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The hills of
Bettona offer a haven of peace and tranquility in
untouched countryside, the perfect location for your
holiday in Umbria.
Our estate
‘Ville San Gregorio’
offers guests two forms of accommodation: a
splendid detached villa with a tower over two
floors, and a fully renovated stone farmhouse, set
in the hills of the estate. These 7 hectares
consist of splendid terraces mostly covered by olive
trees, with breathtaking views of the entire Umbrian
valley.
As well as
olive trees, there are elms, poplars, oaks and fruit
trees: cherries, apples, pears, hazelnuts, figs and
prunes. The guests experience an amazing explosion
of flowers in springtime and in the autumn, enjoy
the fruit. A wood is part of the terraced estate,
and its trees (chestnut, walnut, oak, beech and elm)
are centuries old. It is an ideal place for those
who want to spend a relaxing holiday under the
influence of nature and the countryside. For real
enthusiasts there is the opportunity for long walks
and to pick wild asparagus (March-April-May),
mushrooms, blackberries, chestnuts and walnuts
(October-November). The estate is full of aromatic
plants: rosemary, santoreggia, sage, bay and mint,
whilst filling the air with their intense fragrance
are roses, lavender and
broom, which form a golden-yellow carpet over
the surrounding hills when they flower from June to
July. There are wild roses, and corbezzoli and
pomegranates which produce beautiful red flowers in
springtime, and in November and December their
fruits decorate our tables. Pine trees give us
precious pine nuts, that guests may gather and
taste, also pine cones, which are used to decorate
our houses during the Christmas period, together
with holly and pungitopo which grows naturally in
the wood.
The vast
terrace of the estate (7 hectares) which surrounds
the villa and farmhouse can be used for walks and
horse-riding.
Thanks to
its advantageous position, ‘Ville San Gregorio’
offers a spectacular panoramic view of cities home
to the highest culture and art: Perugia, Assisi,
Spello and Foligno. Its central position means the
many picturesque villages across the Umbria valley
can easily be reached on foot or by bike.
Fresh,
seasonal vegetables are always available to the
guests, as well as a selection of traditional
Umbrian produce which is produced on the estate:
oil, jam, cheese, cold meats, legumes (Norcia
lentils), Cannara onions and honey.
The name
The name
‘Ville San Gregorio’ arises from the land on which
the villa and farmhouse are built, which at one time
belonged to the Papal State, and was dedicated to St
Gregory.
 On
the boundary of our estate and still accessible by a
clearly visible route is the chapel of San Gregorio,
an original Benedictine structure dating back to the
12th Century.
The tower
of the farmhouse which dates back to 1200 was
originally built to defend ecclesiastical
territory. On July 2 every year the inhabitants of
the area go to the chapel of San Gregorio by the
only route possible: through our estate, and form a
majestic procession, taking gifts to the Saint.
They spend the whole day eating, singing, dancing
and playing instruments in
a great religious celebration, and this day of joy
and festivity transforms our estate into the
property of all.
Each year
on July 2 and the second Sunday in October the
chapel of San Gregorio the religious celebrations
are repeated as in times past. |
