This was my 2nd time at Malvarina with the first being 30 years ago as part of a cooking program. I was fortunate enough to be able to cook with the matriarch, Maria, at the time who has sadly passed a few years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of farm living in Assisi then and it was even better this time around. ||We booked a cottage on the farm which was very charming and comes with a kitchen, eating area and queen sized bed. There was another single bed that we used as a sitting area. The setting was not to be believed being situated among the many olive trees on the farm and with fantastic views of the Subasio valley. It's a wonderful change from the big hotels of Rome, Florence and Venice.||The best part of the experience wasn't the farm, quaint cottage, olive trees, the views or the cats and dogs that become your pets, it was the food. Patrizia, Maria's daughter-in-law, has taken over the kitchen. Her food is the best I've had from all of my travels throughout Italy. I've said that before about Malvarian when Maria was cooking but Patrizia has not only honored Maria by her amazing menus that are flawlessly executed, she has taken the Malvarian kitchen to new heights and has added wonderful, new touches to Nonna's recipes. I've eaten in Piedmont, Venice, Milan, Rome, Bologna, Parma, Abruzzi, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Puglia and SIcily and yes, Malvarina is the best. ||For a great experience from staying in a cottage on a farm, to becoming part of the family to the food and surrounding areas throughout Umbria, go to Malvarina and use their agriturismo as your base just a few km from Assisi. You won't be disappointed and you won't break the bank either. I can't ay enough about my stay and the value of what I received vs the cost. Once you stay at Malvarian, it will become a most treasured memory you will have forever, I can absolutely vouch for all of the other 5 star reviews.||Many thanks to Claudio, Patrizia, Giacomo, Filippo and the Malvarina team for their warmth and hospitality. The refresher course on hand rolled pasta will be yet another treasured memory and permanent part of my cooking repertoire. THank you all for your hard work in keeping Malvarina...
Read moreOur first stay was in October of 2011 where, along with another couple, we stayed in the motel like rooms by the swimming pool and attached to the breakfast room. We enjoyed that stay so much that we decided to return last year in 2016. We were travelling with our 13 year old grandson and he enjoyed the pool along with internet access in the breakfast room. He also enjoyed the multi coursed farm fresh delicious meals in the evenings. Malvarina is a relaxed, peaceful place to return to after a day of busy sightseeing and is in a good location for day trips to Spoleto, Spello, Gubbio, Montefalco, Perugia, Assisi, Todi, Orvieto and Deruta. For splendid views of the Umbrian Valley below and the towering, snow capped Appenine mountains, take the drive (mostly dirt but very navigable) up and over Monte Subasio on which the village of Assisi sits at the bottom. ||Breakfast at Malvarina consists of fruits, home baked cakes and breads, juices, coffee and Maria will scramble you up a couple of farm fresh eggs on request. I love the wood fired oven in the main dining room of the restaurant where, if you are lucky, you will be able witness bread baking. ||My husband and I highly recommend Malvarina as a reasonably priced agriturisimo, with excellent food in a...
Read moreMy elderly mother and two sisters and I spent three lovely nights at Malvarina. The scenic and peaceful setting of this family owned and operated inn high up on the mountainside was delightful. We stayed near the end of the season when leaves were beginning to fall and the evening air was crisp. The spectacularly beautiful city of Assisi was an easy drive from Malvarina, and our host, Giacamo, helped us plan our trip. Without exception, we found the hosts and staff at Malvarina to be warm and welcoming. The cooking class with Patricia and Lilliana (and Pepe as translator) was outstanding and added depth to our experience of the region. My sisters and I stayed in one of Malvarina's apartments on the edge of the property which was well appointed with a small kitchen and outdoor seating. The main bed (double) was comfortable but the two twin beds in which my sister and I slept were not, and we would probably have been better off with single rooms for all three of us. But staying together was part of the fun, so we adapted. We loved everything else about Malvarina, from the dogs at the window of the breakfast room to the star-filled night sky and views of the valley below. We will return to Malvarina,...
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