Relais di Villa Rossi Danielli

It is a charming resort near Viterbo. An ancient mansion has been transformed into a lovely relais. In ancient times, a relais was the post station where one stopped to rest in the middle of a long journey and "relassier" is a French verb which still today means to relax, refresh oneself. Mentions and documents of this ancient residence, which is located right on the edge of the city, in the countryside, date back around to the second half of the 16th century, when the rich and noble family of Giacono Sacchi, who settled in Viterbo in 1297, owned the villa and the surrounding farm. In 1650 the property passed to the Dominican Friars who had established a convent there.Towards the end of the 18th century, with Napoleon's campaign and the occupation by French troops, the plundering of Italy's artistic heritage began. The Dominican friars were deprived of their two most important possessions. Luigi Rossi Danielli, a member of an ancient and noble family from Viterbo, purchased the building complex of the convent from the French government in 1812 to avoid the looting of the works of art. Once the predatory French horde had passed, Luigi Rossi Danielli returned the convent to the Dominicans. And from that moment on, at the beginning of the 19th century, the villa became the property of the Rossi Danielli family. The monumental building complex of the Villa, which is accessed via a long road bordered by cypresses and olive trees, is made up of two neighboring structures of different periods and styles. Placed above the entrance door, a large sundial embellishes the austere façade of the main body of the Villa, recently restored respecting its history and according to the typical architecture of the time. The period decorations and the original furnishings on the main floor make its rooms and spaces elegant and refined. There is also a beautiful chapel, where mass is celebrated on occasions of ceremonies and weddings. We wanted to visit it and it seemed very graceful and intimate .We spent a few days there, because we really needed to rest and breathe pure air, walking in the vast park. The swimming pool is also very charming and has beautiful colours. The rooms are furnished with shabby chic furniture. It is style of interior decoration that uses furniture and soft furnishings that are or appear to be pleasingly old and slightly worn, a rather refined Old England style. A good standard breakfast is served outside in a magnificent setting and with the style of times gone by. Recommended.