Il fontanaro organic farmhouse

21/06/2026

🔥 CIVITAS INFERNALIS 🔥

Sarteano is about to transform into a world of magic, street artists, music, fire shows, artisan markets, local food, and unforgettable performances! ✨🎭🔥

📅 A unique festival where the entire medieval village becomes an open-air stage.

If you’re visiting Tuscany this July, don’t miss one of the most spectacular events in the Val d’Orcia area.

👉 Find dates, program highlights, and local tips in our July posts on Tuscany Umbria Blog.

15/06/2026

One of the reasons I love August in Tuscany and Umbria? You never know when you’ll turn a corner and find yourself in the Renaissance.

These photos are from the incredible Giostra del Saracino in Sarteano, where for a few magical days the town leaves the 21st century behind. Horses thunder through the streets, flags wave, drums echo, and entire families live their history with passion and pride.

I’ve just updated our Tuscany Umbria Blog with the events I would personally never miss this August.

Trust me, this one deserves a place on your itinerary. 🏇✨

SlowTravel VisitTuscany VisitUmbria IlFontanaro

04/06/2026

Villa Tartagli | Paciano, Umbria

Some places let you slow down without ever needing the car.

Hidden among olive groves and overlooking the rolling hills between Umbria and Tuscany, Villa Tartagli offers 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms designed for gathering family and friends while still giving everyone their own space. Just a short stroll from the medieval village of Paciano, you can walk to four restaurants, two bars for an evening aperitivo, local shops, and one of Italy’s most beautiful hilltop villages.

03/06/2026

We are thrilled to share some exciting news!

Our Slow Cooking School and the beautiful village of Paciano are featured in Episode 2 of the new EWTN travel and food series, Fork in the Road – World Kitchen: “Paciano – Where Slow Travel Becomes a Way of Life.” 🎬🍝🌿

In this episode, three young travelers discover the heart of Italy through authentic food, local traditions, and the simple beauty of slow living. We are honored to share our passion for homemade pasta, organic ingredients, and the timeless culture of Umbria with viewers from around the world.

For us, cooking has always been much more than preparing a meal. It is about gathering around a table, sharing stories, preserving traditions, and creating memories that last a lifetime.

A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful production team and to everyone who helps keep these traditions alive every day.

If you’ve ever joined one of our cooking classes, wandered through the medieval streets of Paciano, or simply dreamed of experiencing authentic Italy, this episode is for you. ❤️

📺 Watch Episode 2 and discover why Paciano is a place where slow travel truly becomes a way of life.



https://www.ewtn.com/programs/10139-fork-in-the-road-world-kitchen?from=ewtnplus

Stopping at their home away from home, Umbria, the family helps pave the medieval streets with flowers for Corpus Christi and makes a lasagna even the skeptics can’t resist.

25/05/2026

🏆 GOLD AWARD WINNER – JAPAN OLIVE OIL PRIZE 2026 🇯🇵🇮🇹

We are proud to announce that Olio della Pace by Il Fontanaro has been awarded the Gold Medal at the Japan Olive Oil Prize (JOOP) 2026, one of the most respected international competitions dedicated exclusively to extra virgin olive oil.

Held annually in Tokyo, the Japan Olive Oil Prize brings together expert judges who evaluate hundreds of olive oils from the world’s leading producing countries, recognizing excellence in quality, aroma, balance, authenticity, and craftsmanship.

Receiving a Gold Award is a meaningful recognition of the work that begins long before the bottle is opened: caring for our organic olive groves throughout the year, harvesting at the perfect moment, and preserving every drop of flavor through meticulous production.

We would like to thank the judges of the Japan Olive Oil Prize, our loyal customers, and all the guests who visit our estate and experience firsthand the passion behind every harvest.

🌿 GOLD MEDAL WINNER
🏆 Japan Olive Oil Prize 2026
🇮🇹 Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Umbria, Italy

03/05/2026

June at Il Fontanaro is when Tuscany and Umbria feel at their best.

Days by the pool or at the lake, and evenings filled with local life—sagre, medieval festivals, and events, a different one every night.

From Corpus Domini in Paciano (June 6–7, 2026) to the Mercato delle Gaite in Bevagna (June 18–28, 2026), and the tradition of Saint John’s water (June 23–24), all our guests can take part.

👉 Plan your stay with our June 2026 guide:
https://www.tuscanyumbriablog.com

June 2025 in Tuscany & Umbria: A Festival Every Week Tuscany and Umbria are at their most magical in June—when the landscape is lush, the days are long, and every week brings a new celebration of flowers, food, music, and history. From medieval jousts to wine picnics, here’s your complete guide ...

27/04/2026

Italy is not just a country of olive oil… it’s a mosaic of landscapes, traditions, and centuries-old trees that tell a deeper story. 🌿

The new 2026 Slow Food Guide celebrates this extraordinary heritage, bringing together hundreds of producers and over a thousand oils that reflect the true soul of Italian extra virgin olive oil. More than a ranking, it’s an invitation to travel — to discover the people, places, and passion behind every drop.

We are especially proud to see authentic, family-run realities recognized — those who protect biodiversity, respect the land, and keep traditions alive. Among them, our own Il Fontanaro, where olive oil is not just produced, but lived and shared every day.

A publication designed to guide the reader through the discovery of the region's olive oil producers and the extraordinary heritage of cultivars that characterizes Italian production. Special award goes to Masciantonio in Casoli (Chieti). Another award goes to Il Fontanaro in Paciano (Perugia), run....

26/04/2026

If you’re coming to Italy in May and wondering what to actually do around Il Fontanaro — start here.

This is the month when the calendar quietly fills up with events you won’t find months in advance… and somehow those are always the ones you remember most.

In Assisi, Calendimaggio (May 6–9) takes over the entire town — music in the streets, costumes, friendly rivalries between neighborhoods. You don’t just watch it… you get pulled into it.

A few days later in Gubbio, the Corsa dei Ceri (May 15) begins — a race that’s fast, loud, and full of energy. It’s one of those moments where you look around and realize this has been happening the same way for generations.

At the beginning of the month, Arezzo hosts the Arezzo Antique Fair — stalls filling the piazzas, vintage finds, and that perfect excuse to spend a slow afternoon wandering.

And toward the end of May, Cantine Aperte opens doors across the countryside — small wineries, tastings, conversations, and a chance to experience wine where it’s actually made.

We’ll keep adding more as they’re announced — here in Tuscany and Umbria, many events only appear a week or two in advance. It’s unpredictable… but that’s exactly what makes planning a trip here feel different.

We’ve started collecting our favorites here:
👉 https://www.tuscanyumbriablog.com/news/things-to-do-tuscany-umbria-may-2026/

Save it — and check back before your trip.

22/04/2026

Earth Day 🌿

One People. One Planet.

More than 1 billion people, across over 190 countries, pause today for the same reason.

A movement that began in 1970 and quietly grew into something global.

And yet, the real story has always been smaller.

In the rhythm of the seasons.
In the way water is used — knowing that agriculture alone accounts for nearly 70% of the world’s freshwater.
In the care for food — in a world where one third of it is still wasted.

Here, it stays simple.

What grows, is cooked.
What is cooked, is shared.
Nothing more.

From the garden → to the table.



https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXbvNPtiIkg/?igsh=c28xbjNma2FvMG02