Special Città della Pieve

Umbria, Italy

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Idyllic Città della Pieve

Città della Pieve lies in the heart of Italy, where Umbria tips into Tuscany and the rolling green valleys of olive and cypress trees are decorated with fortified hilltop towns. Dominating the Val di Chiana in the province of Perugia, this small, ancient jewel of a town, with its Etruscan tombs, Roman ruins and proud artistic heritage, is a delightful feast of art and architecture, food and festivals.

A brief history of Città della Pieve

The birthplace of the Renaissance artist Pietro Vannucci, more commonly known as Perugino, and the holiday home of, among others, actor Colin Firth, economist and former Prime Minister Mario Draghi and interior designer Tricia Guild, Città della Pieve continues to exert its cultural pull.

Although small in size, there is a vast cornucopia of places to visit and things to see. Follow the blue signs of the Percorso dei Vicoli route that take you past the best of the churches and buildings, to the paintings and frescoes, through the Terziere Casalino, once famous for tailoring, and down the narrowest alley in Italy. Stare in amazement at Perugino’s paintings, at the Baroque church interiors and at the stunning views.

Seek culinary fulfillment in the many restaurants, pizzerias and trattorias and soak up the buzz, beauty and charm of one of Italy’s prettiest hilltop towns, before returning to the comfort and privacy of your villa near Città della Pieve.

Places to see in Città della Pieve

Round every corner of this little town is another treat worth checking out, but if we had to make a list of must-sees, this would be it.

Festivals and markets to visit in Città della Pieve

Umbria, and specifically Città della Pieve, is brought to life throughout the year by its various, wonderful markets and festivals. Find saffron or truffles in one of the regular small markets or go big in August by joining in the traditional Medieval palio which ends in a massive flour fight in the piazza. There are festivals to celebrate spring, Easter and Christmas, steeped in tradition and full of colour and vibrancy.

Easter

Città della Pieve goes all out with a week-long celebration at Easter, culminating on Easter Sunday in four beautiful tableaux vivants of different scenes of the passion of Christ. These are done in the style of the old masters.

L’infiorata di San Luigi Gonzaga – June

Dating back to the 17th century, le infiorate are a celebration of the start of spring. Locals use flowers to create carpets of artwork depicting religious scenes or famous paintings, following a different theme each year, resulting in a riot of colour, fragrance and feeling spooling along the streets.

Umbria Jazz Festival – July

Taking place in the first two weeks of July, the festival brings jazz artists and enthusiasts together from all over the world. Debuting in 1973 and now with a smaller winter festival, too, previous artists include Diana Krall, John Legend and Lady Gaga.

Palio dei Terzieri – August

The biggest celebration of the year, the palio draws crowds of locals and tourists alike. In Medieval times the town was divided into three neighbourhoods who used to compete. The famous Corsa del Toro is a modern-day version of the bullfights that took place in the streets when the participants, armed with spears, faced a bull. Nowadays, bulls made from wood are used as moving targets and participants are dressed in medieval costumes, still eager for their district to win. The festival ends with a huge flour fight in the main square.

Presepe monumentale – Christmas

Every Christmas the town’s underground vaults are transformed into a fabulous life-size nativity scene. In the Terziere Castello, the half-a-kilometre-long trail is a beautiful reminder of the religious meaning of Christmas and there are various activities to help raise money for charity.

Food and drink in Città della Pieve

Food and wine in Italy are as integral to the soul as they are to the body. Umbria is no exception and is home to the crisp, dry white wines of Grechetto and the deep reds of Sagrantino. The countryside is famed for its truffles and Città della Pieve, itself, is renowned for its saffron.

There is a profusion of choice in Città della Pieve, from pizza to palombacci: the regional dish of pigeon wrapped in ham, from vino to cappuccino. Here is our pick of the best places to eat and drink.

  • Bistrot del Duca: Tucked away but well worth finding, this small, timeless restaurant serves delicious regional dishes, paired with local wine. The owner, Christian, will give you a warm welcome and the views from the terrace are equally inviting. www.bistrotdelduca.it; Via Sandro Pertini 1; +39 334 1890920

  • Trattoria Bruno Coppetta: A favourite with locals, this trattoria offers excellent local and seasonal dishes and wonderfully attentive service. www.trattoriabrunocoppetta.com; Via Vannucci 90; +39 0578 29 81 08

  • Trattoria Pizzeria Serenella: Tucked away down a little alley, this cosy pizzeria offers delicious, well-priced pizza and pasta and attentive service that is a favourite for the loyal locals who throng the tables here. Via Fiorenzuola 28; +39 0578 299 683

  • Ristorante Zafferano: This attractive restaurant, part of the Hotel Vannucci, is open to non-residents. The delicious food is accompanied by a stunning outdoor setting in the warmer months. www.hotel-vannucci.com; Via Icilio Vanni 1; +39 0578 298063

  • Molino 49: Molino 49 is a contemporary restaurant occupying an old, former olive press mill. The modern menu, like the décor, is beautifully curated, offering fresh, elegant dishes packed full of flavor using local ingredients, and stunningly presented. www.molino49.com; Via Cappuccini 18; +39 0578 321445

  • Seven Café: Run by two brothers who are passionate foodies, this café just south of Città delle Pieve, serves up delicious dishes with locally sourced ingredients. Stop for a coffee or book a table for a buzzy evening meal. You can even ask Michele and Andrea to take you truffle hunting with Argo, their dog. www.seven-café.it Via Sandro Pertini 28, 05017 Monteleone d’Ovieto; +39 0763 834130

Weather Città della Pieve

Città della Pieve has the perfect Mediterranean climate of warm springs and hot summers. Autumn arrives later than in northern Europe and is mild, and in winter the temperature rarely dips below 10*. The spring flowers, long, hot summers, autumn colours, gentle winters and low rainfall are an inviting combination.

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Holiday rentals near Città della Pieve

To experience the splendour of Umbria in all its hilly, verdant, foodie, sunny, rich glory is to stay somewhere comfortable, relaxing, pleasing and private where the living is easy. This is Special Umbria’s interpretation of luxury.

All our rental properties close to Città della Pieve are characterised by their unique locations away from the tourist zones. Our houses occupy prime positions, blending seamlessly into the rolling landscape, each with far-reaching views of the stunning scenery of Italy’s heartland.

We have designed and furnished our properties with a focus on luxury, comfort and privacy. Our portfolio includes an eclectic mix of country houses and modern villas, each one unique. Air conditioning, a pool and a spacious terrace come as standard, nearly all bedrooms are en suite and our houses all have a fabulous mix of locally crafted and designer pieces. There is space in each to enjoy being together as well as having some privacy. In short, our properties are the best version of a home.

Properties for sale Città della Pieve

At Special Umbria we have a passionate love and knowledge of Italy’s green heartland and we are familiar with pretty much every hill and valley within striking distance of Città della Pieve.

We are experts in finding, designing, constructing and styling rural villas that blend into the landscape and we love nothing more than matching people with property. Whether you are looking to buy a wreck or a castello, a plot of land or a high-spec designer villa, our real estate services can help. To whet your appetite, here is a handful of fabulous, different properties for sale in Città della Pieve from our sales portfolio.

Travel to Città della Pieve

Città della Pieve and the surrounding area are easily accessible thanks to the multiple airports in the area, including Umbria International Airport (Perugia), at 50 car minutes distance.

COUNTRY AIRPORT
Albania Tirana Airport
Austria Vienna Airport
Belgium Brussels-Charleroi airport
Italy Brindisi (Puglia) airport
Italy Cagliari (Sardinia) airport
Italy Catania (Sicily) airport
Italy Olbia (Sardinia) airport
Italy Palermo (Sicily) airport
Malta Malta Airport
Netherlands Rotterdam-The Hague airport
Poland Krakow airport
Romania Bucharest airport
Spain Barcelona airport
United Kingdom London Stansted Airport
United Kingdom London Heathrow airport

Other airports are Ancona International Airport (Le Marche), at 2 hours by car, Florence international airport (Firenze-Peretola), 1.45 hours by car and Rome International airport “Giovan Battista Pastine” (Ciampino), at 1.50 hours by car and Rome Intercontinental airport “Leonardo da Vinci” (Fiumicino), at approximately 2 car hours. Città della Pieve has a train station nearby in Chiusi – Chianciano Terme from where you can travel directly to different destinations and airports in Italy, even abroad.


Would you like to know more about our holiday rentals, our properties, or our services in Città della Pieve, Italy? Check out our Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more information, view our available rentals on our website, or feel free to contact us! We are more than happy to help you.