Pian di Cascina is the kind of place that families return to year after year. Whether its the sense of tranquility that comes with the stunning views over picture perfect rolling Umbrian landscapes, or the combination of pretty, well-equipped and comfortable apartments with hotel-like services such as the onsite trattoria, daily fresh baked breakfast goods deliveries and delicious home-made ready meals, it is easy to see what has them flocking back.
Here, relaxation begins before guests even arrive as a long list of baby and toddler gear, arrival night ready-meal options and a very handy pre-arrival shopping service to include essentials like nappies, wipes, cereals, bread, milk, pasta and sauce etc. All of that means there's no need to start packing a month before the holiday, arrive loaded down with excess baggage or run the gauntlet of tracking down a supermarket en route from the airport, its all there just waiting for guests to arrive. Better still, there are two villages within reasonable walking distance, or a short drive for the less energetic, and together they offer an ATM, a supermarket, a pizza pub, a couple of cafe bars and a well loved cheese shop.
Guests tend to while away time flitting between the play area and the pool by day, whilst making use of the gas BBQs provided on each apartment's private terrace or enjoying sociable suppers a few times a week in the onsite 'tavernetta'. Some take a stroll to grab an ice cream or coffee by the village playground in the village Carbonesca (10-15min walk) and, tempted by the fantastically well-written guides to local towns such as Gubbio, Perugia and Assisi, venture out for half-day trips, maybe a little longer if headed to the brilliant beach at Toretta di Fano. Those staying a bit longer, or with sight-seeing savvy tots may well be tempted by the handy tips on where to park, eat, drink to venture further afield to take in the sights of Rome, Florence and Siena, all three of which are within a few hours drive or handy train from nearby Perugia.
Pian di Cascina comprises of nine apartments sleeping 2-7+babies. The most charming of the apartments are found within the original 400-year old farmhouse, the most contemporary in the former converted barn and others in a modernised outbuilding just across the way. Whilst Cantina, Villeta and Cascina boast an abundance of original charm and character, Il Pinolo and L'Oliveto are the most stylish, Gubbio, Assisi, Montefalco and Spello benefit from the best views. The entire estate can be rented and is ideal for weddings, birthdays or anniversaries since guests can enjoy the privacy of their own accommodation but enjoy delicious restaurant standard meals in the 'Tavernetta' or outside on the dining terrace, which has spectacular views over the countryside and is also an ideal spot for a ceremony.
Recent additions to the estate include a heated toddler pool, extra shade around the pool, a ready-meal service, honesty wine-cellar with great local selection and beers, pre-dinner cocktails on tavernetta nights and little tikes play area with sea-saws, ride-ons and other outdoor play equipment designed for babies and toddlers. Plus, a new parents relaxation zone complete with hammock, loungers etc.
Accommodation Overview
Nestled in the hills outside Valfabbrica, Pian di Cascina is just 1.5kms fom the large village of Casa Castalda, which has a selection of shops and bars including a popular cheese deli and pizza pub, plus a handy ATM and supermarket.
Closer still (15mins walk) is the smaller village of Carbonesca, which boasts a couple of friendly bars and a small bakery/grocery store. There are handful of well respected restaurants within a 5-15 minute drive, whilst the scenic but lively town of Gubbio with its wide choice of eateries is only around 20 minutes from the estate. Of course, with the option to add daily breakfast pastry deliveries, home-made ready meals and twice-weekly onsite tavernetta dinners, guests needn't travel at all to eat well.
Each of the estate's nine apartments has its own guide book to the area stuffed with extremely useful and detailed tips and advice from owners Paul and Isabel, who have their own three young children. The suggested itineraries for week-long stays, as well as day trips to must-see towns such as Rome, Florence, Siena, Assisi, Perguia and Gubbio, are crammed with fantastic tips on what to see and do and where to eat and drink, with or without tots in tow.
For 'beach' days, the Abbott family are big fans of the beach resort at Toretta di Fano (approx 80mins drive) thanks to its easy access, free parking, shallow waters and outstanding beachside seafood restaurant. Closer still, there's the sand-fringed areas of Lake Trasimeno or scenic Adriatic coast resorts east of Ancona, are all within about 40-60 minutes drive. Whilst mini guests often enjoy the waterpark at the lake and the Citta della Domenica nature park, which also has Snow White, Pinocchio and Sleeping Beauty themed amusements. They also recommend the Monte Cucco National Park (40mins away) thanks to its walking paths, playgrounds, wild horses and ponies and traditional mountain food cooked over open fires. Plus there's tandem paragilding for adventurous types!
Getting There: Perugia airport is the closest being just 30mins away, whilst Ancona airport is only around 60 minutes drive and the airports at Pisa, Florence, Rome and Bologna are all within 2.5-3 hrs drive.
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Check-in time: 16:00
Check-out time: 10:00
Reservation Deposit: 30%
Balance: 63 days prior to arrival
Reservation Deposit: 30%
Balance: 63 days prior to arrival
The occupancy for the Villetta is 4 adults/children or infants. An additional infant in a cot/crib may be accommodated - there is however, and additional fee of €100 per week which will be added to your bill. COVID 19 UPDATE: Facilities/Equipment remain largely as described. A box of toys is available for each property and kept in the property for the duration. Toys and baby kit are fully disinfected between guests. The property will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and all soft furnishings washed or sanitised between stays. A 30% deposit secures booking & is refundable/exchangeable if travel restrictions are in place in the area local to the rental property. Balance payable 63 days before arrival. Covid-19 inclusive insurance such as that provided by Rock (insurefor.com) or Nationwide, should be relied upon for refund after this point.
Check-in time: 16:00
Check-out time: 10:00
Reservation Deposit: 30%
Balance: 63 days prior to arrival
The occupancy for the Villetta is 4 adults/children or infants. An additional infant in a cot/crib may be accommodated - there is however, and additional fee of €100 per week which will be added to your bill. COVID 19 UPDATE: Facilities/Equipment remain largely as described. A box of toys is available for each property and kept in the property for the duration. Toys and baby kit are fully disinfected between guests. The property will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and all soft furnishings washed or sanitised between stays. A 30% deposit secures booking & is refundable/exchangeable if travel restrictions are in place in the area local to the rental property. Balance payable 63 days before arrival. Covid-19 inclusive insurance such as that provided by Rock (insurefor.com) or Nationwide, should be relied upon for refund after this point.
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An additional infant in a cot/crib may also be accommodated for an additional charge of 100 per week (If you exceed the occupancy which is 4) |
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![]() | Perugia airport is the closest being just 30mins away, whilst Ancona airport is only around 60 minutes drive. |
![]() | The nearest village is 15 mins walk and has a cafe/bar and bakery/shop, whilst a larger village with ATM, supermarket and pizza pub is approx. 25mins on foot. |
![]() | There's a large gated pool (1.4m deep - unheated) with stunning views, and a heated and shaded baby/toddler splash pool. |
![]() | Babysitting is available on request |
![]() | The long list of useful baby and toddler gear provided includes: Highchairs, cots, bed guards, booster seats, potties, changing mat, non slip bath mat,bath toys, night lights, toddler steps, mattress protectors, baby monitor, steriliser, plastic crockery and cutlery.The owners also offer an option, pre-arrival, at cost price baby supplies shopping service to include nappies, formula, jars, wipes etc. |
![]() | A selection of age appropriate toys and books are provided within the apartments |
![]() | Delicious home-made ready meals are available to pre-order both before arrival and during the stay. There's also a great honesty wine cellar stocked with local varieties and beers. |
![]() | The estate has a shady play area with Little Tikes zone for toddlers and gear for older kids too including swings (non-baby type), a slide, play fort, sand pit, badminton nets, basket ball hoop table tennis, play house, zip slide, hanging bars, swing ball, see-saw, mini football, volleyball, a catapillar tunnel and geodome climbing frame. |
![]() | Treatments from a mobile beauty/massage therapist can be prebooked on request. |
![]() | The onsite 'Tavernetta' open's twice weekly offering cocktails and a set menu for adults, and pasta for kids. It can open additional nights should 8+ guests request it. |
![]() | Stairgates are not needed in this single level apartment |
![]() | Villetta has a lovely shaded terrace with a pergola overlooks the lawn and picturesque views of the hillside towards the southern Apennine. There is a gas BBQ, and a table and chairs. |
![]() | Free Wi-Fi is provided. |
![]() | Owners Paul and Isabel run an organic small-holding within the grounds and provide recycling facilities for guests. |
![]() | There's a friendly flock of chickens permanently resident on-site |
![]() | Several cots (wooden and travel), boosters and highchairs can be provided on request. |
Please click the text to scroll through reviews.
We visited with a 2 & 6 year old over October half term.
Umbria is beautiful at this time of year. The leaves were changing, weather was just right and no crowds whatsoever.
The accommodation lived up to our expectations on every front. Could not fault a thing. I would definitely recommend eating at the onsite 'taverna' the first night. The food was out of this world. I was particularly impressed with their ability to cater for several food allergies in our group.
The children loved the well stocked play area and the endless walks in the local area.
Review dated 29/10/2017
A fantastic place with such friendly hosts and fantastic food. We couldn't recommend it enough.Review dated 22/08/2016
Isabel's food at the on-site taverna was on a par if not better than the great local restauants.
Very friendly and always on hand to advise and help.Review dated 14/05/2013
Excellent, baby and toddler friendly location. Paul and Isabel (the owners) cannot do enough for you. Would definitely recommend.Review dated 23/09/2012
This was our first holiday with both boys (1 & 4) and we had everything we needed at our fingertips, toys, babyproof plates, stairgates, high chair, DVD for the eldest! The food was yummy, the location was beautiful, the owners were friendly and knowledgeable. We would definitely recommend this holiday to other families.....but we wont because then we might not be able to get another booking ; )Review dated 20/09/2012
An amazing holiday at this property, everything you could need for babies and toddlers without it feeling like a 'kids club'. Definitely recommended!Review dated 07/08/2012
It has been many years since my family stayed at the Pian Di Cascina and used it as a 'base' for exploring Umbria and Tuscany. I need to apologize for not having written this earlier - the stay at this lovely place has been the best family vacation we have ever had. It has stayed with all of us and made us love Italy, its people, its food and its culture. We remember it well for its modesty, relaxed, informal character and its caring proprietors. I give it the highest recommendation possible for an Italian family adventure. Larry - Canada.Review dated 15/09/2020
Perfect active holiday in relaxing surroundings. I recently visited this property with my family. My wife and I wanted to stay at a property where we could relax with our kids while not compromising our training routine. We went for some fantastic bike rides with amazing scenery to help distract you during the hill climbs. My wife enjoyed long runs along the quite country roads. There are plenty of active games for the kids to play and lots of open ground for running. The pool was very carefully organised in accordance with new protocols and long enough to swim laps. The food was healthy and fresh using local produce. Overall we had and great time and would recommend to both families and those who enjoy an active lifestyle. Before leaving we noticed that the owner also runs bootcamp or fitness retreats in October. We might look into this for our next visit. Clean, modern, comfortable, and yet rustic in style with plenty to do for sport ...Review dated 22/08/2020
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Pian Di Cascina has become our families yearly refuge from the pace of modern life. It somewhere both parents and children can go to detox, reconnect with nature, make new friends and eat stunning food. We have been coming to Pian Di Cascina for the last 3 years and each year Isabel and Paul somehow manage to outdo the last.
Highlights include:
Location - The views are incredible from all sides and you are truly away from it all, but you have all the modern amenities you could wish for within a short drive. As well as the special hilltop towns, our personal favourites being Perugia and Gubbio (go up the funicular!).
Villas - These are all well equipped and maintained and as long as you follow Paul's advice naturally air-conditioned.
Pool - This feels cold when you first get in, but then it is Summer in Italy so it is always going to, once past this is it is blissful and the kids will love it (watch the Michael Mcintyre 'B ...Review dated 19/08/2020
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Umbria is a pleasant green Italian region, in the middle of everything and nice and quiet. Especially in these Covid-19 times, tourism is hard to find. At the well-known hotspots in the area it is 95% Italian and usually "close by". 1x see Dutch people cycling in 6 days. No Germans seen, No English. It's a special summer. Lots of masks and disinfection everywhere. Much more than Belgium and the Netherlands. This place excelled at it even more. The English owners Paul and Isabel excelled even more. In everything, including in detailed preparation of the too strict measures imposed on them by the Umbria region. They are righteous and straightforward. Relative and hospitable. So we got top nature with unforgettable views. Barking deer, fireflies, hares and eagles. Fresh fruit and vegetables wonderfully cooked by Isabel and Paul. Apartments well prepared and you can ask them almost anything because it is there. These apartment ...Review dated 20/06/2020
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Wonderful from start to finish. We spent a week in September with our 2 children (18mnths & 3yrs) and I can't recommend this place enough.
Holidays with children certainly aren't what they used to be! But we're reluctant to change the style of our holidays just because we now have tiny people in tow and that's one of the main reasons that Pian Di Cascina was so appealing. It still felt like an adult holiday, but the tiny people had a fabulous time too.
We chose Villetta, a 2 bed traditional style farmhouse. The rooms were huge, it's all on one level, the patio gets both the sun and the shade. The views of the pool and surrounding areas from the bedroom and lounge area are also incredible!
The house had a ton of toys for our children, and lots of Disney films on the TV (all in english), we BBQ'd most nights and took advantage of the restaurant on the nights it was open. Both meals were delicious, and it was a ...Review dated 07/09/2019
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Wonderful setting high up in the Umbrian hills. Just returned from a wonderful week’s stay at Isobel and Paul’s farm. Breathtaking views, decent accommodation and plenty of space for our two boys, 9 and 6yrs, to run around.
Make sure you book the dinners, available on Sundays and Thursdays, the food is delicious. Bread, wine, fruit and veg are all available to order daily through Paul, if you don’t feel like venturing to the local supermarket.
Pool is great for the kids and adults to meet up and socialise. We met some wonderful families which made the stay even more enjoyable.
If you don’t feel like cooking, then be prepared to drive out for dinner, although once again home made, pre cooked pastas are available.
And remember, you are in the ‘wild’, so don’t be surprised by the little lizards, beetles, and larger animals that you may come across.
Wi-fi is patchy to say the least, but if it is nee ...Review dated 27/07/2019
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Beautiful, child-friendly italien retreat. My husband, 2 children (7 years and 4 years), and I spent a wonderful week in the Villetta Villa. We easily took a flight from Gatwick to Ancona Airport (about 2 hours), then a 1 hr 20 mins drive.
We arrived at 5 pm to the most beautiful scenery at the villa in the mountains and we were greeted by Paul, he showed us around and then checked on us later on, as he did twice a day. We were able to easily contact him with any concerns. We had a delicious lasagne, bread, and prosecco ready for us - which was perfect.
The Villetta villa is well placed to see the play park, which is fabulous, amazing zip wire. My children loved the ability to run over with independance and they met some lovely friends (as did we), which really added to our holiday. It felt very safe. The villa also had many toys which were great for one more rainy afternoon. Very spacious and extremely clean and everything needed for ...Review dated 06/07/2019
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We were in the Villetta apartment. It was spacious and comfortable. There were loads of toys for our grandson to play with. The beds were clean and comfortable. The bathrooms were roomy and clean. We had a lovely meal in the restaurant. The hosts were really friendly and helpful. It was quite a way from anything but perfect if you wanted a quiet family friendly break. Review dated 06/09/2017
We stayed at the charming Viletta apartment for 2 weeks with our 2 boys (5 months and almost 3 years) and had a great time. The apartment was spacious and there are lots of toys and other child-related amenities, a shallow and warm pool for children, and a large playground, all of which our children enjoyed immensely. But it is not just a great place for children - for the parents as well. We enjoyed delicious meals at the on-site restaurant. Really top quality food and wine. With both boys in bed, those evenings felt like date nights for us. Pian di Cascina's location is beautiful in the middle of the Umbrian hills. The owners are lovely and very helpful and knowledgeable about the surrounding area. We highly recommend Pian de Cascina for families with young children. Review dated 27/07/2017
Thank so you so much for such a fantastic week at your amazing house - we loved it.. rather than send you a little list of things that were wrong (there weren't any!) I thought I would send a list of things that we noticed and really appreciated as fellow holiday house owners.
1. Lots of crockery/cutlery etc - we have been to several houses where they have 4 cups/plates/knives etc - really infuriating when a large dishwasher, or wanting perhaps to serve more than one course.
2. Everything immaculately clean
3. All the outdoor toys were clean and even fresh chalk out for the blackboard
4. Tidy outdoor cupboard with balls/bats etc.
5. Great variety of toys and books including my favourite - The Paperbag Princess!
6. Bread/croissant delivery - how you have the patience to do that I will never know.
7. Nice outdoor furniture and shade - only shame was we didn't get to use it too much
8. Lots of suggestions for things to do in boo ...Review dated 13/06/2016
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We have just returned from a 2 week stay at Pian Di Cascina. It was our first holiday with both our 3 year old and our 8 month old baby and Paul and Isabel made it a stress free experience. Prior to departure we had arranged a cot, highchair, steriliser and toilet training seat for the children, meaning that we had lots less stuff to pack and when we arrived we discovered a wonderful pool, great childrens play area and an apartment full of toys and games to keep both of them entertained. All of these touches made a huge difference to our holiday and although hugely child friendly, it didn't ever feel like a 'kids-club' or that the kids took over. The location is beautiful, the meals we had at La Tavernetta were delicious and nothing was too much trouble. Definitely recommended.Review dated 20/09/2012
Just came back from Villa Pian Di Cascina after a week long break in Umbria with our two kids (2 & 4yrs). I am not normally one to post reviews but we had such a nice time that I felt compelled. Villa Pian Di Cascina is lovely. The owners (Paul and Isabel) made us feel very welcome and made sure we were well looked after. They really went out of their way to ensure that we were comfortable and the we enjoyed our stay. They even made wonderful cup cakes for our little one's second birthday. The pre-arrival shop of nappies and other essentials was particularly appreciated. Our apartment was well appointed and supplied, and had lots of toys/books for the kids. The pool was great for cooling off on the hot days, while the surrounding countryside and the views are beautiful and very Italian. We had lots of fun exploring the local towns, with all the amazing churches, castles and medieval buildings, and the thousand of year of history. Al ...Review dated 20/09/2012
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Pian Di Cascina provided the perfect family setting for our first holiday abroad with our 2 year old daughter. We flew into Perugia which is little over half an hour's drive from the farm, so perfect for little ones. Location is great for day trips too as many beautiful places to visit within an hour's drive with Assisi (must do) being only half an hour. We stayed in the Cascina & were able to leave our front door open so our daughter could play outside - she loved the play area & the outside terrace where we had dinner most evenings. Shame there were no other families staying whilst we were there but Paul & Isabel's children were on hand to play with her. Also a great selection of toys & books too inside our villa. We ate at the onsite tavernetta when it was open (twice a week) & just wish it was open more often as Isabel's cooking is amazing. The ready made lasagnes are a nice option & we would highly recommend ...Review dated 20/09/2012
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*Ratings by verified BFB guests who stayed here with young children.
Rated by 10 guests.