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Photos Guest Book Information Prices Contact Us Castello di Gaiche (pronounced Guy Kay) sits proudly on the top of a high hill overlooking the Nestore valley, surrounded by lovely fields with wildflowers and extensive woodland.
Castello di Gaiche is in the
north of Umbria, 20 km south-west of Perugia and 15 km south of
Lake Trasimeno. It is about 45 minutes from the main A1 autostrada
that runs down Italy from Bologna, past Rome. The castle is 5 km south-east of
Tavernelle and to the south of Lake Trasimeno. The castle is
reached via a private 1.6 km " strada bianca" winding up
the hill above Collebaldo and the picturesque Castiglion Fosco. Our apartment "Papaveri" (Poppies) is situated on the ground floor of the square tower of the main castle building, shown in the photo opposite. Outside the apartment is a small private terrace with table and chairs where you can enjoy an al fresco meal or drinks whilst enjoying the tranquility of the garden. It is a true haven of peace
and tranquility where you can switch off, unwind and
have a relaxed holiday, exploring Umbria and
southern Tuscany, the culture, nature, food and wine. The area is
excellent as well for long walks, trekking or cycling. A
number of
circular walks start from the castle, taking you through the
rolling, wooded Umbrian countryside, filled with wild flowers, rosemary,
lavender
and olive trees, birds and butterflies.
The lovely little "borgo"
of Castiglion Fosco (shown opposite) is 10 minutes away by car and has a small grocers
(alimentari), bar, pharmacy and post
office. A little further away is Tavernelle (15 minutes) which is larger, with 3 supermarkets, banks, petrol station, bars, shops etc. Close by are the lovely restored hill-top towns of Panicale and Pacciano, both overlooking Lake Trasimeno. The old town of Castiglion del Lago, with its 16th Century castle overlooking Lake Trasimeno is 45 minutes away. The artist Perugino was born and died in Perugia, and examples of his work can be seen there and in many surrounding towns (including Città della Pieve and Panicale). The Etruscan museum in Chiusi houses one of the best collections of Etruscan art outside Rome.
Other places of special interest in the area include Assisi, Chiusi, Castiglione del Lago, Spoleto, Orvietto, Todi, Montepulciano, Montalcino and Cortona. Siena is slightly further away, while Florence, Rome and Pisa are day trips, by car or train. Nearby Lake Trasimeno has a ferry service from point to point around the lake and to the three islands. Polvese, one of the islands, is a nature reserve.
Guests have full use of the castle grounds and the private swimming pool (7m × 15m), open from May to September. It is equipped with umbrellas, sun loungers, showers and toilets. The pool is about about 3 minutes walk from the apartment, set in the surrounding parkland and with a lovely tranquil ambience and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. There is also a washing machine available in the pool complex. For more energetic water sports Tavernelle has a public swimming pool and water complex (parco aquatico), while nearby Lake Trasimeno offers wind-surfing, pedalos, yachts etc.
Papaveri has been completely redecorated since we bought it in 2006, including a brand new kitchen. The apartment provides comfortable accommodation for up to four people. The apartment has a large living room with newly updated kitchen area, one bedroom with a king-size double bed and a separate bathroom. The lounge area has a three-seat bed settee to provide sleeping for a further two people if required, allowing four people to be accommodated. The apartment is fully furnished and equipped with a fridge, 4-ring hob, oven and colour television, with DVD player.
We stay regularly ourselves at Gaiche because we truly love it. We think you will too if you like peace, tranquility and access to nature and the open air. We have never found the castle to be too busy, but we have met lots of very pleasant people there (both owners and guests) from many different countries. Detailed instructions for driving to Gaiche, from the north or south, are available on this web site, as is other information on the accommodation and locality. Please note that guests are not allowed to bring pets to Gaiche, and please do not smoke in the apartment. |
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