El Marsam B&B

As my daughter and I drove thru the gates of El Marsam we both agreed..."as pretty as a picture postcard". As we stepped inside the postcard...Mike and Ginda Simpson became...brother, sister...father, mother...friends...and so much more. We were treated as family. As our week ended and we departed thru the gates of the picture postcard...we looked back and said..."same time next year".

The answer is simple – El Marsam is a true haven of tranquility set in a glorious part of Italy. The accommodation is clean, comfortable and well cared for, the gardens are delightful and the sincere, warm hospitality from our hosts, Ginda and Mike, never fails. They are always glad to give help and advice and do all they can to ensure you have a prefect holiday.

Meals with local wines are served either in the wonderful gardens, with fantastic views or indoors in front of a cozy wood burning fire on cooler evenings. The food is particularly delicious, from the homemade preserves at breakfast to the home reared ducks and chickens at dinner; cooked using Ginda’s own recipes they are a gastronomic delight. If you want a simpler meal, Mike and Ginda are always happy to recommend tried and tested restaurants in the local town and surrounding countryside, an easy 5 –10 minute drive.

We have been returning each summer for the past 4 years and highly recommend El Marsam.

Maurice & Sandra, Malvern, UK

El Marsam B&B is a beautifully restored farmhouse in the Umbria region. The rooms were charming and our bathroom wall was decorated in frescoes painted by the owner! In fact there was delightful artwork everywhere. The owners were kind, generous and knowledgeable about the area and great cooks. We had several of our meals outdoors where the views are spectacular, preferring to eat "at home" rather than go into town. It made a great base from which to take day trips to the surrounding hill towns. We spent five days at El Marsam and enjoyed every minute of our stay.

We, a family of five, including three teenagers, had a wonderful time at this comfortable, quiet bed and breakfast in the Umbrian countryside. Breakfasts are extra special with homemade jams and pastries, served outdoors when weather permits. We found our hosts to be friendly and helpful for shopping, dining, and sightseeing recommendations for the nearby hilltop towns. Especially enjoyed the views of the surrounding countryside.

For those travelers who are looking for something unique and very special, who prefer small, intimate accommodations over "chain" hotels, this is the place!

My husband and I like staying at small bed & breakfasts when traveling. We enjoy getting to know local residents, getting a real "feel" for the area. Mike and Ginda were the perfect hosts! Armed with loads of travel information for the area, they were quick to answer questions and steer us in the right direction. I loved having our meals outside, overlooking the small town. (Ginda is a great cook!) the setting is perfect, (It was a beautiful area for my early morning jogs!). The farmhouse, which dates back several centuries, is tastefully furnished, with paintings by Ginda (an accomplished artist) and interesting collectibles from their travels around the world. If traveling in that area again, I would definitely book at El Marsam!

A beautiful little bed & breakfast owned by a delightful couple and one falls in love with both within the first ten minutes of arriving.

We ended a three-week visit to Italy with our stay at El Marsam (artist's studio) and what a fitting ending it was. This beautiful old stone home perched high on a hill overlooking Umbertide with a fascinating history is in itself a work of art. Owners, Mike & Ginda Simpson have done some remarkable things with the structure but more importantly they have filled the building with love and warmth. On our arrival, before even entering the house, we spent nearly and hour outside talking with Mike & Ginda, getting to know each other to the point where, when we entered, it as as though we were returning, not just arriving.

Our room, the food, the view, the beautiful little village of Umbertide, and the surrounding countryside combined to make our visit memorable. Mike is the quintessential handyman and Ginda is not only a very talented artist (in more than one medium), but she is also the author of two books. Her writing talent is easy to understand when you witness her ability to intrigue you with her stories.

Following delightful meals prepared by both of our hosts our evenings were capped off with a fascinating firefly display in the wooded area behind the house.

El Marsam bed & breakfast - artistically restored 300-year old farmhouse in Umbria is superbly located for day trips to the medieval hill towns of Umbria and Tuscany.

El Marsam, Arabic for "the artist's studio" was my base for a three week visit to Italy. My gracious resident hosts, Ginda & Mike Simpson are transplanted American who have restored this hillside farmhouse with great taste and care; combining their home and Ginda's studio with a guesthouse. Ginda's talent is ever visible as one moves through this home. Of course, one is invited to tour her studio. Mike and Ginda's creative talent was again apparent in the kitchen where superb breakfast aromas flowed, wonderful cocktail hours in the garden overlooking Mike's vineyards with exquisite views and dinner if you wish. Everything is homemade, as if you were transported to another time.

Waking in the morning at El Marsam and sitting drinking wine in the garden in the evening was the perfect beginning and end to days spent touring the Umbrian countryside.

El Marsam is centrally located; with the hill towns of Siena, Cortona, Assisi, Orvieto and Spoleto just a short drive. What a wise choice I made in making El Marsam my home for three weeks.