Bell’Aria

YOUR STAY

The villa has the kind of rooms that make you want to stay a little longer. Exposed beams, old stone walls and large fireplaces give the house a strong sense of its Italian setting, while comfortable furniture makes the rooms feel lived in.

Six bedrooms are divided between three parts of the property. The North Side has the main master suite, the South Side gives you more family-oriented living space and the Garden House sits separately from the main house.

That layout comes in handy when you are travelling with several families or a group of friends. Everyone gets somewhere of their own, but you are never far away when it is time to meet.

The main living rooms are spacious without feeling formal. Find a seat beside the stone fireplace, pick up a book in the library or head outside when you would rather be in the sun.

There is plenty of space outdoors too. From the terraces, you can look across the reserve and towards the mountains beyond.

LIFE AT RESCHIO

You are staying within the 3,750-acre Castello di Reschio estate, so there is plenty of countryside to explore without having to get in the car.

Take one of the estate bikes out in the morning and follow the tracks through the woods. Walk through the olive groves, spend some time among the old oak trees or simply find a quiet spot and stop for a while.

For something more active, the private tennis court sits up in the gardens. A game before lunch could easily turn into an afternoon by the pool afterwards.

The Reschio estate also has its own equestrian centre, giving you the opportunity to arrange horse riding during your stay.

Then there are the days when you do not want to go anywhere. Stay at the villa, swim, read and take your time over lunch. You have enough space here to make doing very little feel like a perfectly good plan.

POOL & OUTDOOR LIFE

The 18-metre heated pool gives you plenty of room for a proper swim. There is a diving board too, while the pool house and covered loggia provide somewhere to sit when you are ready to get out.

A few steps away, the outdoor spaces become more informal. Daybeds sit beneath the rose-covered loggia, while the gardens give you plenty of room to find a quiet corner.

Later in the day, head up to the sunset viewpoint. The light across the Apennines changes as the evening comes in, making it a good place for a drink before dinner.

If you prefer somewhere closer to the house, the sunken outdoor seating area has its own open fireplace. Once the fire is lit, you can stay there long after the sun has disappeared.

Inside the bedrooms, deep freestanding baths give you another way to slow down at the end of the day.

FOOD & EVENINGS

The kitchen is one of the rooms you are likely to use most. It has a large farmhouse feel, with a traditional wood-fired oven built into the space.

Your chef can prepare meals around the group, using seasonal ingredients and produce from the surrounding area. Breakfast might be a relaxed affair before everyone heads out, while dinner gives you a reason to bring the whole group back together.

The dining room seats up to 18, so even a full house has plenty of space around the table.

Afterwards, move into the main living room with a bottle of wine. The fireplace will probably be going by then, particularly on cooler evenings.

Someone might settle down with a book in the library. Someone else may still be talking around the dining table. There is no particular reason for everyone to do the same thing.

PRIVACY & SERVICE

Bell’Aria feels private partly because of its size and partly because of the way the accommodation is arranged. The three separate areas mean you can have your own space without giving up the feeling of staying together.

A house team takes care of the everyday work, including housekeeping and the upkeep of the grounds and pool.

The wider Reschio team can help with the rest. Want to book a horse ride? Need a guide for a day out? Perhaps you want a table somewhere on the estate. The concierge can organise it.

You can also ask for help arranging activities beyond Reschio, from local visits to transport and other experiences around Umbria and Tuscany.

For a group of 12, the setup works particularly well. There is enough room for everyone to come together, but plenty of opportunities to disappear for an hour or two when you want some peace.