Treading a Roman Road in Umbria
Wanting to realise a dream, Maria and Luigi Mungo headed for the green heart of Italy to find the right property to create a holiday retreat.

Luigi and Maria Mungo moved from the UK 15 years ago to search for a new home in the green heart of Italy and to realise a dream of having holiday apartments. They live near the historical city of Gualdo Tadino in an undiscovered and stunning corner of Umbria complete with hilltop villages, endless woods and friendly people. The backbone of Italy, the Appenines, a church tower, rolling fields and towering poplars can all be seen from their home and garden. From the pool, the view is out of this world just like one of those ‘infinite pools’! Umbria is often considered the poor cousin of Tuscany but Maria and Luigi think it’s more beautiful, lush and green and remains so even in the height of the summer. Easy road, rail and airport links add to the convenience of the area.

The Romans gave the region the name Umbra which means shade cast by verdant primary forests. Marching soldiers enjoyed the relief from the heat of the day walking along shaded roads. Elms, beeches and mighty oaks, combine with Mediterranean ‘macchia’ plants, such as broom, arbutus unedo (the strawberry tree), leccio (evergreen oak)....