We're not saying this place is magic.
But the Romans built a temple here for a reason.
For 2000 years, this valley has been a magnet for people seeking something - peace, clarity, inspiration, or maybe just a break from the noise. Today, it's a sanctuary for grown-ups who want the same, but with WiFi and mattresses that don't ruin your back.
Suflora is quiet, just-enough-off-the-grid, and unapologetically exclusive. With space for only 8 guests at a time, the three self-catering apartments are designed for privacy, surrounded by olive trees, wildflowers, and views that make you forget what day it is.
It's not a retreat.
It's not a resort.
It's freedom - with a safety net.
Location
Vallingegno, Gubbio in Umbria, Italy
Conveniently placed between medieval towns Assisi, Perugia, and Gubbio. Art galleries, authentic trattorias, and cobblestone streets that have seen centuries.
Property type
Adults-only vacation rental in a historic stone house completely restored in 2023
25-acre estate with centuries-old charm and modern conveniences
Accommodations
3 adults-only self-catering apartments with full kitchens indlucing dishwashers
Up to 8 guests total in two cozy studios and one spacious two-bedroom-two-bathroom apartment
Key Features
High-speed WiFi that reaches the garden, dedicated workspaces, plunge pool, grocery delivery service, peace and quiet
Everything you need to work remotely or disconnect completely
Quick facts
Key details about your Suflora stay
The world's weirdest valley
Romans weren't exactly known for throwing darts at a map when picking temple locations. They chose this spot for their temple to Genius because something about this valley just works - the way the light moves across the hills, the way sound carries, and that strange, stillness-at-dusk kind of magic.
For 2000 years, people have shown up here with a "Huh. There's definitely something here." Your brain stops ping-ponging between 72 different thoughts. You notice a butterfly without needing to photograph it. You finish a thought all the way to the end.
The Romans called it Valle Ingenio - Valley of Genius. Not because it turned people into Einsteins, but because it reminded them what it feels like to move through the day with intention.
The temple's gone, but whatever the Romans figured out? Still here.
The science behind the weirdness
Turns out the Romans were onto something, 2000 years ago, without a single research grant.
Put people in nature, and stress hormones drop 47%. Forest time boosts your immune system for a month. Brain scans show anxiety centers calming down while focus and decision-making sharpen. Creativity? Up 50%.
But here is where it gets interesting: historic places like this valley don't just relax you - they change how you think. Studies show ancient sites activate the "big picture" parts of your brain. Somehow, everything just clicks when you're somewhere people have been sorting their lives out for centuries.
The Romans didn't need lab studies to know this place worked. Science just caught up.
The valley works.
Here’s what it’s like: You wake up to the sound of cicadas and the kind of quiet that makes you realize how loud your life usually is. The light spills across the hills, and for once, you don’t feel the need to check your phone.
You wander outside with a coffee, barefoot on the terrace, and watch the valley do its thing - golden mornings, green afternoons, starlit skies that make you forget what day it is.
By day three, something shifts. You stop rushing. You notice the way the light dances on the walls, the taste of fresh olive oil, the joy of doing absolutely nothing.
It’s not magic. It’s not a miracle. It’s just what happens when you let the world get quiet enough to hear yourself think.
Three ways to hide from the world
Two ground-floor studios - Your own front door, your own terrace, your own desk, and your own bathroom, obviously. Perfect for couples or solo travelers.
Upstairs apartment - Takes up the upper two floors. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, two desks, and a fireplace for when the evening calls for actual flames instead of Netflix.
All come with kitchens (and yes, dishwashers) and weekly cleaning.
Il Giardino (where doing nothing is an art form)
Multiple terraces scattered between olive trees, oleander, and whatever wildflowers decided to show up this year. Hammocks for professional lounging, tables for eating actual meals outside, and enough hidden spots that you can disappear with a book and not be found until dinner.
Our garden philosophy is simple: don't overthink it. We plant some things, water it, nature does the rest, and somehow it all works out. Kind of like the best ideas - they need space to breathe, not someone hovering over them asking if they're done yet.
The practical stuff
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WiFi that works, even in the garden. Unless there's a storm (rare, but happens. We think of it as nature forcing you to take a break.)
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Desks in every apartment
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A plunge pool that's perfect when it's hot (and admittedly kind of pointless when it's not)
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Electrical sockets where you need them - so yes, also in the garden
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Free grocery delivery service 2x week (the service is free, groceries are not)
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Free pick-up from Perugia airport/station
The food situation
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Don't feel like cooking? Traditional trattorias and restaurants in Gubbio (10 minute drive), and the closest one within 2km
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Pick whatever's ripe from our organic garden (tomatoes that actually taste like tomatoes!)
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Grocery stores 10 minutes away
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Grocery delivery twice weekly
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Optional dinner with us (we cook, you show up - sometimes the best conversations happen over someone else's rigatoni)
Your hosts: Susanne und Florian
We're the neighbors you actually want - close enough to help when you need it, far enough to leave you alone when you don't.
We live nearby, cook decent pasta, and have strong opinions about the best gelato in Umbria. But we're also experts at disappearing when you need to think/cry/write angry emails in private.
"Beautifully designed apartments, a stunning big garden, and truly lovely hosts. I could honestly live here."
Eveline Rosenberger
"An oasis nestled among olive trees, on a beautiful hilltop with breathtaking views of the forests and nature."
Matthias Peper
"If this place can't broaden your horizon, nothing else will."
Robert Trotzmüller
Location: Umbria
What people think Tuscany still is - medieval towns, rolling hills, and authentic Italian life
What's around:
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Medieval hilltop towns that haven't been turned into theme parks - Gubbio, Assisi, Perugia, Spello, Todi, Orvieto, Spoleto
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Art and culture from when people built things to last - 700-year-old palazzos, Renaissance galleries, trattorias run by the same families for generations
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Outdoor stuff - Truffle hunting with dogs who take their jobs very seriously, horseback riding, golf courses, cycling routes through actual countryside
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Historic sites - Ancient hiking trails, monasteries where monks still live, Roman ruins you can touch without guards yelling at you
"Suflora isn't just a pretty place to stay. It gave me exactly what I needed to finally write my book: quiet space to think clearly. I couldn't believe how much easier the words came."
Nadine Steiner
"This place is magic for your brain. I recharged completely and ended up doing things I never make time for - like just sitting and watching clouds drift by."
Sabine Zimmermann
Perfect for when you need to do some work
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High-speed internet that actually works - 200+ Mbps, tested in the garden
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Proper desk and chair in each apartment (not a wobbly kitchen table masquerading as an office)
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Power outlets everywhere and USB charging stations
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Double monitors, external mouse and keyboard available
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Printer/scanner on request (for those ancient rituals that still require paper)
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Coffee delivery to your workspace (kidding - but the kitchen's well-stocked)
Join your morning calls from the terrace, tackle that big project with valley views, then completely disconnect in 25 acres of olive groves when you're done pretending to be productive.
This is for you if your idea of luxury is...
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Being undisturbable, yet knowing someone is nearby just in case you need help.
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Choosing if and when to interact with people.
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Smelling sage, rosemary, and wildflowers instead of someone else's sunscreen.
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Listening to birds and cicadas instead of children's screams and poolside music.
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Being surrounded by nature as it should be - not manicured and sterile, but living, breathing, and wild.
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Not having to ask for orange juice like a toddler, but reaching into your own fridge for whatever you want.
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Not performing 28 acts of daily gratitude for services you didn't request.
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Autonomy over your schedule - eating, drinking, doing whatever you like without a restaurant telling you it's dinner time
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Being happy without having to justify it to anyone.
★★★★★
"Truly unmatched. This is the real deal."
Michael Weiss
Which apartment fits your mood?
We've got three spaces, each with its own personality - like choosing between different versions of your best Italian life.
Cozy studios that open onto gardens where you can live out your Italian fantasies, or the larger apartment where you can spread out and remember what actually makes you happy when no one's asking you to be productive.
FAQ
Uhm, no. You're in Italy, after all.
So, you've got options: The nearest restaurant is 2 km away. Plenty, plenty more in Gubbio, around 15 minutes drive.
Or, you can join us for dinner. Alternatively, we can deliver home-made meals to you. More details here.
Sorry, they'll need to stay home. Suflora is meant to be a space to focus on yourself, without this kind of vigilance, this feeling of needing to make sure everyone is alright. Especially because this feeling is automatically extended to all creatures that are somehow more vulnerable than we are - it doesn't only apply to our kids.
Sometimes, all of us deserve a little bit of just taking care of ourselves.
No. Please refer to "Can I bring my kids?" above for the reason why.
Of course you can. We've got three apartments in different sizes, suitable for different set-ups. Find the right apartment(s) here.
If you want to ensure complete privacy and have the entire house to yourself, the Groups page shows you how.
Yes! With WiFi that works even in the garden, workstations in boutique apartments, and no interruptions. Unless you count the birds chirping. Or your own brilliant ideas.
Absolutely. With 3 apartments in the main house, and us living just a stone's throw away, Suflora offers privacy without isolation.
We are here, literally a stone's throw away from the guest house. We love some good company, so don't feel shy. At all. Ever. We're here, we love to connect with you, and we want to make sure you get the most out of your time here.
Plus, you can always join us for dinner if you want to.
Absolutely! The whole property can be yours for group bookings, whether it's a team offsite or a small-group retreat. Check out our Groups page for details.
We're in the middle of Italy, which means you can fly to Perugia (direct flights from London all year, Rotterdam, Brussels and Barcelona from April to November), Ancona, or even Florence or Rome. We would advise renting a car at the airport and enjoying a scenic drive to Suflora. If that's not an option, take a train to Perugia and we'll pick you up free of charge.
Email us: sufloranature@gmail.com or call us: +39 338 330 5494 - we (that's Florian and Susanne) are happy to hear from you! We speak English and German. And, with enough wine, even manage Dutch.