Destination Expert

Elisa Marinangeli

I am Italian and live in Umbria, but I absolutely love travelling. For me, I love to explore and learn about a country’s culture and traditions. Ever since I was a child, I have had a sense of adventure - even just going around the next bend on my bicycle to see what was there was so exciting! I studied English and German at the University of Perugia and started working in the travel industry in 1998. I managed a farmhouse in Bevagna, a small town in Central Umbria, and worked for a tour operator dealing with independent villas that all had private pools. I have been working as an overseas representative since 2005. I am passionate about Italy and always do my best to offer the warmest welcome to all our guests. I make sure everything is in order to give them peace of mind, and am always just a call away. I also always pay a visit to all our guests to help them get the most out of their holiday. Tell me how you would like to spend your time here and I can use my knowledge and local contacts to ensure that you get the most from your stay!

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Destination Expert

Elisa Marinangeli

I am Italian and live in Umbria, but I absolutely love travelling. For me, I love to explore and learn about a country’s culture and traditions. Ever since I was a child, I have had a sense of adventure - even just going around the next bend on my bicycle to see what was there was so exciting! I studied English and German at the University of Perugia and started working in the travel industry in 1998. I managed a farmhouse in Bevagna, a small town in Central Umbria, and worked for a tour operator dealing with independent villas that all had private pools. I have been working as an overseas representative since 2005. I am passionate about Italy and always do my best to offer the warmest welcome to all our guests. I make sure everything is in order to give them peace of mind, and am always just a call away. I also always pay a visit to all our guests to help them get the most out of their holiday. Tell me how you would like to spend your time here and I can use my knowledge and local contacts to ensure that you get the most from your stay!

Describe the perfect day in your destination?

All our villas are situated in beautiful rural settings - looking out to fields of sunflowers, vineyards and olive trees on one side, and forest and steep hills on the other. I'd enjoy the peace of an early morning, looking out to views of the rural Umbrian landscape. I'd sit out on the terrace area with a glass of wine in hand, and would enjoy a simple, but delicious, dinner from a local cook. If I felt like getting out and about, there would be lots of lovely medieval hilltop villages to explore.

What are your top travel tips for your destination?

I will be happy to advise you about a whole host of activities and events, and during my visit I will be able to recommend restaurants and provide you with information about festivals, cookery lessons, cycle hire, horse riding, walks, ideas for days out, wine tasting, etc.

What local cuisine would you recommend to people staying in your destination?

In Umbria, good food and wine are an integral part of daily living. Delicious meals cooked in your villa by a local chef using local ingredients; from starter to dessert you will enjoy authentic Umbrian menus. The meal will be served in an informal way, like at home. Try traditional Italian bruschetta using fresh handpicked tomatoes and extra-virgin olive oil from the region. Homemade egg pasta tagliatelle or pappardelle served with a seasonal sauce (artichoke, pumpkin, aubergine, tomato, sausage, mushrooms, etc.). Don’t miss trying tiramisu (made with the finest mascarpone, espresso coffee and dark chocolate) or panna cotta (a delightfully delicate traditional Italian pudding with a wild blackberry sauce).

What experiences would you recommend to our customers in your destination?

I would recommend visiting small towns and villages like Todi, Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio and Trevi. Wine tasting at local wineries and a foodie experience at small restaurants and trattorias are a must. Olive oil tours learning about the real meaning of “extra virgin” and tasting a very special product made only by organic olives grown on the rolling hills of Umbria. Discover the region cycling through the woods, far from the noise of any traffic – easy itineraries suitable for everyone and routes for skilled, fully trained bikers with good riding control.