La Preghiera, Calzolaro, Italy

La Preghiera is a 12th-century monastery in Umbria, lovingly converted to a luxury country guest house of the highest standard. With terracotta floors, huge oak and chestnut beams, and furnished with antiques and hand made furniture, it is surrounded by a beautiful garden, with a private chapel and swimming pool, all encompassed by open fields with impressive views of woodland hills.

Situated minutes away from the village of Calzolaro, close to Umbertide and Cittá di Castello, in the Upper Tiber valley, La Preghiera is in the midst of Umbria’s many walled medieval villages and towns, in the land of poets, painters and saints, Saint Francis of Assisi, Michelangelo of Caprese and Rafaello of Cittá di Castello.

Privately owned, it is the home of Liliana and John Tunstill who have created graceful surroundings with their furniture; elegant chairs, hand-made tables, beautiful curtains, padded window seat cushions and silk braided parchment lampshades.

Their lifetime collections of art deco silverware, Gallé, Aubusson, china, Victorian illustrations and even a small museum of lead toy soldiers, are here for their guests to share.

Ten double or twin bedrooms are furnished and decorated to a very high standard; the beds are fitted with luxurious silk and cotton blend sheets, en-suite marble clad bathrooms, all with matching white waffle towels, guest robes and slippers.