Torre Santa Lucia
Torre Santa Lucia is an Estate of three luxury villas ensconced in ancient olive groves and nature preserves overlooking Lago Trasimeno, the largest lake in central Italy. Fishing villages, towns and walled cities that ring the Lake date back in time, many to the Etruscans. From its vantage high above the east end of the Lake, Torre Santa Lucia enjoys some of the most spectacular sunsets to be found in Italy. Surrounded by olive groves and vineyards of incomparable beauty, Torre Santa Lucia possesses a sublime tranquility of nature in these lands of Saint Francis.
The Torre Santa Lucia villas were painstakingly reconstructed by teams of old-world craftsmen, preserving Umbrian authenticity and charm. While remaining true to historical Italian style, the villas provide a luxurious environment for living with the most modern conveniences. The Estate was created for a well-traveled American family with deep Italian roots and a passion for history. The family worked closely with the renowned Italian architect Paolo Raspa for two decades to review and design every detail of the restoration. The geometra overseeing the project, Giovanni Patriarca is well experienced in historic reconstruction including Corciano, named one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Craftsmen used traditional methods and authentic materials throughout the project without compromise. Every stone in the villas came over the ages from the site.
The Estate was organized for the best of villa living with a main villa for the family, an annex and a luxurious guest house. Santa Lucia, the main villa, is configured with four bedrooms for active family life. Sharing a large patio, La Torre is a charming annex designed with a renaissance flair. Reconstructed from an ancient tower, La Torre has living areas, a working office and a library. The guest house, Il Cortile, was designed for the best of indoor/outdoor living with its five patios and interconnected walkways. The three villas are well situated to realize the best of Lake views, spectacular sunsets, serene natural settings and cultural events while enjoying serene privacy,
The Estate
The Torre Santa Lucia Estate was part of the lands of Luisa Spagnoli, founder of Perugina Chocolates and the Luisa Spagnoli fashion house. The surrounding hills are covered with ancient olives producing some of the world’s finest olive oil. Natural settings of the area around Lago Trasimeno are protected by strict conservation regulations. Reconstruction of Torre Santa Lucia was held rigorously within these protective regulations that preserve the pristine character of the Umbrian countryside.
The Estate includes three fully independent villas interconnected by patios and walking paths. Entry to the Estate is by means of a top gate, and exit is by a lower gate. The Estate is connected to Via Perugia by a 1 km long private white road. The villas lie on a ridge 130 meters above the fishing village of Torricella located at a distance of 1 km. Although very private, the estate boasts spectacular views across the Lake and well into Tuscany. At night a magical necklace of lights glows from towns and villages all around the Lake. A favorite is nearby Passignano sul Trasimeno, while Montepulciano is visible at a distance of 35 km across the Lake.
Santa Lucia
The main villa on the Estate, Santa Lucia is an architectural gem. A massive stone-columnated atrium is a breathtaking introduction to the property. The villa was built entirely anew from the ground up, with special attention paid to functional layout, structural integrity and energy efficiency. Every room is designed to have a full Lake view. Each of the four bedrooms has French doors opening to a glorious view of the Lake. Each ensuite bathroom has a tub and a walk-in shower and Lake views. A balcony with enclosed sun room is perfect for enjoying a nightcap while surrounded by twinkling lights from towns around the Lake. The architectural style is traditional Umbrian, with handmade brick arches throughout the villa. Santa Lucia has a timeless look built to last forever.
Santa Lucia is designed for easy living and entertaining. The public areas on the ground floor flow out from a stunning two-story atrium complete with an elevator serving three floors. A club room opens into a sumptuous living room and walnut paneled library. The library is illuminated by two magnificent stained-glass windows of hand-blown glass. Classical books lining the library and original art establish a sophisticated yet comfortable environment. The club room is perfect for your social gatherings and entertaining. A group of comfortable Stressless chairs is conveniently placed next to a fully functional bar. French doors allow your party to spill out to a patio with spectacular views of the Lake. A game table is perfect for bridge, chess or just socializing. A large screen TV has access to many international channels and the internet.
A gourmet kitchen serves the main dining room and al fresco dining on the adjoining patio. The sumptuous dining room establishes a timeless elegance for your dining and entertaining. Umbrian/Tuscan furnishings provide an authentic Italian ambience for your gatherings. Powder rooms (his & hers) are discretely tucked away in the entrance hallway. A laundry room with washer/drier is located on the upper floor.
Each of the three villas on the Estate is characteristic of buildings at a time in history. The oldest is La Torre, a tower that dates back to about the 12th century. The original tower was totally reconstructed to modern standards incorporating steel reinforced concrete. A new wing added to the original tower includes a galleria passing through the building. An office room and powder room occupy the ground floor of the tower, while a full kitchen is on the opposite side of the galleria. Two bedrooms, each with ensuite bath, are on the upper floor. A living room with beautiful renaissance trifora windows sits above the galleria.
Il Cortile (the courtyard) dates back to the 16th century. The original structure was lovingly restored, preserving the placement of each of the original stones. A charming entrance courtyard and cantina add character to the villa, A two-story addition was made on the East side in keeping with the style and stone work of the original. Steel reinforced concrete was used throughout to bring the structure up to the highest standards.
Il Cortile is designed for the ultimate in indoor/outdoor Italian living. On the ground floor, the living room/bar, dining room, and gourmet kitchen each open to spacious patios. The entrance opens from an arcade to an atrium with a powder room. The upper floor has three bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom. A laundry room is provided for convenience. State of the art radiant heating/cooling provide year-round comfort. A counterflow fresh air circulation system supplies fresh air with highest thermal efficiency. Il Cortile combines timeless Italian design with modern technology for an ideal combination of elegance and comfort.
Energy Efficiency
The most advanced and up to date technologies were used to increase energy efficiency in the Santa Lucia villa. The design adheres to strict guidelines for the highest efficiency rating, Casa Clima A.
All energy consumption in the villa is electrical, including heating, cooling, ventilation, cooking and lighting. The structure is hermetically sealed, with no air leaks that can waste energy. The windows are triple glazed and sealed in Xenon, and all exterior walls are well insulated with 20 cm of material. Heating and cooling are made and controlled by fluid coils in the floor or each room. An energy efficient heat pump operates by geothermal exchange with ground water from a depth of 100 meters.
Fresh air is circulated throughout the villa by conditioning air from the outside through a counterflow heat exchanger that extracts heat from exhaust air and transfers the heat to the incoming air. Because there is no need to open windows for fresh air, no heat is lost out of windows. Counterflow heat exchangers are very efficient, so that little energy is lost due to the circulation of fresh air. These advanced systems demonstrate very comfortable year-round living at a stable temperature and humidity, with a minimum use of energy.
Local Activities
The location is ideal for all sorts of outdoor activities including hiking, birding, horseback riding, boating, cycling, swimming, fishing and motor sports. Hiking and cycling trails extend throughout the Lake Trasimeno Park and around the Lake. You can take a trail from Torre Santa Lucia along the top of the hills to Passignano sul Trasimeno. Bird sanctuaries around the lake are great for aquatic bird watching. Bike rentals are available in Passignano for rides on bike trails and around the Lake. For sailing, you can rent Hobi-cats and sloops in Passignano. Arrange for water skiing or motor craft around the Lake. If fishing is you thing, you can rent a boat or fish from shore in any of the fishing villages around the lake. Our concierge can schedule a Padel ball court are at Gabbiano (2 km). Horseback riding, Vespa scooters, and 4-wheel recreational vehicles can be arranged for the more adventurous.
Innumerable restaurants and cafes are found everywhere around the lake, as well as many excellent ones are off the beaten track. Nearby towns have many notable restaurants, supermarkets, delis, wine stores, beauty shops, and boutiques, all within 5 km. Umbria abounds with many delightful spots not over run with tourists. An unlimited cornucopia of treasures awaits your discovery.
Historical Perspective
The Torre Santa Lucia Estate is surrounded by the olive groves and nature preserves that ring Lago Trasimeno, the largest lake in central Italy. From its vantage high above the east end of the Lake, Torre Santa Lucia enjoys some of the most spectacular sunsets to be found in Italy. Fishing villages, towns, castles and walled cities, many dating back to Etruscan times, dot the shores around the Lake.
Torre Santa Lucia Estate sits in the midst of legendary historical sites. In a foggy spring day in 217 BC, Hannibal ambushed three Roman legions in a defile between the Estate and Montecolognola in the epic Battle of Lago Trasimeno. In a different direction, the Ostrogoth general Arrigo built fortifications at Castel Rigone for the reduction of the ancient city of Perugia in 543 AD. And on a more peaceful note, Saint Francis fasted for 40 days and nights on Isola Maggiore during lent in 1211 AD. Pilgrims to the Holy City followed the road around the lake, passing between Torre Santa Lucia and Montecolognola. Along the way the Pilgrims were protected by Knights Templar from the nearby Castle of Magione. Today the Castle, under the Knights of Saint John, is very active in hosting many notable concerts and entertainment events. Try the wine tasting in this beautful historical setting.