UMBRIA'S HOTEL LE TRE VASELLE

Le Tre Vaselle, an elegant luxury hotel in the small Italian medieval town of Torgiano, enhances its estimable Umbrian heritage with super-modern amenities and a splendid restaurant. In her recent book Italy Inns And Itineraries, noted travel writer Karen Brown captures the essence of Le Tre Vaselle in this way: "The interior reflects the ambiance of a graceful country manor with sophisticated furnishings and exquisite taste displayed in every detail."

The hotel is named Le Tre Vaselle for the three ancient wine vessels which hang at the entrance and reflect its ownership by the internationally famous Lungarotti winemaking family. As befits the family's wine and food interests, Le Tre Vaselle's restaurant, Le Melagrane, is acclaimed for its traditional and contemporary Umbrian cuisine. Le Tre Vaselle is set in a large 17th century home that combines the charm of thick stone walls, wooden beams, antiques, hand-woven fabrics and original artwork with state-of-the-art facilities. These include outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a gym, sauna and whirlpool, and in a separate building, a cutting-edge conference center.

The hotel is a particularly desirable destination for food and wine lovers, and is just over an hour's drive from Rome. Guests are a short walk from two extraordinary museums created by the Lungarotti family, one devoted to wine and the other to olive oil. The museums feature handsomely displayed art and artifacts that range from the 14th to the 21st century, including a noteworthy collection of engravings and drawings spanning Mantegna to Picasso. For serious wine lovers, a visit to the Cantine Lungarotti winery and vineyards is a must. Shoppers will enjoy a stop at La Spola, the Lungarottis' shop dedicated to Umbrian handicrafts, or a short trip to Deruta, home of Italy's most famous hand-painted ceramics. With the fascinating historic hill towns of Assisi, Perugia, Spoleto, Orvieto and Gubbio also nearby as destinations for day trips, Le Tre Vaselle is the ideal spot to stay while enjoying the many splendors of the Umbria region of Italy.