Villa Eleiva Umbria – English

The serene twilight of autumn has veiled the landscape. I picture it with hills of olive groves and punctuated here and there by small old town. Villa Eleiva welcomes us with a warm, crackling fire and by Daniela and Massimo, Graziella and Franco. We have a first taste of Umbria with courses prepared by Graziella, where olive oil is the protagonist, and lots of chatting.

Villa Eleiva promotes a new way of vacation: Glamping. A kind of tourism based on the African safari. But instead of the “game hunting” a genuine “food hunting” experience. Small and cosy lodges hidden among olive groves makes you feel part of the nature. When opening the doors in the morning you are greeted by the silvery leaves of the old olive grooves. Feeling that you are part of it.

In the morning starts with handmade delicious jams and tasty biscuits. Then we drive through the rolling hills to Melezzole, where we join an ecological walk through chestnut woods. This small medieval town houses the XXIX edition of the Chestnut Fair, therefore we stop by for lunch and taste the specialties made with chestnuts.

Civitella del Lago, once know as De ‘Pazzi, lays on a hill overlooking the magnificent Lake of Corbara. The warm autumn sun shines even more over it, emphasizing the beauty of its buildings. Walking through the winding alleys I immediately notice the kindness of the locals. Everybody greets you, even though you’ve never seen them before. They just open the doors of the little masterpiece, where they live in. For some years, on August 10th that has been taking place of the candles festival. Close your eyes and imagine a small medieval town lighted up by the warm glow of flickering lights. The Ovo Pinto Museum organize an annual egg decorating contest, whose fame has spread far beyond national borders.

Our last stop is at the Frantoio Ricci, where Cesare tells us the importance of the genuine Italian olive oil. Its protection and the conscious choice of each us, when buying a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.
The real Italian olive oil is at risk and the Associazione Ulivolio strives to save the plants to ensure a product that is pure Italian extra virgin olive oil.

The warm light of the sun gives way to flickering stars, when we return to Villa Eleiva. Ready to face a cooking contest. That’s right, we have to handmake “Priest’s tortello”. Despite being unconfident about my cook skills, the outcome was almost superb. And the evening goes on with cheese tastings, grilled eggplants, olive oil and biscuits.

Just after breakfast we explore Montecchio which has stood in front of us for the previous two days. Being pampered by the kindness of the people, I wander around the town with big childlike eyes full of curiosity. My Umbrian adventure comes to an end, I can still grab some notions by Massimo on the olive harvesting and heading off home with a couple of extra virgin olive oil bottles and jams.

Villa Eleiva has been introducing a new way of tourism: the glamping. However supporting the preservation of the genuine Italian extra virgin olive oil through the Association Ulivolio.

Thanks to Umbria, thanks to Cristiana – Viaggevolmente – for organizing it all. Thanks to Villa Eleiva for this awesome experience. And all the girls that joined the blogtour: Vagabondamente, MangiaViaggiaAma, My Corner Of Italy, Blog di Padova, Tintipatravels, Via Col Viaggio, I Viaggi del Taccuino, Parliamo Di Viaggi, Smart Traveller, Trip Village, Fraintesa.