also two small groceries, two cafes, and a gelateria. Traditional festivals are held throughout the year (see Nearby Attractions, below), and something is always in season: flowers, vegetables, grapes, chestnuts, and pinoli (pine nuts). This is also a great central location, convenient to many of Italy's best known destinations-- and some of its best kept secrets! It sits on the northernmost tip of Lazio (in Viterbo), a point that pushes right between Tuscany and Umbria so that all three regions are right at your doorstep. The villa borders the Monte Rufeno Nature Reserve, a vast expanse of forests and nature trails, great for walking or horseback riding. Just a few kilometers away you will find Lago di Bolsena, Europe's largest volcanic lake. Here you can participate in freshwater fishing, sailing, swimming, and sunbathing. A drive of a half hour to an hour will bring you to the towns of Civita di Bagnoregio, Orvieto, Pitigliano, Sorano, Sovana, and Viterbo, as well as the thermal springs of San Casciano dei Bagni. A larger radius of 165 km (75 miles) will put you within reach of Assisi, Florence, Gradoli, Gubbio, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Perugia, Pienza, Rome, and Spoleto. If you feel like a jaunt to the seaside, the Argentario, Capalbio, and the islands of Elba and Giglio are a little over an hour away.
Nearby Attractions: Medieval castle, hiking trails, spa towns, Lago di Bolsena, Florence, Rome, small villages.
Festivals of Torre Alfina:
- Festa di S. Antonio, January 17
- Festa di S. Barnardino da Siena, third Sunday in May
- Festa del Gelato, last week of July
- Festa Bucolica, first week of August
- Sagra delle Pappardelle al Cinghiale (Bowtie Pasta with Wild Boar Sauce), second week of August
- Festa della Madonna, first Sunday in September
- Santa Cecilia, November 22
Florence: 173 km/107 mi
Rome: 156 km/97 mi
Assisi: 110 km/68 mi
Siena: 105 km/65 mi
Perugia: 71 km/44 mi
Montepulciano: 66 km/41 mi
San Casciano dei Bagni: 35 km/22 mi
Lago di Bolsena: 25 km/15.5 mi
Orvieto: 18 km/11 mi
Torre Alfina: 50 m/164 ft