activities
Here the plan is made over breakfast, and it often changes its mind. A whole day by the pool is worth just as much as a day of sightseeing: that is part of why you came.
When you do feel like moving, everything is a short drive away: the vineyards, the lake, the hilltop villages, two regions best explored slowly and the festivals that fill the squares from July onwards.
at the house
Most days begin and end right here, without ever going through the gate.
- the pool morning laps, an afternoon nap on a lounger, the children diving in again at five
- long tables a table laid under the vine for 12, pasta, cold wine and nobody checking the time
- the gym for those who keep their routine, air conditioned and steps away from the bedrooms
- the library armchairs, quiet and enough to read until the end of the holiday
- evenings cards on the terrace, a film in the living room, or simply the stars above the hills
in umbria
Medieval hilltop towns, the regional capital and one of Italy's great cathedrals, all less than an hour from the house.
orvieto
One of Umbria's great treasures, only around 40 minutes by car, Orvieto deserves to be near the very top of the list. Dramatically perched on a volcanic plateau, the town seems to rise straight out of the landscape.
At its heart stands the extraordinary Duomo, one of Italy's great Romanesque-Gothic masterpieces. Beneath the streets, an entirely different Orvieto waits to be discovered, with caves, cisterns and traces of its Etruscan past.
But part of Orvieto's charm is simply wandering: little shops, beautiful streets, a long lunch and perhaps a glass of the local white wine. Close enough for half a day, but easily worthy of a full one.
assisi
Beauty, history and a very special atmosphere: around 1 hour from Città della Pieve, Assisi is one of the great destinations of Umbria. Built in the pale pink stone of Mount Subasio, the town is forever associated with Saint Francis.
The Basilica of Saint Francis and its remarkable frescoes are reason enough to visit, but Assisi is also a beautiful town in its own right, filled with medieval streets, stone houses, quiet squares and sweeping views over the Umbrian plain.
Even visitors with no particular religious interest often find something deeply peaceful about the place.
perugia
The heart of Umbria, about 45 minutes away, Perugia brings a completely different energy. The regional capital combines Etruscan history, medieval architecture, museums, shops, restaurants and the lively atmosphere of a university city.
Walk along Corso Vannucci, stop at Piazza IV Novembre and the Fontana Maggiore, explore the Palazzo dei Priori and enjoy a little more city life before returning to the tranquillity of Villa San Biagio.
civita di bagnoregio
The village suspended in time. Around 50 minutes from Città della Pieve, Civita di Bagnoregio is unlike anywhere else in the region: perched dramatically on a fragile tuff hill, the tiny medieval village is reached on foot via a long pedestrian bridge.
Leave the car behind and walk towards what appears almost to be an island floating above the valley. Known as the dying city because of the erosion affecting the hill on which it stands, Civita was founded by the Etruscans more than 2,500 years ago.
Today its tiny lanes, stone houses and extraordinary setting make the approach itself part of the experience.
into tuscany
Just across the border, the Tuscany of postcards: wine towns, cypress-lined roads and the Val d'Orcia.
cetona
A little Tuscan gem just across the border, Cetona is only around 20 minutes away, making it one of the easiest ways to dip into Tuscany. Smaller and quieter than Tuscany's famous destinations, its intimacy is precisely what makes it so appealing.
Its elegant Piazza Garibaldi gives way to narrow medieval streets climbing towards the Rocca, with beautiful stone houses and glimpses of the surrounding countryside.
Cetona does not need an itinerary. Go for coffee. Wander. Have lunch. Sit in the piazza.
montepulciano
Wine, Renaissance beauty and classic Tuscany: around 30 minutes from Città della Pieve, Montepulciano is an easy way to step into the Tuscany of postcards. Set high above the Valdichiana, the town is famous for both its Renaissance architecture and its Vino Nobile.
Walk slowly uphill towards Piazza Grande, visit one of the historic wine cellars hidden beneath the town and make lunch part of the experience.
pienza and the val d'orcia
The Tuscany you imagined. For one of the most beautiful days out from Villa San Biagio, head towards the landscapes of the Val d'Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and string three stops along the way.
- Pienza elegant, harmonious and wonderfully small, transformed in the 15th century according to Renaissance ideals. Walk through town, admire the views and make sure to taste the local pecorino.
- San Quirico d'Orcia continue through cypress-lined countryside towards San Quirico, perfect for a quiet wander, coffee or lunch.
- Bagno Vignoni then finish at magical Bagno Vignoni, where an ancient thermal pool occupies the centre of the village. Towards the end of the day, when the light softens and steam rises above the water, the atmosphere is particularly beautiful.
cortona
A Tuscan classic, about 45 minutes away, Cortona is the kind of town that encourages you to wander. Its Etruscan history, medieval streets, ancient palazzi, little artisan shops and traditional trattorias all sit high above the Valdichiana.
Spend the morning sightseeing, stop for lunch, browse the shops and slowly make your way home through the countryside.
siena and montalcino
For a longer Tuscan adventure, Siena and Montalcino make wonderful full-day excursions, around 1¼ hours by car, for guests happy to travel a little further.
Siena offers Piazza del Campo, its magnificent cathedral and some of Italy's finest medieval architecture. Wine lovers may prefer Montalcino, home of Brunello di Montalcino, perhaps combining a winery visit with lunch and a slow drive through the Val d'Orcia.
These are days not to rush. Leave after breakfast, have a proper lunch and take the scenic road home.
further afield
For those who want to go further, two seas within a day's reach: the Adriatic to the east, the Mediterranean to the west.
loreto and the adriatic
A remarkable journey across Italy: for a longer day out, travel east through the Umbrian landscape towards Loreto, in the Marche region, home to one of the most important Marian sanctuaries in the Catholic world.
At the heart of the magnificent Basilica della Santa Casa lies the Holy House, traditionally venerated as the house of Nazareth connected with the Virgin Mary and the Annunciation. The sanctuary has been an important destination for pilgrims for centuries.
Loreto can also be combined with the nearby Adriatic coast, making it possible to experience an entirely different side of central Italy in a single day. A visit to the basilica, followed by seafood and an afternoon by the sea, makes for a memorable excursion.
a day by the mediterranean
From the hills to the sea: in the opposite direction, even the Mediterranean coast is within reach. The area around Capalbio and the southern Tuscan Maremma can be reached in around 2 hours by car.
Leave early, spend the day by the sea, enjoy a seafood lunch and return to Villa San Biagio in the evening. It is another reminder of how varied a stay here can be.
Countryside in the morning. The Mediterranean for lunch. Home in Umbria by evening.
wine and the table
This part of Italy is meant to be discovered through food. Look out for saffron from Città della Pieve, long one of the town's characteristic products, Umbrian olive oil and truffles, pecorino from the Val d'Orcia and the great wines of Montepulciano and Montalcino.
Visit small producers, wander through the markets of Città della Pieve, Chiusi and Panicale, book a winery lunch or a cooking class at one of the neighbouring farms, or simply bring a basket of ingredients back to the villa.
Some evenings are made for restaurants. Others are made for a simple plate of pasta, a bottle of wine and dinner on the terrace.
outdoors
Between two day trips, the simplest pleasures are also the closest.
- Lake Trasimeno swimming, sailing and cycle paths along the shore
- the Chianciano baths hot springs and spa, perfect on a cloudy day
- Bagno Vignoni the ancient thermal pool of the Val d'Orcia, at its best in the evening light
- walking and cycling the tracks between the olive groves, best early or late in the day
the summer highlights
Umbria spends its summer outdoors. Here is what should shape the 2026 season, to be confirmed closer to your stay.
- Umbria Jazz, Perugia from 3 to 12 July, concerts all over town, from free open air stages to the big names
- Palio dei Terzieri, Città della Pieve from 10 to 23 August, costumed parades, crossbow contests and neighbourhoods in celebration, minutes from the house
- Bravìo delle Botti, Montepulciano on 30 August, a barrel race up the steep streets, not to be missed
- evenings in Orvieto festivals, night markets and terraces open late all summer
with children
The house gives them room: the garden, the pool, the staircases, the corners to explore. You lose sight of them without ever losing them.
For days out, the lake beaches and the boats to the islands work at every age. Hilltop villages take an hour to visit, ice cream included, before the heat sets in.
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