Castello Monticelli

Certain locations can help you to discover a sense of peace with the world and with your inner self: this is the true essence of Castello Monticelli. It is undoubtedly an ideal destination for anyone seeking peace, tranquillity and a sense of well-being.

Even pope Nikolaus the V (1447-1455) decided to spend several months at Castello Monticelli in the summer of 1450, when it was a Benedectine Monastery. He is one of the most cultivated popes in the history of the Catholic Church, having founded the Vatican Library. He also crowned for the last time a German Emperor in Rome and accepted the resignation of the last known anti-pope. The unspoiled nature all around and the magnificent artistic treasures it houses, still largly unknown, will certainly fill you with hitherto forgotten and indescribable emotions.

There is a trace of history in every corner of Castle Monticelli. The history of Castello Monticelli: the first written record of Monticelli dates back to the year 1115, when Pope Paschalis II issued a papal bull conferring the ownership of the church of S. Paolo in Monticelli to the very wealthy Benedictine Monastery of S. Pietro in Perugia. The apse of the church contains delicate frescoes from 1315-19 attributed to Meo da Siena, a painter who is well known by art hitorians.

Among the saints depicted is St. Costanzo, the first bishop of Perugia, who, according to the Catholic Church, took refuge for 3 weeks in Monticelli in 174 A.D.  The oldest parts of Monticelli most certainly date back to the end of the 6th century. However, several restorations have changed its function and appearance over time. From the end of the 10th century to about 1470 it was a Benedictine Monastery, thereafter it became a summer and hunting residence of families of counts.

Between 595 and 774, the border of the Byzantine corridor was 40 metres from the hill of Monticelli, so it is very likely that all 3 towers date back to that period. Their walls are up to 1.6 meters thick which suggets that once upon a time they had a military function. It is therefore no coincidence that in the Government Decree listing the buildings, the Ministry of Culture called the buildings of Monticelli ‘Nucleo Antico’ (‘Ancient Settlement’) or “Castello di Monticelli” where “castello” stands here for “fortress”. To defend the corridor from the Lombards, a dam was also built on the Nestore River, a tributary of the Tiber, and the valley west of Monticelli remaind flooded for centuries. The Benedictine monks drained the valley most likely after the year 1000.

Facilities and services: we do not have just simple hotel bedrooms; we have large suites with 1 to 3 bedrooms which can host from 2 to 7 guests. Some suites have unusually large living rooms and some have a private garden and/or a fireplace. The common area covers more than 1 hectar of squares, gardens, and terraces, all with a breath-taking view. Castello Monticelli has also a SPA with jacuzzi, sauna and turkish bath and a restaurant, which opens several times a week in the high season.  We invite you to spend a pleasant holiday in such an ancient castle nestled in the green hills of Umbria. Let us spoil you with our excellent local cuisine and very good local wines and allow yourself to completely relax in our beautiful suites. They have a breath-taking view on the surrounding valleys and on Perugia, the capital of Umbria, which is 18 km away and perfecrtly visible from our main square and from many of our windows.

At Castello Monticelli, we have also created for our guests a special cultural itinerary to visit ancient chapels with beautiful frescoes, castles and monasteries hidden in the small medieval villages nearby. These buildings are part of the Italian National Endowment, they are nor mentioned in any tourist guide and they are surrounded by enchanting landscapes. Many frescoes have been painted by famous artists, including Perugino. Wedding: the Castle is an ideal place to celebrate weddings and events and can accommodate up to 110 guests. Known art cities in the vicinity: Perugia, Assisi, Todi, Spoleto, Gubbio, Norcia and Orvieto, Siena and Florence.