A medieval castle with pool in Umbria for large groups - CLASS LISTED / LANDMARKED BUILDING

OVERVIEW Castello di Magrano

The magnificent Castello di Magrano was built in the middle ages (1200 AC), to protect the town of Gubbio against Perugia. The castle has retained its defensive character from the outside, but four years of intensive renovation have turned the interior into an extremely welcoming and comfortable house for 14 to 35 guests.

The owners of the estate are descendants of the family of Napoleon Bonaparte and the castle has been in their family since 1830. The castle is surrounded by a park with centuries’ old trees, large lawns and a beautiful pool which looks out over the hilly 1400-acre estate. The estate is signposted with beautiful walks and in the appropriate season you can even go truffle hunting with local experts.

The accommodation is split across two buildings – the main castle, which sleeps 14, and the guest house, which stands to the side of the castle and connects to the castle via a corridor, which sleeps another 16. The most exciting rooms are of course up in the watchtower!

The ground-floor kitchen is modern and functional, a professional stainless steel kitchen. It opens up onto the courtyard and the back of the castle, both equipped for outdoor meals.

In and outdoor entertainment is given by a billiard table, ping pong, foot ball table, petanque and mountain bikes.

The local village can be reached in 5 minutes by car. Gems such as Gubbio, Perugia, Assisi, Cortona, Spoleto and Todi are all within easy reach.

The Castello can be rented for less than a week, there is a minimum 3 night stay. Please enquire about rates.

Amenities and services

Floorplan of the villa

Castello di Magrano - Ground floor

Dining hall
Dining room
Kitchen
Guest WC
Chapel

Castello di Magrano - 1st floo

2 living rooms
Terrace
Guest WC

Castello di Magrano - 2nd floor

2 doubles – each with en suite bath
1 double with extra single bed and en suite bath
1 twin, with en suite bath
1 bedroom with 3 single beds and en suite bath

Castello di Magrano - 3rd floor

Vast double bedroom, with extra single bed and en suite bathroom

Castello di Magrano - 4th floor

Vast double bedroom, with extra single bed and en suite bathroom

Annex - Ground floor

Living room
Dining room
Kitchen
Guest WC

Annex - 1st floor

3 double beds, each with en suite bath
1 bedroom with 2 double beds and en suite bath
1 twin with en suite bath

Annex - 2nd floor

Living room
2 double bedrooms, each with en suite bath

Garden :

Table for outdoor meals in front of the kitchen.
The castle is surrounded by a park with century old trees, large lawns and beautiful pool 7x14m, which looks out over the hilly 1400 acre estate.  The estate is signposted with beautiful walks.
The pool house has a shower and WC. Outdoor entertainment petanque, ping pong, mountain bikes

ESTATE: Magrano

The Magrano estate lies within a broad bend of the river Chiascio near the medieval city of Gubbio in Umbria. This region is justifiably described as the “green heart of Italy.”

The estate spreads over 1500 acres (600 hectares) of meadows and woods, offering a variety of paths for hikes, horse riding and – most exciting – the search of white and black truffles with specifically trained dogs (we can organise this for you). Signposted paths completed by instructions given by the owner will open up this nature reserve to you, where you will be able to see deer, roe, porcupines, wild boar and pheasants.

However, Umbria’s cultural and gastronomic abundance is not far. Landmarks such as Gubbio, Gualdo Tadino, Nocera Umbra, Perugia and Assisi can be visited in half or full day trips.

Amidst a beautiful untouched countryside stands the castle of Magrano. First mentioned in the early Middle Ages (1200 ac) playing a strategic role in the defence of Gubbio against Perugia, in the 15th century it became one of the favourite hunting lodges of Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino and Gubbio. His famous profile portrait by Piero della Francesca hangs in the Uffizi Museum in Florence.

A few centuries later, in 1830 to be precise, Princess Giulia Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon, became the new mistress of Magrano. Remo and Maria Camilla Giunta, the charming actual owners, are her direct descendants.

ACTIVITIES

• Gubbio is so perfect, it looks like a medieval movie set. The main monuments and sightseeings of the city include the Roman Theatre which is still in use for performances, the massive Palazzo dei Consoli, the duomo and the Palazzo Ducale.
• Gubbio is best known for its palio, the Corsa dei Ceri, a spectacular run held every year on May 15, in which three teams run through throngs of cheering supporters up much of the mountain from the main square in front of the Palazzo dei Consoli to the basilica of S. Ubaldo, each team carrying a statue of their saint.
• In Orvieto, don’t miss the fanciful Gothic Duomo, which soars seven stories high. Inside are magnificently vibrant and graphic frescoes of the Apocalypse by Luca Signorelli.
• In Assisi, you’ll want to visit the famous basilica dedicated to Italy’s patron saint, Francis. Frescoes by Giotto vividly tell the story of St. Francis’s life. In the Piazza del Comune you’ll find a church inserted into the remains of the ancient Temple of Minerva. Above town stands the Rocca Maggiore, a fortress that protected citizens during attacks. For a dose of nature and spiritual contemplation, walk to the hermitage, the Eremo dell Carceri.
• Assisi: Festival Calendimaggio, held on 1–5 May, is a re-enactment of medieval and Renaissance life in the form of a challenge between the upper faction and the lower faction of the town. It includes processions, theatrical presentations, flag-weavers and dances.
• In Spoleto, visit the Roman theater and the archeological museum for a view of ancient Umbria. Go see the pre-Renaissance frescoes by Fra Lippo Lippi and Pinturicchio. The church of San Salvatore is one of Italy’s oldest and is set within the remains of an ancient Roman temple.
• In Deruta, stroll the color-splashed streets where Italy’s most famous hand-made ceramics are produced.
• Visit charming Citta’ di Castello, which packs a lot into such a small town, with palaces, churches, towers, and –of course- a castle, all sitting pretty and begging to be explored.
• In Todi you’ll find all the main sights conveniently concentrated onto the Gothic Piazza del Popolo, which is itself set over top of an ancient Roman cistern system. Below town is the striking Renaissance church of Santa Maria della Consolazione.
• In Perugia, be sure to see the frescoes by local artist Pietro Perugino in the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria and in the town hall’s Sala del Cambio. Step back to ancient times at the Etruscan arch and Etruscan well. Enjoy the lively atmosphere at the large fountain, the Fontana Maggiore. Sample the chocolates named for the city.
• Perugia plays host to international visitors with its acclaimed annual Umbria Jazz Festival, held each July. A wildly popular chocolate festival every October pays homage to the city’s sweet side.
• Spoleto offers up culture, dramatic performances and musical concerts during the Festival dei Due Mondi.
• Gubbio’s Roman theatre is a dramatic setting for summertime, open-air performances.

RATES

GUEST REVIEWS, Castello di Magrano, Magrano

LOCATION

The Castello di Magrano lies at 5 minutes by car from the village of Carbonesca and a 30 minute drive from Gubbio.