From the hidden beauty of the Niccone Valley to world-class golf, medieval hilltop towns, and the vineyards of Tuscany — extraordinary experiences surround Casa Luna in every direction.
One of Central Italy's best-kept secrets — a lush, unspoiled valley where ancient hilltop villages, olive groves, and Etruscan history create a landscape of breathtaking authenticity.
The Valle del Nestore — better known as the Niccone Valley — is a hidden corridor of wild beauty running between the upper Tiber Valley near Umbertide and the hills above Cortona. Unlike Tuscany's famous valleys, the Niccone remains blissfully undiscovered by mass tourism.
Rolling hills cloaked in ancient oak and chestnut forests give way to valleys of organic vineyards, silver-leafed olive groves, and meadows alive with wildflowers from spring through autumn. Crumbling stone farmhouses dot the ridgelines. The silence is extraordinary — broken only by birdsong, church bells, and the distant rumble of a tractor.
Superb riding country — from gentle valley-floor routes following the Nestore river to challenging climbs up to panoramic ridge-top villages. The route from Morra to Pierantonio shouldn't be missed.
Bike Hire in & Around Umbertide:
The valley's oak forests are prime truffle territory. A morning hunt with a local trifolao and trained dog is one of the great Umbrian experiences. Black truffle season runs November–March; summer truffles June–August.
Recommended Truffle Experiences:
Several outstanding producers in the valley welcome visitors for tastings. Umbrian DOC wines and cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil from trees visible from Casa Luna's terrace.
Recommended Wine & Olive Oil Experiences:
A network of marked trails crosses the valley — through chestnut forests, past Etruscan sites, and along scenic ridgelines with views stretching to Monte Amiata. The walk from Morra to Pierantonio shouldn't be missed.
In summer, locals swim in the crystal-clear Nestore river — a magical alternative to the pool. Ask us to point you to the best hidden spots along the valley floor.
Far from city light pollution, the Niccone Valley offers some of the darkest skies in Central Italy. On clear nights the Milky Way is clearly visible from Casa Luna's garden terrace.
One of Italy's most celebrated golf courses, Antognolla Golf Club is set within a magnificent private estate anchored by a beautifully restored 12th-century castle just 25 minutes from Casa Luna. The 18-hole championship course was designed to take full advantage of the extraordinary Umbrian landscape — each hole framed by ancient oaks, rolling hills, and panoramic views that make concentration genuinely difficult.
The course is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design — challenging for serious players while remaining playable and memorable for all levels. The estate also hosts the Antognolla Resort & Spa, offering an exceptional restaurant, wine cellar, and wellness facilities that make for a superb day out even for non-golfers in your group.
Italy's only landlocked region is a treasure chest of medieval hilltop towns, Franciscan sanctuaries, ancient forests, and a food and wine culture that remains largely undiscovered by mass tourism.
Your nearest town sits in the upper Tiber Valley beneath a dramatic 14th-century circular tower. Umbertide is refreshingly authentic: real Italians live and work here, and the Wednesday and Saturday morning markets are wonderful for local salumi, aged pecorino, and wild mushrooms. The Church of Santa Croce holds a remarkable Deposition by Luca Signorelli.
One of the Borghi più belli d'Italia — Italy's Most Beautiful Villages — Montone is a perfectly preserved walled medieval village perched on a conical hill. Its single main street winds through stone archways to a spectacular belvedere. Each July the town hosts the International Umbria Film Festival, drawing filmmakers from across Europe.
A handsome Renaissance city on the upper Tiber that most visitors simply drive past — their loss. The Pinacoteca Comunale holds works by Raphael, Ghirlandaio, and Luca Signorelli. The Fondazione Palazzo Albizzini Collezione Burri is one of Italy's finest collections of 20th-century art.
The magnificent Umbrian capital crowns a dramatic hill — a city of grand medieval architecture, buzzing university life, and world-class art. The National Gallery of Umbria traces six centuries of Umbrian painting. Each October, the city transforms into the world capital of chocolate for Eurochocolate. Don't miss the extraordinary underground Etruscan city beneath the modern streets.
Perhaps the most spiritually charged place in Italy — a pink-stone hilltop town of serene medieval beauty. The UNESCO-listed Basilica di San Francesco contains Giotto's famous cycle of frescoes depicting the life of Saint Francis, widely considered some of the most important paintings in Western art.
An austere, powerful medieval city of dark grey stone pressed against a steep wooded hillside. The soaring Piazza Grande is one of the boldest medieval public spaces in Italy. Gubbio hosts the famous Corsa dei Ceri each May 15th — a centuries-old race through the streets in honour of Sant'Ubaldo. An unforgettable spectacle.
Rising sheer from a volcanic tufa cliff, Orvieto is crowned by a Gothic cathedral of almost surreal magnificence. The striped black-and-white marble Duomo has been called the "Golden Lily of Italian Cathedrals." Below the streets, a labyrinth of Etruscan tunnels and wine cellars honeycombs the volcanic rock.
An elegant medieval city straddling a ridge, crowned by the Rocca Albornoziana fortress and connected to the opposite hillside by a breathtaking 14th-century aqueduct bridge. Every summer Spoleto hosts the famous Festival dei Due Mondi — one of Europe's premier performing arts festivals.
The largest lake in Central Italy — a shimmering expanse fringed by reed beds, olive groves, and fishing villages. Take a boat to the Isola Maggiore, where Saint Francis once spent Lent. The lake's famous tegamaccio — a rich freshwater fish stew — is one of the great dishes of Umbrian cuisine.
The Niccone Valley shares a border with Tuscany — meaning Cortona, Arezzo, Siena, and the rolling Val d'Orcia are all within effortless day-trip distance.
Perched on a steep Etruscan hill above the Chiana Valley with sweeping views toward Lake Trasimeno, Cortona is one of Tuscany's most beguiling small towns — and the setting of Frances Mayes' famous Under the Tuscan Sun. Its steep medieval lanes, Etruscan museum, and Fra Angelico's Annunciation in the Diocesan Museum are unmissable. The Wednesday market on Piazza della Repubblica is a joy.
A prosperous, handsome Tuscan city best known for Piero della Francesca's magnificent fresco cycle Legend of the True Cross — considered one of the supreme masterpieces of Italian Renaissance art. The sloping Piazza Grande hosts one of Italy's great antique markets on the first weekend of each month, and the city's restaurants have a reassuringly local character.
One of the great medieval cities of the world — centred on the magnificent shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. The Palazzo Pubblico, Torre del Mangia, and the stunning striped marble Duomo are among Italy's greatest monuments. Twice a year the Piazza hosts the Palio — a wild, centuries-old bareback horse race between the city's rival contrade that must be witnessed to be believed.
Hand-picked, highly rated experiences near Casa Luna — book directly with these trusted local operators.
Follow an expert trifolao and trained dog through the valley's oak forests in search of Umbria's famous black diamonds. Ends with a tasting — one of Italy's most memorable mornings.
Taste award-winning Umbrian wines and cold-pressed DOP olive oil at producers just minutes from your door — including a winery right here in the Niccone Valley.
Explore the Niccone Valley on two wheels — from gentle river-valley routes to panoramic ridge climbs. Several operators offer delivery direct to Casa Luna.
Umbrian cuisine is among Italy's most honest and deeply satisfying — built on truffles, wild boar, hand-rolled pasta, aged pecorino, and wines of remarkable character.
Norcia is the truffle capital of Italy — and black Umbrian truffle is considered the world's finest. In season (Nov–Mar), you'll find it shaved over pasta, eggs, and bruschetta throughout the region.
Umbria's great red wine — a powerful, tannic DOCG made from the ancient Sagrantino grape grown around the hilltop town of Montefalco. One of Italy's most distinctive and age-worthy wines.
The DOP olive oils of Umbria — particularly from around Trevi and the Trasimeno hills — are among Italy's finest. Intensely green, peppery, and grassy when freshly pressed each November.
The small town of Norcia has given Italy the word norcino — butcher — and its cured meats, including prosciutto, guanciale, and wild boar salami, are justly famous across the country.
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