High atop a hill in Umbria sits the majestic 13th century Castello di Giove. With Florence to the north, and Rome to the south, the castle has always enjoyed a strategic position in the history and politics of the region.
Umbria is considered "the heart of Italy" and is a land of over one hundred medieval towns. The township of Giove is one of these. Situated above the A-1 Autostrada, which serves as the main artery between Rome and Florence, this restored landmark sits waiting to host its visitors in medieval atmosphere and modern luxury.
With a train station at the bottom of the hill in the city of Attligliano, all destinations are easily accessible. The fantastic cities of Orvieto, Spoleto, Perugia, as well as the ceramic capitol, Deruta and the treasures of Rome and Florence are all close enough for day adventures. If you prefer to explore closer to home, the famous Monster Park at Bomarzo and the hidden medieval hilltop metropolis of Amelia are a stone's throw away.
For those who desire true relaxation, there is no need to travel beyond the Castle properties: swim in the pool by the ruins of a 15th century mill…with only the sounds of birds and the trickling stream to listen to……stroll through the fruit orchard, wander through the almost 200 rooms of the castle, especially the fresco rooms; Relax by the fire in the music room and listen to rock and roll, or a symphony; sip cappuccino by the fountain in the vine covered courtyard by the ancient well; or challenge your friends to a game of billiards in the armory; feast on meals prepared for you by our chef, with fresh ingredients grown on the castle farm. To top it off, toast the day from the Grand Terrace with incredible wine from the regions while watching the sun set over Tuscany.
Whatever your wish, Castello di Giove exists to turn your dream into an enchanted reality...
First Level:
The two story high grand entrance doors open from the main street of Giove to the Entrance Hall. As the giant angel fountain welcomes you, follow the cobblestone road which spirals upward, until you find yourself on the huge sunny terrace.
Terrace Level:
The terrace, about the size of a tennis court, is furnished with lush outdoor furniture specially designed for the castle, and has panoramic views over the valley and towards Tuscany. Through the marble arches of the terrace, you will enter the grand hall where six of the bedrooms are located. Starting from the town end of the hall, there is a suite with bedroom, living room with fireplace and private bathroom. Next to this is a row of three large and sunny bedrooms that share two bathrooms across the hall. Then a bedroom with the castle's largest bed, a "double double" with its bathroom directly across the hall. We end the hallway with another suite with a private bathroom. All bedrooms are furnished with antiques and all bathrooms have deluxe claw foot tubs with hand showers, as well as bidets.
Also off the terrace, and part of this hall is a card room complete with castle poker chips.
Returning to the terrace, a portico leads to an interior ivy covered courtyard with a medieval well. This also is furnished with charming outdoor furniture, and a fountain flows out of the wall and into an ancient marble tub. A few steps lead to the armory, which has been turned into a large dining room with a huge fireplace and views. Connecting to the armory is the billiard room, where a gorgeous antique billiard table is found, a comfy seating area and a bar at the far end for drinks, or café. There is also a large fireplace, a half bath and a stereo room. These two rooms, with their arched stone ceilings are truly magnificent.
Also located off of this courtyard is the castle kitchen, and the courtesy guest kitchen nearby, with refrigerator, microwave and table.
Second Level:
From the courtyard, marble stairs lead to a vestibule with fireplace and a door that opens onto a balcony overlooking the courtyard. Off the vestibule, you enter the formal dining hall. This room has a large fireplace, and windows with valley views, and doors that also lead to the terrace. Its long table can seat 40 people. Off of this room, you enter another vestibule that has a half bathroom, and serves as the entry way for the other bedrooms. The master suite on this floor has a fireplace and a large elegant bathroom. Next to it are two more bedrooms, one has the famous "golden bed" and a fireplace. The bedroom next door is cozier, but gorgeous, and these rooms share a "Jack and Jill" type large bathroom complete with claw foot tub, hand shower, toilet and bidet. Down a small hall is a little room with two single beds and a small fireplace which is referred to as the "little boys room" because of it's unique half bathroom which consists of a sink and low pissoir. All ceilings are at least 15' high and dark open beam, with some intricate wood work.
Returning again to the vestibule at the top of the marble stairs, we follow another direction into a huge living room, known as the music room because of its unique acoustics and great stereo. This room is elegantly furnished, and has a large fireplace and doors that open onto a beautiful large balcony that overlooks the valley. Down a few stairs is a half bathroom. Off of the music room is the grand ballroom. A huge room with 50' ceilings, the main feature is the majestic fireplace that consists of two 6' marble women staring into the future. In another direction off of the music room is the study, replete with antique desk, and hung with tapestries, and has phone, fax machine and internet accessibility. Past the study are the fresco rooms - two are unfurnished, but have incredible frescoed ceilings dating back to the renaissance.
The armory, billiard room and upstairs rooms have central heating. Rooms off of the main terrace are electrically heated, which makes the castle ideal for visiting any time of year. Yet during winter months, the aroma, glow and comforting warmth of roaring fires throughout the castle add a sense of magic to its ever present majesty.
While Staying at Castello di Giove is easily summed up as the experience of a lifetime, anyone whose personal mobility is limited may find its various steps and ramps difficult to negotiate.
The Pool:
The heated pool is located in a private valley?five minutes by car, or a beautiful 15 minute walk through the country. It has a large shallow end - ideal for children. There are padded chaise lounges, canvas pool chairs, a large table with chairs and umbrella. A 15th century mill sits at one end, with a bathroom/changing room with shower restored inside. There is nothing better than spending the day in this peaceful atmosphere with a picnic lunch prepared by our staff.
Services
Continental breakfast and maid services are included.
For meals al fresco, or in the dining rooms, a cook and waiter can easily be arranged at a per head cost. We would be most happy to arrange menus beforehand. Since the only kitchen facilities available to guests are a courtesy kitchen with only microwave and refrigerator, we highly suggest working out a menu with our chef.
We can also arrange and cater any sized party.
Less formal buffet meals can also be arranged.
Picnic lunches poolside are also available.
A Pizza man can come and make pizzas - quite a delight! - in the castle's medieval pizza oven.
Firewood can be purchased and is payable locally.
Laundry service can be arranged and is payable locally.
Telephone and Internet are charged by the minute and payable locally.
Cost for one week: $18,000.00 USD
History
Legend has it that the castle actually sits upon an ancient temple of Jupiter, which translates to "Giove" in Italian. The castle dominates the small city, and its main doors actually open up to the main street. There is a wonderful bar, with perhaps the best gelato in all of Italy directly across the street. A beautiful Catholic church sits at the foot of the castle. You can wander down the Main Street and shop: there are a few clothing stores, a pharmacy, a bank, some grocers, a flower shop, a hardware store, a bakery, and a pizzeria. On the other side of the castle is the medieval village, which is magical to walk through - a trip back in time.
During summer evenings, people gather at the piazza at the end of the main street to enjoy ice cream and live music, and many crafts fairs and wine tastings go on locally.
Since Giove is basically a farming village, walks through the country side into the valley below are delightful. Fields of sheep wander about, clanging their musical bells. Fields of sunflowers follow the sun in summertime, and fields of red poppies flame in the spring. The woods are abuzz with locals after a rain in the winter, on the hunt for porcini mushrooms. There is also a local bus service for visits to neighboring villages.
Adrienne Kessler is a Real Estate agent for the Westside and the San Fernando Valley.
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