Whilst in Umbria, Roccafiore is what the locals call da vedere….which means it’s a must see. An even greater compliment to Roccafiore is that you’ll find locals dining at the table next to you and ordering their wine from the cantina.
What often starts as just lunch at Roccafiore turns into hours under the Umbrian sun dining al fresco with sweeping views of Todi, a hilltop medieval town, visiting Roccafiore’s lavender gardens, organic wine tasting in their cantina, sunbathing by their luxurious pool or indulging in a day pass at the Wellness Center. Or just give in and stay the night in one of Roccafiore’s 13 luxurious rooms. Then you can wake up and do it all over again. Even picnic in the surrounding Grechetto vineyards.
My love affair with Roccafiore began with lunch last year. An exceptional white tablecloth fine dining affair at their Fiorfiore Restaurant, I was spoiled with unparalleled farm-to-table dishes on their seasonal menu like the Torretta: eggplant with bufala mozzarella, tomatoes and oregano, Chianino beef: with froth of parmesan cheese, salad and toasted almonds and homemade strangozzi pasta: with sausage, lemon and anchovies.
Accompanying our meal, we sipped on organic wines – Grechetto di Todi, Trebbiano Spoletino and Sangiovese – from their cantina. Talk about Zero Kilometer commitment. The cantina isn’t next door. It’s on property. Roccofiore also generates its own solar energy that saves up to 90.000 Kg of carbon emissions annually. I’ll drink to that. And, we did!
I also found the staff to be more than accommodating. Once on a windy June afternoon, they kindly set up a table outside, just for the two of us, on the terrace. We couldn’t pass up the stunning views of Todi, vineyards, hills, and gardens and didn’t mind chasing after a few cloth napkins to enjoy it. The waitstaff are well educated on food and wine pairings offered delicious suggestions that I would never have thought of. Even the biscotti with my espresso after our meal were homemade and truly exceptional.
So, get out your navigation device and make your way to Roccafiore. Pack your swimsuit and I wouldn’t make any other afternoon plans. Because there is a high probability that you will not want to leave.
For just 15-35 Euros – an incredible deal – treat yourself to a day pass at the spa complete with a Kneipp bath, Jacuzzi, equatorial showers and more.
When is the right time to go to Roccafiore?
Anytime.
After six visits to Umbria, I find the countryside stunning and magical in all seasons. The colors of the hills are constantly changing. Every time I visit Roccafiore, I sink deeper into simple delicious pleasures of Umbria. The views. The hills. The lavender gardens and vineyards. And then there’s the pool, the cuisine, the spa, and the wine. Roccofiore’s 38 Euro seasonal wine tasting menu brings it all together – a tour of the flavors of Umbria on your tongue. Just make sure you designate a driver. Tasting pours are more than generous.
As far as luxury, quality and value, I have yet to find a hotel, restaurant and spa in Italy that offers even close to what Roccafiore provides guests. Every time, it fully delivers on my dream of the Italian countryside experience. Which is why I go back again and again. For me Roccafiore is da vedere di nuovo. I pinch myself and ask “can life really be this good?” Yes, it can. At Roccofiore, it is.
Author, journalist and publishing consultant, Donna Sozio has been featured in 200+ media outlets including the Tyra Banks Show, Early Show, Fox News, Good Day LA, Seventeen Magazine, Yahoo! Personals, Match.com, Lavalife.com, WeBlogtheWorld.com, EcoSalon.com, OrganicAuthority.com and many more.
Her books The Man Whisperer (Adams Media) and Never Trust a Man in Alligator Loafers (Kensington) were Amazon.com bestsellers, had TV/Film options and were translated into German, Portuguese and Czech.
