Torre Collevento is a historic 15th-century boutique-villa tucked away in the countryside of Orvieto, Italy
HISTORY
Torrecollevento is an authentic historical residence protected by Italian cultural heritage. Built in the 1400s as a Franciscan convent, it was later used in the 1500s, by order of Pope Clement, as a watchtower to oversee the city of Orvieto. From the villa, it is possible to view the entire cliff upon which the city of Orvieto stands, as well as the valley and Monte Cetona. It is the only remaining watchtower still standing in the Orvieto area. Its historical significance was also notable in the 1800s when, owned by a noble family from Orvieto, the villa was used as a hunting lodge. The nobleman’s original washbasin and bathtub, protected by cultural heritage regulations, are still intact and available for guests to use. The cellar, accessible from the villa and likely of Etruscan origin, was used by the nobleman as a refrigerator to preserve the hunted meats. This is why there are three levels with three different temperatures, and the roots at the deepest level bear witness to an ancient method of measuring humidity.