Things to do in the area
Aside from sightseeing (or the pleasures of just staying put and chilling out by the pool with a good book: see here for some suggested holiday reading) there are a number of activities for which Casa Nova would be a convenient base.
Academic research or writing: if you are a Historian or Art Historian working on the history or art of this region, the relevant archives are all close to hand; or if you need peace and quiet to complete a magnum opus, this is a good place to find it.
Cooking: Calagrana, a nearby restaurant, occasionally runs cookery courses outside of peak holiday season. Contact Albi and Eli on +39 3386216577 (English spoken) or check the website at www.calagrana.com
Cycling: if you’re tough enough to make it back up the hill at the end of the day or have a support vehicle willing to come and fetch you, this is excellent cycling country. There are plenty of gravel roads and tracks suitable for mountain bikes, or if touring is more your thing, you can join the lycra-clad Italians who are to be seen yomping up the mountain passes at weekends. We have a number of bikes available for the use of our guests (including bikes in sizes suitable for children, a trailer bike, a trailer for young children and a bike rack which carries 3 bikes). We can also put you in touch with an Englishman, living locally, who arranges guided cycle tours in the area, tailored to the abilities of your group. Ask us about this at the time of booking.
Italian Language courses in Perugia: http://www.comitatolinguistico.com/ or the Università per Stranieri at http://www.unistrapg.it/english/.
For activities suitable for kids see For parents by parents in our Rentals section.
Learning to paint maiolica: our local pottery is willing to organise lessons for our guests - please enquire at the time of booking.
Gardens: For a list of Italian gardens worth visiting see http://www.grandigiardini.it/EN/index.php. On the other side of Lake Trasimeno from Casa Nova is La Scarzuola, a quirky garden of architectural follies which is visitable only by prior booking (groups of 8): tel 076 383 7463.
Golf near Perugia: http://www.golfclubperugia.it/ or Antognolla Golf e Country Club - Loc. Antognolla - Str. S. Giovanni del Pantano, 06070 Perugia - Tel [0039] 0756059563. One 9-hole golf executive course and a 9-hole championship golf course, located 15km from Perugia, open all year round.
Music: classical music and opera at the Preggio music festival or jazz at the international festival of jazz at Perugia. See Local Markets and Events.
Painting and drawing: dare to tackle the same landscapes as were painted by Raphael, amongst others. You may find courses offered in Perugia: check the Perugia tourist information website on our Links page. We keep a lightweight easel which our guests are welcome to borrow.
Rambling: the hillsides are criss-crossed with small tracks and with a bit of forward planning you can find routes suitable for anyone, from circular walks manageable by fairly young children through to long distance walks for serious hikers. The Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) has route-marked a number of the most interesting tracks and publishes maps which you can buy at local bookshops: http://www.cai.it/index.jsp
Riding
Fattoria Caldese (Stefano & Marcello) 075 851 0197
Marana (Veronica) 075 941 0004 / 349 2253081
Star-gazing: bring a telescope or binoculars or, if you are a serious astronomer, enquire as to the possibility of visiting one of the two Observatories nearby: http://astro.fisica.unipg.it/
Truffle hunting: Tartufi Bianconi, near Citta di Castello, organises truffle hunting expeditions and sell truffles and related produce http://www.tartufibianconi.it
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