Tenuta Vaiano
A unique estate that offers historic Italian grandeur, architectural integrity and modern-day comfort, in a breathtaking setting.
Tucked into glorious countryside where Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany meet, Tenuta Vaiano is only an hour from Rome. This unique historic estate commands incredible panoramic views over the celebrated limestone canyons of the Calanchi National Park and Cività di Bagnoregio, the Etruscan town set high on a rock where ancient kings came to bathe.
Easily reached via the A1 motorway, the property sits in beautiful countryside with no light or noise pollution. Surrounded by two hectares of private parkland, there are a further 13 hectares, most of which is mature woodland. The estate includes an olive grove of 600-700 trees, as well as a kitchen garden fed by its own spring.
Built on the foundations of an ancient Roman watchtower, reconstructed during the Lombard period (850 AD) and extended in the 12th century, the manor house, including the original tower, spans three floors. Once a medieval military post, it was later transformed into an elegant palazzo. Approached along a cypress‐lined avenue, there’s a small and pretty freestanding chapel opposite the front door to the main house. An elegant, detached farmhouse with a striped façade at the start of the drive is in need of substantial renovation but retains beautiful original features. Four natural caves carved into the rock, one housing the old mill and another the original cellar, complete the estate.
Inside, the main house has been meticulously restored using authentic materials and maintaining period details, including ancient wooden beams, basalt-stone floors, terracotta tiles and pebble mosaics in the winter garden salons, coffered wooden ceilings, antique doors, and built‐in wardrobes crafted from reclaimed 17th-century cabinetry. Six LPG boilers (two per floor), a wood-burning stove and six working fireplaces ensure warmth and comfort throughout.
The estate is gloriously secluded, surrounded by two hectares of manicured parkland that includes centuries-old oak and cypress trees, as well as pergolas and gazebos, yet it is only 20km from the medieval Umbrian town of Orvieto, and Florence can be reached in ninety minutes.
Ground floor
A magnificent entrance hall leads into two sun-lit winter garden salons and an impressive double reception room with original antique fireplaces. There’s a formal double dining room, a cosy TV room, an expertly equipped kitchen in stainless steel, a larder, a medieval wine cellar with the original earthenware wine vessels still in place, plus two storage rooms, and a downstairs loo. There is a lift shaft already in place, that could provide access up to the third floor, if required.
First floor
There are four generous en-suite double bedrooms. A reception room and a quiet library offer further living space, with two private terraces overlooking the park. There’s also a small laundry room on this floor.
Second floor and tower
On the top floor there’s a large study that opens onto the tower’s reception room that has incredible panoramic views down the valley. There are three en-suite double bedrooms, a billiard room, a cosy sitting area, two storage cupboards, and an antique stone staircase leading to a mezzanine and a spectacular rooftop terrace.
Outbuildings and grounds
The manor house is surrounded by 15 hectares of woodland and an olive grove of 600-700 trees. There’s a 400m² walled garden with its own spring and a glasshouse. There are four caves in a rockface, one originally served as the mill for the estate and another, the original wine cellar, still houses the ancient casks.
Original details and modern comfort
The estate marries traditional character with contemporary comfort: there are six gas boilers (two per floor), an antique wood-burning stove, and six working fireplaces. Every door, coffered wooden ceiling, and terracotta tile is authentic, while fitted wardrobes incorporate genuine 16th- and 17th-century cabinetry. Flooring varies by room—basalt stone on the ground floor (with terracotta tiles in the TV room, larder, and one winter garden salon), antique parquet on the first floor (with stone-tiled baths), and a mix of all three on the top floor and in the tower—underscoring the property’s timeless elegance.
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