Palazzo Majo
Lugnano, Umbria, Italy
A carefully restored old house with fabulously modern interiors and a relaxed vibe: 5 rooms for B&B or an amazing house rental for 10
From the outside, this traditional stately Umbrian house looks just
like its neighbours: heavy stone walls, shuttered windows,
brick-arch doorframes. But inside it's awash with contemporary
designer verve: glossy orange polypropylene chairs, velvet
footstools, Alessi gadgets and Philippe Starck bathtubs. It's a
bold juxtaposition, but one that really works - its rooms
and suites are gorgeous.
Run as a hotel or house rental by friendly Scottish-Italian
brothers Mario and Joe, it has a buzzy vibe, yet the palazzo's
setting in a sleepy village means unwinding is easy. This is the
beauty of Umbria vs Tuscany - space, peace, and the absence of
tourist hordes. That said, you're only a 45-minute drive from the
region's stunning and relatively unsung hilltowns - Montone,
Cortona and Gubbio.
Families will love Mario's easygoing nature, sociable couples will
love the big beds and double bathtubs, and all will love the big
pool terrace where sunloungers cluster companionably. But we felt
it would work best for a group of fun-loving friends - especially
because it's ridiculously cheap to hire by the week.
Reviewed by Liz Simpson
Last updated 24 April 2012
Highs
- The peaceful pool terrace, with its sweeping views of the Tiber Valley
- A beautiful consecrated chapel in the hallway, with original frescoes and a crumbling altar
- An excellent restaurant within walking distance - all too rare in rural Italy
- Thoughtful touches throughout; a selection of DVDs in each room, a collection of CDs to play by the pool
- A great house rental; heaps of space, everyone gets a fab room, and it's extremely affordable
Lows
- New in 2009, it was still finding its feet when we visited, and the gardens need landscaping
- If you were the only guests staying on a B&B basis, you may feel self-conscious if it was just you and Mario or Joe
- Although the decor aims to be minimalistic and top spec, sometimes it struck us as spartan
- Lugnano is very quiet, and you're remote in terms of shops and other restaurants
