Perfect retirement or vacation house for sale in Umbria

I know of a house for sale in San Venanzano, Umbria. I kinda want it: that’s the town there beyond the sunflowers. I’ve been following this couple’s story for years through their blog and the Slow Travel Italy forum. They moved to Umbria from the States in 2003 on what can’t rightly be called a whim, but it was not something that they premeditated for years, anyway. Recently I read, with some sadness, that they have decided to leave. Turns out they had planned to use their place as a pied-a-terre for travel around the world, but this proved expensive as the dollar tanked. Now they’re realizing that there’s still a lot to see in the States, and that with all the friends they’ve made while they’re here, they don’t really need a house to live in any more! Or at least, that’s my take on it. The story is much longer and you can read the whole thing on their blog.

Anyway, I wanted to give them a hand by pointing out their very comfortable modern home for sale in San Venanzano, Umbria. In some ways it looks so typically Italian, but they’ve also clearly done a lot of work on it and personalized it to American tastes and needs. It makes me want to retire and move to Umbria (but I just started working now!) so I can enjoy the idyllic small hill town that they describe as always having a breeze, and full of friendly people. This home would be perfect for an family to own for vacations (just check out that great kitchen!) and rent for the rest of the time as a tourist rental; or a good place to put down roots during retirement.

The location is really very good – far out enough to have beautiful views out the bedroom window (see photo), but well connected to bigger cities. On the E45 which is a really good road, it’s about halfway between Perugia, which even has an airport along with a medieval acqueduct, great museum, etc etc, and Todi, which has a really cool circular church and one of the slowest slow food restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. Orvieto is not far off, and from there you’re on the A1 highway to Florence or Rome.

If you’re thinking of buying in Italy, Barbara and Art can walk you through the process and would love to sell you their home: please see www.artnbarb.com.