Simply Reach Us – Perugia Airport

I’m often asked what is the easiest way to cum to Bellaugello.  Whilst I adore train travel, and especially the Freccia Rossa service from Paris to Milano, be decadent splash out and travel Executive Class there are only 10 luxury seats in the carriage and steward service.  I also like the NightJet sleeper services from all over Europe to Florence and Rome, via Munich.

However I realise many of you guys need to travel by air.   So here to help is the Summer 2023 destination map of.

Our local airport, Perugia S Francesco d’Assisi is small but perfectly formed, and a mere 45 minute drive to Bellaugello.

You can create a two or three destination holiday – Beach and Bellaugello  include Sicily, Malta and Sitges

The timetable is in Italian but I’m sure you can easily translate the destination points.

Here is a link to the: Perugia Airport Website to find out more.  Car rental desks are also present when the flights land and depart.

As well as other companies flying to the airport Lufthansa offer a daily flight from Munich to Ancona Airport, just one hour over the Apeninnes in Le Marche.

Further away are Florence and Rome Fiumincino airports with much wider choice of flights.  Florence is handy from Scandinavian countries, Rome, for you guys from over the Atlantic and points further.  Both are about 3 hours drive to Bellaugello.  

We are happy to arrange a car and driver to meet you at any of the airports and bring you to Bellaugello.  Our driver charges €75 for the trip from Perugia Airport or station to Bellaugello and €340 from either Rome or Florence to Bellaugello.  You pay him direct, and he speaks English.

Our pool awaits

Cum on, book that flight and book your Bellaugello Break, it could be you in our pool

Working under the Umbrian Sun

JOIN THE TEAM!  Come and enjoy life working under the Umbrian sun!  I am looking for enthusiastic dedicated guys to work here at Bellaugello Luxury Gay Guest House in 2015.

Ideally you will have experience in the hospitality sector, and be looking to expand your experience and share your professionalism.  Be it in the kitchen, or out front, I am looking to add to my existing dedicated squad.

Guys must have a love of working with people, be enthusiastic, ‘solare’ adaptable, and highly professional.  I run the best gay guest house in Italy and I need only the best staff. You will be part of a small eclectic team working with great guests in a fabulous environment, Bellaugello Gay Guest House really is is a great place to be.  Accommodation and meals together with a modest salary provided.

Are you interested in Cooking? Waiting? Cleaning? Gardening? Are you a qualified Masseur?  You don’t need to be gay, just be tolerant, fit, comfortable with nudity, and open minded.  English language essential, other languages a bonus. For an info pack send me your CV and a recent photo either by Skype “Bellaugello” or email: info@bellaugello.com

And even if you personally are not looking for a position, but you know of a friend or colleague who might be interested in working here then please do pass on the info and contact details to them.

A time for celebration

With things at Bellaugello Gay Guest House being rather quiet at the moment I am able to take time out to socialise and catch up with friends and colleagues who all too frequently I do not get to see during the busy summer months.

So it was that I headed off to Rome to view an exhibition of photographs by one of my guests.  Aldo is a brilliant photographer and was holding a small exhibition of his works with the theme of “Water”.  This is a follow up to his very successful exhibition held this summer.

Acqua Roma

Not only was the main poster photo shot in the swimming pool at Bellaugello Gay Guest House, but there was a superb panorama of the Bellaugello Infinity Pool looking south to the distant hills, the sky heavy with grey clouds, that really gave the impression of not being in Umbria but rather being on a sail boat on the Pacific ocean, indeed Aldo tells me that several people had thought it so.  You catch a glimpse of it in the poster above. The exhibition runs until tomorrow and if by any small chance you find yourselves in Rome then do head over there.  The Photos are in very limited editions, maximum four prints and are really special.

Rome was resplendent in the sunshine.  the wedding cake romaI did my touristy bit including watching the cutest sexiest actor on film set just by the Foro, and then I met up with friends and, stayed over at my good friend Claudio’s super luxurious bed and breakfast; Resort Cavour.  Anyone looking for a great place to stay right in the heart of Rome I can thoroughly recommend it.  A chic apartment in a beautiful building on the road running from Termini station to the Colosseum and Claudio is a great host.  At the moment there are huge amounts of stairs to reach its lofty heights but Claudio tells me that finally the troublesome neighbour has passed on and they can finally put an elevator in (and will be doing so as soon as possible) that will whisk you right to the apartment.  Here is link to his site: RESORT CAVOUR – ROMA

On the train back to Perugia a phone call.  My builder Giovanni…  Hmm why?  Not that I have any building work going on at the moment and nothing planned until into the new year when I have a few new projects in mind including something most inviting…  I was surprised to have a call from him.  Giovanni has played a huge part of the reconstruction of the house at Bellaugello, including works around the wonderful infinity pool, so has become a friend.  Thus it was that he was calling me up to invite me to a celebration last night.  His daughter Beatrice was born in September and the phone call was to invite me to join in celebrating her christening.   So last night I dug out a tie, ironed a shirt, put in cufflinks and a smart pair of tarts trotters and headed over to a friends house – they were invited also and together in the pouring rain with our best friend we set off to the ‘Dolce Vita’ restaurant.P & S

Contrary to my expectations it was not a huge party, there were less than forty guests and four of us involved in running hospitality businesses were the only non-Moldavian or Romanian guests, it was a real honour.   None of us was certain what to expect, and as the evening progressed all was revealed.   A singer flown over from Moldavia (ok he does live in Italy, but only returned the day before yesterday) sang in Romanian, Russian and Italian, and sang through the evening almost non-stop.  A groaning antipasto table was followed with the offering of presents.  Now us ‘foreigners’ had clubbed together and between us bought a gold charm bracelet – we thought that appropriate, something that as Beatrice grows can be added to.  But we were mortified when the god parents walked to the table and started presenting their presents which included blankets, rugs, romper suites, dresses, coats shoes, and the cutest little socks and a huge ginormous teddy bear that must be all of two metres tall!  The next guests walked to the table, yet more clothes – the stores in Perugia must now be empty, boxes and more boxes were presented and thankfully some small expensive looking bags, we were saved!  Once the presents were presented the god parents and close family took the blanket between them and put baby Beatrice in the centre and then under the anxious gaze of her father Beatrice was tossed up and down..

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The baby safely restored to the arms of her mother the feast began, Italian and Moldavian dishes, Italian wines, Moldavian brandy, and lots of it.  Finally at 2am the cake was brought out….

Giovanni at Beatrice's christeningRather like an Italian wedding it turned into a huge celebration… We were made to feel so very welcome.  There was dancing, some of the music very reminiscent of Scottish reels, indeed the dancing style similar, great to have a good dance.  The celebrations were still going strong when we left at after 3am.

In-between Roma and the party I had friends from the valley over for dinner.  It was all a bit of a rush as there was a train strike on Friday and I was uncertain if I was going to get home at all.  Odd how every time I am in Rome I experience travel problems.  The strikers were kept company by a huge number of handsome carabiniere, seemingly almost as many as those standing looking bored outside the Banca d’Italia.  Anyway the train was running, and crept into Perugia only 15 minutes late, so a quick dash to do some food shopping and back home, let dogs out and cook a curry.  All four of us guys foreigners, happy to eat foreign food, and delighted to tuck into my chicken curry, not at all bad.

We finished up with  glasses of Williams pear grappa and scrumptious chocolate tozzetti that I had bought in a delightful pasticceria in Roma, and to gorge ourselves also an apple pie brought by one of the guys, really yummy!  Italy does have so much good about it!

Today rain all day, so a lazy cozy day in front of the fire.  Catching up on telephone calls to friends, soggy squelchy dog walk, and beginning to make lists for our BELLAUGELLO NEW YEAR’S EVE HOUSEPARTY – for which there are still some suites available –  For the full details and how to book scroll down on my blog  and to get your space BOOKED NOW!   or simply email: book@bellaugello.com

Oh! and by the way if any of your guys are looking for a personal portrait photographer, I can recommend Aldo, private message me and I will put you in contact.

The Bellaugello network is global

As you are all by now probably aware I love my job.  I live in the most utterly beautiful place, am surrounded by great friends, plenty of good wines and local food, and my business attracts great guys from all over the world to my door.

Bellaugello Gay Guest House has already established a loyal following, guys who return for holidays, guys who recommend friends who in turn visit and then recommend friends of their own.  Bellaugello is a place where friendships are made.  Several couples keep in touch with other guests, often across continents, one or other or both keeping me abreast of their friendships.  I love it so much. Some guys also become personal friends, kind and generous, their homes open to me.

I am often asked if I have a ‘black book’ of guests not allowed to return, asked to ‘spill the beans’ or ‘dish the dirt’.  I must confess to having few such stories to relate, a couple from last year, one from the year before, and this year none, I have had great guests, all a pleasure to have known and hosted.  Of course there have been disappointments, a couple of mediocre reviews on Tripadvisor which I felt unwarranted and got me down,  the indifferent summer weather that did so little to help the annuals bloom, and saw the chairs and cushions from the terrace yo-yoing indoors and outdoors, and has not helped the olives one bit, it is going to be a poor harvest this year.

However on the up side  there were lots of gorgeous men lazing languidly poolside, we hosted our first art show; paintings of the infinity pool by a Dutch artist Paul Van Andel, the subject of many paintings was decidedly male.  Many dinners and barbecues hosted, convivial evenings with engaging conversations, A friend realised another form of artwork using photographs of guys in the  Bellaugello infinity pool, and is now commissioned to produce personalized chairs.  Some great and thoughtful reviews on Google and Tripadvisor – guys there is still time to post your promised review…  The fruit trees were heavily laden this summer, delicious plum fruit ripe for the picking, I made kilo after kilo of marmalades, we killed our first pig – I had christened here Daphne, many of you ate and enjoyed bits of Daphne, our lavender ice cream was brought into production and as well as being served at dinner was also available poolside…

I digress.  The point of this post is for me to unashamedly promote another of my guests;  Bing Taylor, a fascinating cultured and well travelled guy a regular Bellaugello guest and now friend has sent me a link to a book he has written and is now published:

Maquis by Bing Taylor

Hot off the press: I have read the publicists material and have already placed my order.  Why don’t you?  an ideal Christmas present for your loved one, author signed copes are available right now!  TO ORDER: Maquis – the Secret War of Joseph Quantock CLICK HERE FOR LINK

A birthday hug

Happy birthday ” A “
And where better to celebrate your partner’s birthday than by bringing him on holiday to Italy and staying in one of our luxury suites at Bellaugello Gay Guest House
and of course in our infinity pool!

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Sadly I did not have my camera with me this morning, but the afternoon shot is super too…

And those Valkyries rode again!

A halcyon day at Bellaugello Gay Guest House, sun shining, guys relaxing around the infinity pool, sunshine, light breeze, all good with the world.  Indeed when planning last night’s dinner we had thought to serve it outside on the terrace under the stars, that is our preferred way at Bellaugello.

However at five o’clock the storm clouds rolled in.  Bellaugello Gay Bed and Breakfast looks south a commanding position over the Chiascio valley towards Monte Subasio, the hill behind Assisi, and we get good notice of the approaching storms as they roll up the valley.

Two guests leaning against the railings on the upper terrace soon began to enact that famous scene from the movie ‘Titanic’ as Leo holds Kate and the wind ruffles their hair, the gentle breeze strengthening and the dark clouds approaching.  Then the skies opened, rain, lots of it, thunder, lightning, and hailstones – yes! hailstones.  The electricity flicked off, then on, the rain continued.

Dinner laid up in the dining room luckily I had made bread earlier and most of the meal was to be cooked stove top as the power went off…  Mad rush round the electric boards in torrential rain, no, it was not us, there was no current coming into the main supply, obviously an overhead cable had been hit.  Back to the kitchen soaking wet, a few candles guttering together with the emergency power fail light giving scant light to the cooking surface..Cooking by candle light at Bellaugello in Umbria

A tour round the suites, guys making the most of the power-cut 😉 and all ok.  Back to the kitchen, and dining room to light lots of candles, then quick dash upstairs to change into some dry clothes and down for aperitivo by candle-light.

Storm clouds in Umbria, italy as seen from Bellaugello Gay HotelAnd then as the storm rode to the Apennines, the most amazing beetroot coloured clouds,Thunder and lightning over the Apennines seen from Bellaugello luxury gay resorthuge flash of lightning seen from Bellaugello luxury gay hotel in umbria, italybeetroot storm clouds seen from Bellaugello Gay bed and breakfast luxury house rental in Umbria  A full house, great guys, all entering into the spirit of the evening.  An ‘amuse bouche’ of cappelacci stuffed with mozzarella di bufala and baby tomatoes served by guttering candles then by the time we were serving the black lentil salad from Viterbo the power was restored and stayed on for the reminder of the evening.  Where the rain had stopped the wine and conversation flowed, it was a most convivial of evenings, guys from all over the world, huge fun, swapping stories, relating tales, and generally having a great time.  We rounded off the evening with a glass of my home-made Limoncello…

This morning, peace, sunshine, mist lingering below in the valley,  Bellaugello back to normal,

Peace, perfect peace, Bellaugello Gay Guest House in Umbria, Italy revels in the early sunshine

It is as if last night did not happen!

Availability August – please share this post

Owing to a guy losing his job he has had to cancel his august booking so,
We now have availability of the GIARDINO SUITE from check-in 14/8 to check-out 31/8
If you are looking for a place to relax and be pampered or know of friends looking for the same please share this post for this once in a lifetime opportunity. email address: book@bellaugello.com

Thanks Alec

Bellaugello Gay Hiking Week, Umbria, Italy

Excuses for the time taken to post, blog wise, I have of late had a lethargic period, and of course when I finally set too to post the report, the server for my blog decided once again to collapse and I have been left without blog, website or email for most of today, however I must excuse my tardiness, and especially extend apologies to Alex who participated in the Gay Hiking Week we organised which involved some spectacular walks in the neighbouring Monte Cucco Regional Park and on the trails in our own Valdichiascio and on the hills above our nearby town of Gubbio all based at Bellaugello Gay Guest House, in the glorious heart of Umbria. Alex kindly sent me copies of his photographs and the accompanying report on the week.
Day One was overcast so a change of plan from the original itinerary was called for and the decision was made to head for the nearby town of Gubbio where we witnessed the Ceri or Candles being brought down off the hill of Monte Ingenio and taken to the town hall ready for the annual “Festa dei Ceri” on 15th May.
20140519-113944.jpg20140519-113957.jpg. We then took the cableway to the summit of Monte Ingenio and together with Mirko our guide for the week, enjoyed a couple of hours exploring the trails and meadows that overlook the medieval town, this time of year ablaze with wild orchids.20140519-114146.jpg
Day Two saw us off into the Regional gPark and an energetic ascent of 500 metres starting from Pascelupo through spectacular scenery, aided by Bellaugello’s handsome packed lunches and once again ably guided by Mirko, our professional and knowledgable guide.

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20140519-190605.jpg as you can see the weather was perfect.

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Day three and we were walking through Pian delle macinare , Rio Freddo. 11 km along amazing water cascades up and down hill. Hills full of wild garlic in blossom. Stopped at a forgotten village (val de ranco) for a lunch break. Great dinner back at Bellaugello created by Alec and Monica.

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Day four and we are at the top! On top of Monte Cucco and visit one of the most stunning caves (grotto monte cucco) in Europe. It is locked, you can only enter with a guide. Thanks to Mirko we spend 2 exiting hours inside of the mountain top.

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Day five was spent exploring the delights of the valley in front of Bellaugello. 13 km around castello biscina and lago de valfabbrica in the morning. We have found a few rare orchids at the lake. After the delicious lunch we spend the afternoon at the infinity pool at Bellaugello in bright sun shine looking over to where we had been walking that morning

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Day six 8 km around Monte Pratiozzo. Amazing walk along the crest between a few mountain tops. Great view to Ancona and coast line. The snow covered mountain of Sibilino are beautiful, where is Heidi ? Farewell Dinner in the evening at the house.

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Many thanks to Alex for his report on our first Gay Hiking Week and as guest editor of my blog

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if Alex’s report and photographs have wetted your appetite and you would like further information on future Gay Hiking Holidays based at Bellaugello then do send me an email: book@bellaugello.com .

Have a seat

It is not very often that I come across stupendously inventive people, let alone publicise them on my blog, however there has to be an exception to the rule and my friend Claire is certainly that.

Do you have a restaurant to furnish? A kitchen table at needs chairs? Are you a collector of delightful things? Do you like to live a sustainable lifestyle? Do you think recycling is good? Fancy something original for your bedroom? If so these are for you…

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Claire’s chairs, is based in London and now trending in restaurants across the city. Claire finds old unloved chairs and carefully and cleverly using original artwork refurbishes them. She will happily accept commissions, and when over here in Umbria this summer will be making a few “Bellaugello Backs” chairs – it could be your photo in the Bellaugello infinity pool, you just have to be here at Bellaugello Gay Guest House in glorious Umbria, Italy – Give your boyfriend the real must have souvenir!