Ours was a large family get-together (3 generations, 13 people) for 2 weeks in July 2018, easily fitting within the 7 bedrooms available at this extensive property. The accommodation was excellent, with large air-conditioned bedrooms and living spaces, all extremely well-equipped and comfortable. There are 2 modern kitchens with plenty of utensils, crockery and cutlery, and a very large high-level terrace accessible from 2 of the bedrooms, and by stairs from the gardens. The panorama from there across the valley was to die for, especially at sunset, which became a regular event for us all to watch. On arrival in Deruta, we were met by Franca, who led us to the property, located in the hills above the town. Throughout the stay, Franca and her daughter Beatrice (who both speak excellent English) were extremely friendly and helpful, and always available for any questions or assistance with booking trips, restaurants etc. A visit to their ceramics factory and shop is a must – especially for the children, who painted their own cups and plates which were given to them at the end of the holiday. I must mention the meal prepared for us by Beatrice and Franca (by arrangement). Beatrice is a professionally trained chef, and we sampled probably the best local food we experienced during the holiday, with a large range of dishes to choose from. The meal was for 17 people, including visitors and children, who all enjoyed the al-fresco dining. The enormous swimming pool, with steps and diving board, was the centre of our relaxing days spent at the villa. There were plenty of loungers, umbrellas for those who needed shade, and a pool room with fridge, shower and toilet. Chairs and tables meant that meals could be taken close to the pool or in the adjacent grounds. We made full use of both the large barbecue and the pizza oven. Places to visit / things to do within easy drives: The old town at Deruta, with restaurants and bars around a central plaza; Perugia, with its spectacular architecture; Assisi, a medieval town and basilica perched on the side of a mountain; Lake Trasimento; a tour and wine tasting at the Lungarotti Winery, Torgiano. All in all, this was a holiday of a lifetime, in a villa and setting which matched the occasion, and fantastic hosts and facilitators in Franca and Beatrice Sberna, who we have to thank for making our stay so pleasant and fulfilling.

The property was beautiful, and the location was great for touring the towns of Umbria on day trips. We visited Assisi, Orvieto, Perugia, Gubbio, Todi and made an excursion to Lago Trasimeno. We were a group of 9 adults and two small children, and the accommodations could have handled another two or three adults easily. It was incredibly hot for the week that we were visiting, but the air conditioning in the bedrooms made it quite pleasant. When we returned from our day trips, the pool was a great way to cool off. Our hosts prepared three dinners for us and the setting by the pool was perfect and the food was excellent. It could not have been a better family vacation.

Our party of 10 had the pleasure of staying at this fab property for two weeks early September. It was perfect. Our host Franca and her daughter, Beatrice were just outstanding. We only ever had one issue and that was the walkability!! into Deruta. Whilst, this is still an issue, it was one that was quickly sorted by Franca. We had a meal prepared for us whilst we were there and it was just wonderful. A must for everyone who has the extreme good luck to book this property. We would without a doubt not hesitate to book this property again. The walking into Dertua is just about do'able' in the daytime but most definitely not in the evening and certainly not for anyone of a certain age..!! The swimming pool was Olympic size and very, very clean. We cannot thank our hosts enough for allowing us to stay in this wonderful property. Villa Santa Maria and Belvedere and Franca and Beatrice are the perfect paring.

A beautiful, relaxed and special place to stay. Owner Franca and her daughter Beatrice are superb hosts. The villa is set in pretty grounds with a superb pool (complete with diving board and lit at night) on a hillside overlooking Deruta surrounded by fields, olive groves and a vineyard - good for early morning walks and to get a feel of the local area. The accommodation was clean, comfortable; a great mix of traditional and contemporary and beautiful local ceramics (many from Franca's ceramics factory in Deruta). The area is a mix of small towns and agriculture. We were a family group of 14 (including our labrador). The contiguous accommodation worked very well for us. Having 6 bathrooms for 7 bedrooms was good. The Belvedere kitchen became the breakfast and lunch space (breakfast on the terrace, lunch by the pool) and the Villa kitchen was used for evening meal preparations. The dining table in the Villa seated us all comfortably whilst the surrounding living space and balcony gave lots of space for break-out groups. We were there during a heatwave and the air conditioning in most areas was very welcome (nb one bedroom in the Belvedere and one in the Villa do not have air conditioning, along with the living space in the Belvedere but large fans had been provided). The pool was definitely the focal point of our stay! Franca and Beatrice were wonderful and both speak fluent english. They were on hand to answer queries, make recommendations and check the pool every day (usually early morning before we were up). The medieval chapel attached to the villa is a special addition - we were there on 15 August and the villagers came up for a service followed by coffee and Franca's homemade cake! Any improvements? We had 4 keen (and very good) cooks in our group so perhaps some additional kitchen utensils such as sharp knives/chopping boards would have been good. There are two sorts of electric sockets and we struggled a little with adaptors. Our recommendations: Deruta - Franca's ceramics shop, the Ceramics museum, Taverna del Gusto for lunch, the local butcher, homemade gelato (nocciola was a favourite), fresh pasta, Tuesday morning market Places nearby - Assisi, Gubbio, Montefalco (superb wine tasting at Fongoli Cantina including the local Sagrantino grape), Monte Subasio (spectacular views), Spello (preserved roman acquaduct), Todi...the list is endless We loved it and hope you do too.

We had a fabulous week at this beautiful villa. The setting of the villa in the hill above Deruta with a magical view of the town and the valley is stunning. Many an evening was spent on the large terrace eating and drinking as we watched the beautiful sunset. But there was so many options to sit and enjoy meals from a table next to the pizza oven to lunches and a BBQ next to the pool. The children loved the huge pool, the grounds and ringing the bell on the old chapel in the grounds. All the bedrooms and bathrooms were individual, well decorated and large and there was a lot of space in the house (really 2 houses with kitchen and lounge area in each house- we used the facilities in the belvedere section as this worked well for us). Most bedrooms had access to the terrace or a balcony with views of the beautiful surrounding countryside. Even though the villa feels very rural, it was a very short trip into the town of Deruta for the local market, supermarket and ceramic shops. We were also fortunate to be there for the first day of a festival in Deruta (July 21st) so took the children into town to enjoy this local event. Franca and Beatrice were such attentive hosts making sure we had everything we wanted from suggestions of local places to visit to logs for the BBQ and pizza oven to helping us order a delicious shoulder of pork from the local butcher. They were always nearby if we needed anything. One of the best villas we have stayed in in our 14 years of this type of holiday as both the house and the grounds were stunning and close to many interesting places to visit - hilltop towns, Assisi and lake Trasimeno a few of the options available.

If you're looking for a villa in central Umbria for a large group (we were 15), this is the ideal choice. The property and views were stunning, the place is outfitted with much more than you would need (3 kitchens, pool house, several places to gather/eat). The huge pool was amazing and necessary during a hot summer visit. The owner was extremely friendly and helpful, recommending several great day trips, and setting up ceramics class for kids, cooking class for adults, and anything else we needed. The location is a great base for visiting the region. I would honestly give this place a perfect rating. The only additional information that I would note is that there is no real shallow end of the pool. The "shallow" end is about 5 feet deep, and the deep end is 10+ feet deep. This was great for us, as all of the kids in our party were strong swimmers, but this might be helpful info for anyone with small children, or non- or weak swimmers.

We're sadly on our way home from a lovely fortnight at Franca's amazing villa... The description doesn't prepare you for the space, view from the terrace or attention to detail.... There was room for our big group (8 adults, 9 kids) and Franca was on hand whenever we needed anything.... She even cooked for us on our last night.... It's a little odd to have 2 separate kitchens but we just used one for breakfast and one for other meals.... She's planning a new big kitchen under the terrace that would work well... It has a fab pool house with toilet, shower and fridge/freezer for those poolside beers and ice creams.... Deruta is not really walking distance with kids although we did it once (for the spectacle that was Miss Umbria!!).... Pizza Party does great take away pizzas and Taverna del Gusto in the old town is friendly and fabulous..... Definitely try the water park at Tavernelle and lunch at the Alchemist on the square at Montefalco..... We may well return!!

We're sadly on our way home from a lovely fortnight at Franca's amazing villa... The description doesn't prepare you for the space, view from the terrace or attention to detail.... There was room for our big group (8 adults, 9 kids) and Franca was on hand whenever we needed anything.... She even cooked for us on our last night....It's a little odd to have 2 separate kitchens but we just used one for breakfast and one for other meals.... She's planning a new big kitchen under the terrace that would work well... It has a fab pool house with toilet, shower and fridge/freezer for those poolside beers and ice creams....Deruta is not really walking distance with kids although we did it once (for the spectacle that was Miss Umbria!!).... Pizza Party does great take away pizzas and Taverna del Gusto in the old town is friendly and fabulous.....Definitely try the water park at Tavernelle and lunch at the Alchemist on the square at Montefalco.....We may well return!!

The whole family of sixteen people over three generations, spent one week in this wonderfully well kept house with beautiful gardens in the Umbrian country side, and we all loved it; the kids loved the pool, the teens the poolside and the adults the combination of relaxation by the house and gardens as well as the closeness to many beautiful places nearby such as Assissi, Gubbio or Spoleto. Very appreciated was also the fantastic Umbrian dinner, specially cooked for our mothers birthday (extra order of course). I will definitely recommend this place to others.

We stayed for two weeks at this house during the summer of 2015 and found it wonderful. The house (or really 2 adjacent houses) is beautiful and spacious. The rooms were nicely but simply decorated with good quality furniture, and the kitchens were well equipped (especially with ceramics!). For us, the only drawback was that there were two houses, and thus two kitchens and living rooms, and we like to hang out together, but there is plenty of room, so this isn't a big problem (and for many this could be an advantage). The area by the pool, where we would also eat, was just wonderful, and from the patio area, you could watch the sun set over Deruta. The pool is huge and well maintained. Since we were there in the middle of a heat wave, this was a vacation-saver! The gardens are beautiful and there is quite a bit of space both indoors and outdoors. The local hosts were very helpful with restaurant and tourist ideas, or issues with the house (I locked us out!) and yet not intrusive. They came every day to check the pool and water the plants, but usually before we were up, or when we were cooking dinner. Umbria is almost as beautiful as Tuscany, without all the tourists, so the area nearby is very nice and full of places to explore.

We stayed for two weeks at this house during the summer of 2015 and found it wonderful. The house (or really 2 adjacent houses) is beautiful and spacious. The rooms were nicely but simply decorated with good quality furniture, and the kitchens were well equipped (especially with ceramics!). For us, the only drawback was that there were two houses, and thus two kitchens and living rooms, and we like to hang out together, but there is plenty of room, so this isn't a big problem (and for many this could be an advantage).The area by the pool, where we would also eat, was just wonderful, and from the patio area, you could watch the sun set over Deruta. The pool is huge and well maintained. Since we were there in the middle of a heat wave, this was a vacation-saver! The gardens are beautiful and there is quite a bit of space both indoors and outdoors. The local hosts were very helpful with restaurant and tourist ideas, or issues with the house (I locked us out!) and yet not intrusive. They came every day to check the pool and water the plants, but usually before we were up, or when we were cooking dinner.Umbria is almost as beautiful as Tuscany, without all the tourists, so the area nearby is very nice and full of places to explore.

We stayed for two weeks at this house during the summer of 2015 and found it wonderful. The house (or really 2 adjacent houses) is beautiful and spacious. The rooms were nicely but simply decorated with good quality furniture, and the kitchens were well equipped (especially with ceramics!). For us, the only drawback was that there were two houses, and thus two kitchens and living rooms, and we like to hang out together, but there is plenty of room, so this isn't a big problem (and for many this could be an advantage). The area by the pool, where we would also eat, was just wonderful, and from the patio area, you could watch the sun set over Deruta. The pool is huge and well maintained. Since we were there in the middle of a heat wave, this was a vacation-saver! The gardens are beautiful and there is quite a bit of space both indoors and outdoors. The local hosts were very helpful with restaurant and tourist ideas, or issues with the house (I locked us out!) and yet not intrusive. They came every day to check the pool and water the plants, but usually before we were up, or when we were cooking dinner. Umbria is almost as beautiful as Tuscany, without all the tourists, so the area nearby is very nice and full of places to explore.