We just returned from a wonderful, relaxing stay at Antica Olivaia – a B&B that is an oasis in the heart of Umbria, located a short 15 minutes from Orvieto. The owners, Daniela and Marco, are extremely accommodating hosts, very personable, have a great sense of humor, and go out of their way to make your stay fun and interesting. They both love helping people decide where to visit and are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the surrounding area. In fact, these are two people doing something they love and it shows! The farm house has been completely renovated and is tastefully decorated, with each bedroom having its own private bathroom. The views from each room in the house are incredible – the area is very pastoral and lush, with rolling hills and every shade of green you can imagine. Marco is also a chef and his experience is definitely put to good use here – you’ll be hard pressed to find food that is as authentic and well prepared as his.
Although you can rent in car in Rome and drive there, we took a train from Rome to Orvieto where we picked up our rental car. Trains leave from Termini station in Rome and take a little over an hour. Once there, we simply turned left out of the train station, walked half a block, and found the Hertz office. We had reserved a car before we left Chicago, and it was waiting for us. Perfect!
In short, great food, excellent accommodations, eye-popping scenery and warm and generous hosts make for a great vacation experience. We highly recommend Antica Olivaia.