Torre di Moravola is a 12th century watchtower built on an existing 8th century structure, reputed to have been an ancient Umbrian worship site. Situated along the ridge of the mountain ‘Madonna dei Confine’, it lies between one of the most beautiful medieval hilltop villages in Italy, Montone, and the architecturally famed town of Gubbio. The watchtower was built to protect the main access route down the Carpine Valley between the lands ruled by Frederico di Montefeltro and the Fortebraccio family of Montone. Today, its panoramic views of the hills and valley below no longer survey the warring lands of Italian noblemen, but have given way to an idyllic peaceful setting.
In 1999 the potential of the tower was recognised by Scottish arts graduate Seonaid Mackenzie and her partner, award winning architect Christopher Chong. Their vision for the tower was to serve a new purpose, as a cultural center with a holistic approach to quality of life. To achieve this goal, it was essential to restore the tower, to provide accommodation sympathetic to the original structure, yet creating a comfortable and contemporary simplicity. Umbria is Italy’s mystical heart, the birthplace of Saint Bendict and Saint Francis. Dotted with small hill towns with easy access to the cultural centres of Assisi, Perugia, Arrezzo, Florence and Rome are within 1 to 2 hours distance. The Alto Tevere area in which the tower is situated is tailor-made for all manner of holidays from visiting the regions sleepy hilltowns in search of art, culture and sunshine to tranquil lazy days by the pool.
Forget the stress of the 21st century, there are no sounds except for those of birds, insects and farmers working the fields. Guests will be invited to journey into history in the finest comfort acheived with classic contempoprary design and conveniences situation. Built in the 12th Century as a watchtower, the property has 360 degree views and overlooks two valleys. The building is surrounded by 5 hectares of its own land with fields containing olive and fruit trees. Diagramatically the elements of the hotel are strung along the top of a ridge on an axis starting at the southern end with a sunset pavilion to a pool which sits at the highest point of the site. The tower with the division of its private guest rooms and public spaces now makes full use of the vistas provided by the location.
There are 4 external terraces each of different character surrounding the tower. On the East side a formal terrace for dining overlooks the original 12th Century access road to the tower this terrace enjoys classic Umbrian views across the facing valley and over the Carpini valley. Stone steps and a horse ramp link the terrace to the original medieval road and the fields below. To the south it is more domestic in feel on account of the ancillary buildings and an open sided pavilion forming an inner courtyard with herb garden. The west side where guests are initially welcomed will have a reflecting pool and pavilion from where the sunset can be appreciated with a chilled glass of Orvieto. To the North a piazza for vehicular drop off will be centered with an ancient olive tree. Beyond this on top of the ridge is the swimming pool located overlooking the tower with cascades of water on three sides. Amongst the olive grove, orchard and surrounding fields are seating areas for moments of repose to appreciate the vistas
There are a total of 7 suites arranged off a central top lit passage forming part of the axis linking the gardens, terraces and pool. Most of these suites are designed to echo the theme of the tower being arranged on two levels with bathrooms and changing areas on the lower level and sleeping areas on the upper level. In this way all suites have direct private access to the outside terraces and wonderful views. Bathrooms will be separated from the rest of the room with sliding glass screens enclosing sunken baths / shower areas. Wall finishes will be of a mixture of fair faced stonework and smooth rendered walls offering a contrast to the old structure of the building. Floor finishes are of local stone – Pietra Serena – Lighting will be hidden and primarily from the building’s many niches and through indirect uplighting and concealed feature lighting. Public areas are arranged on two levels and act as a pivot from the centre of the tower easily accessible from all seven suites. There are two interlinked reception rooms on the first floor and the kitchen and dining areas have ready access to the terraces.
architecture and interiors. The design and architecture is aimed at enhancing the experience of the tower not overpowering or detracting from it.
Moravola is different from others, small and intimate, sublimely removed from the modern world it is a connection with and reinterpretation of the past.
Umbria is famed for medieval watch towers, to enhance this experience, five of the seven suites have been designed as individual towers with bathroom and changing rooms below and bedrooms above, linked by floating folded steel patinated stairs.
360 degree views over forgotten secluded valleys almost unchanged from medieval times, gives the sensation that you are completely removed from the modern world, although in reality you are ten minutes from the walled hill-top village of Montone and access routes to the Tiber valley.
Moravola is small, there are only seven suites, giving the impression of ownership and complete privacy, the grounds, terraces, pavilions and pool area are large enough to never see other guests.
Because of the size, service can be more intimate, involving, it is intended that service would be `complete care` to remove all worries from a visit, in a subtle and understated form.
Under this `complete care` approach it means that small groups are simpler to manage and can be taken to ‘hidden’ places and so have a deeper experience from their visit: unusual restaurants, local seasonal festivals, specialized art/culture tours.
Follows the `slow food` movement but with a fusion twist where ingredients are seasonal and sourced locally, the same `complete care` extends into food, veg and salads are all organically grown in the gardens and on the plate minutes from being harvested. Specialist and detox diets can be organized.
There is an existing history of spa/healing places along the Tiber valley it was the main route for wealthy and cultured Romans to rest on their journey northwards to their summer villas eg. Bagno di Romagna, north of Sansepolcro, where the water from the sacred river Tiber was thought to have healing properties along with the purifying `Umbrian` mud baths and local sulpher caves.
At present most spas in Umbria are aimed mainly at the local Italian market and can feel institutionalized.
Moravola embraces the needs of a contemporary lifestyle with its extraordinary tranquility and remarkable combination of nature’s abundance, beauty, and simplicity. Moravola offers a reintroduction to nature`s generous capacity to heal and nourish the body and the soul, a spiritual connectedness to the earth, seasons and universe, as relevant today as it was to Saint Francis and followers over 600 years ago.
Under this holistic approach at we have designed the pool area with an open air pavilion for body scrubs and wet body work and an internal tranquil space below the pool terrace for a more secluded treatment area. Another much larger pavilion is on the West side of the tower, and treatments can also be given in guest’s rooms.
The products used will be based on natural herbal remedies organically grown in Umbria and local Umbrian clay, with the use of aromatherapy oils and `Dr Bach` flower remedies. Practitioners are qualified, live locally and are very experienced.
lunches and dinner, cocktails and ’tartuffi’ treats around the pool ‘funghi’ feasts and when wild boar is in season huge feasts on the terrace, with spit roasted meat under star light
walks, mountains, flora and fauna, spiritual places, cycle tours, horse trecking, 4x4 off road (consider car insurance, drivers liability), air tours, para gliding, microlites, hot air ballooning, history and culture pagan ancient Umbrian tribal sites and experiences, medieval life
Medieval herbal healing –monastic gardens to present day herbalist/ perfumier Lorenzo Viloresi frescoes. Luca Signorelli, Piero della Francesco, Giotto, up to restoration today local artists
Craft medieval ironwork `ferro battuta` from Gubbio to present day blacksmiths/ironworkers stone-carvingantiques
Arezzo market and around the area architecture The crypt of Badia Monte Corona, Rocca dAries, Gubbio, Arezzo, Urbino, Perugia, Sansepolcro, Anghiari etc
Monte San Maria Tiberina, Montone, Citerna,
pre nuptial tranquility treatments for brides and attendents. Wedding ceremonies in the newly re-consecrated 16thC church of the Madonna di Confini in the woods, a seven minute flower-decked pony trap ride to Moravola for celebration/reception on the terrace
Romantic, escapist, seclusion, wedding recovery and pampering Condottiori conference
Business conferences, male bonding breaks, Autumn hikes, fine wines, hearty casseroles, wood fires, accompanying wives can be taken shopping in Florence and visit the Prada/Gucci outlets with lunch at the 16th century villa of Lorenzo Viloresi herbalist/alchemist and perfumier.
Easter religious festivals, oratorios and concerts Montone ‘Festa della Spina’ Gubbio ‘Ceri race’ wild orchid festivals
Montone ‘Festa della Bosca’ Funghi, tartufi, wild boar, festivals Preggio chestnut festival November new wine and olive oil festivals
Perugia chocolate festival St. Valentine escapes
Four day ‘weekend breaks’ are a growing market in the UK, they could be created around local festivals and specialist restaurants, a completely worry free experience, collected at the airport, chilled wine and meal waiting, swim or de-stress massage, etc
`Caccia` hunting breaks: funghi, truffles, falconry and wild boar hunts with seasonal food, fortified wines and roaring wood fires
Seven individual tower suites
from €200 per night.
Please fill out our booking form
or call Tel No. 0039 075 946 0965