Holiday in Umbria, Italy: Green Valley at Casa San Gabriel and Lakefront at Lang's Lake House

Posted by Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 2/16/2022

Holiday in Umbria, Italy: Green Valley at Casa San Gabriel and Lakefront at Lang's Lake House

It's typical of Umbria to end up in unpaved white roads that take you deep into the valleys where the roads seem endless and no structures are in sight. The further you go, your destination becomes more secluded. But that's Umbria, a lesser-known region in central Italy that is bordered by Tuscany, Lazio and Le Marche. It is fondly referred to as the Green Heart of Italy because of its thriving green woodlands, large green pastures, vineyards, and olive groves. A drive through this rich region gives you a landscape of soft green hills with ancient hilltop towns proudly watching over the valleys. It may not be as well-known as its neighbouring region Tuscany, but the scenery, the architectural wealth and the enogastronomic culture can parallel it and on the plus side, there's less congestion of tourism and more green areas to tread on.

Casa San Gabriel is a holiday rental accommodation located in a beautiful Umbrian valley near the village of Pierantonio. Its nearest neighbour is the Chiesa del Carmine Vineria, a winery that produces wines from its cultivation of vineyards in the valley. It may seem remote but it is actually just a half an hour away from Perugia, the principal city of the region with an international airport, and Lake Trasimeno with its charming villages.

Time flew by for owners David and Chrissie Lang, an Australian / English couple who moved to Italy in 2003, agreeing on Umbria as a starting point to start a family together. As David recounts the hard times they went through in putting up the farmhouse from its ruined condition when they purchased the property, he and his wife wondered at some point if they were doing the right thing as they juggled their professional careers on top of it. The conversions of the guest cottages, one being an old pig stall, another a hay loft and the third one a cellar, had brought challenges but with steadfast determination, they were able to get past the hurdles.

Now with two teenage children who grew up in the main house, two dogs and two alpacas, Casa San Gabriel radiates a family-oriented environment where guests feel the warmth that makes up a large part of their holidays. The whole area of well-maintained one hectare land is composed of the main farmhouse where they live, and three small cottages that can be rented by the week or a minimum of 2 nights: La Stalla (sleeps 2), La Cantina (sleeps 2+2), and Il Fienile (sleeps 4+2). Each cottage is fitted with a fully-equipped kitchen, including all the necessary accessories for cooking and eating and an outdoor grill. On the highest point of the property is a swimming pool and a picnic table with a pizza grill.

Participating in local activities can make any holiday memorable like going on truffle hunting with a professional truffle hunter and his dog, taking cooking lessons, or taking guided wine or olive oil tastings at the nearby Chiesa del Carmine Vineria. Trekking around the valley is also one of the best activities in the area.

Lang's Lake House
Another acquisition of the Lang family is a lakefront property at Lake Trasimeno, which is just a short distance from the small lakeside village of San Feliciano. It is one of the few properties on the banks of the lake which is a great base for water sports, ferrying to two of the three islands of the lake, Isola Maggiore and Isola Polvese, sightseeing in the nearby ancient villages, soaking in the sun or stoking the fire pit on the lawn. The house can accommodate 5 upstairs, and if needed, other 2 in the sofa bed in the downstairs sitting room. Directly in front of the property is a large grassed terrace. San Feliciano is connected by bike paths along the lake where restaurants and shops are available.

Note: Some photos were furnished by David Lang.

Casa San Gabriel

Località Santa Giuliana, 114
06019 Pierantonio (PG), Italy
Tel: +39 075 9414219 / +39 338 8916641
Website: https://www.casasangabriel.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CasaSanGabriel