The Location

Umbria, the landlocked region nestled between the Apennine hills, is perhaps the least known by tourists, who are often more attracted to the sun-drenched beaches of other regions. The hilly and mountainous terrain, and the lack of access to the sea, which has historically made internal and external connections challenging, have also greatly influenced the region’s social and cultural evolution, as well as the distinctive historical architecture we can admire today in its cities and villages. These factors have also preserved Umbria’s original historical character more than other Italian regions, where rapid modernization has often led to significant changes. This makes Umbria especially attractive to visitors seeking more than just a superficial experience.

 

Fabro is a small town in western Umbria. In the 19th century, it was a cluster of a few houses surrounding a medieval castle, now mostly ruins, located on the top of a hill, for better defense against invasions, and the malaria that infested the swampy valleys below.

After the construction of the Rome-Florence railway (1875), which runs through its territory, a new district was born around the station in the valley, called Fabro Scalo. In 1963, the construction of the A1 motorway, with an exit at Fabro Scalo, further stimulated the development of this modern residential area, bringing public services and businesses that serve the surrounding towns: Fabro, Ficulle, Parrano, Montegabbione, Monteleone d’Orvieto, and Carnaiola.
Today, Fabro Scalo offers a wide range of services within a few hundred meters: two banks, a post office, a pharmacy, two supermarkets, a bakery, a pasta shop, cafes, pastry shops, various grocery and general stores, mechanical workshops, sports fields, and travel agencies.

 

For tourists staying in Fabro, the train station on the Rome-Florence line offers an excellent opportunity to visit both cities for a day trip. Regional trains can take you to the heart of either Rome or Florence in just two hours, for a very low cost, avoiding the difficulties of driving and parking. Tickets are easily purchased online.
The historic SS71 Umbro-Casentinese state road and the A1 motorway are major routes for car travel. Orvieto, Perugia, and other historically and culturally significant towns in Umbria and Tuscany, like Città della Pieve, Montepulciano, Pienza, San Quirico d'Orcia, and San Casciano dei Bagni, are just a few dozen kilometers from Fabro.
Lake Trasimeno is 40 km from Fabro. Along its shores, Castiglione del Lago, perched on a promontory, Tuoro on the north shore (from which you can take a ferry to Isola Maggiore), and Panicale, with its medieval walls, a 13th-century church, and a charming Baroque theater, all merit a visit.

 

The landscape around Fabro is largely agricultural and wooded. Traveling east from Fabro toward Marsciano (60 km along SP58), you cross an uninhabited region of dense forests. In the opposite direction, a lesser-known yet scenic route (SP108) passes through a zone of clay cliffs and then the high forests of the Monte Rufeno Nature Reserve, leading to Trevinano and Acquapendente (32 km).

 

Along the provincial road to Parrano (SP52), just four kilometers from the Murogrosso winery, you’ll find a thermal spring in a secluded valley at the edge of a gorge, where prehistoric caves called Tane del Diavolo ("Devil's Dens") can be visited with a guide. The area features a rustic café and a small pool where you can soak in the warm sulfurous waters.

 

Country Life
One of the highlights of staying in Fabro is enjoying the advantages of small-town life, where local shops offer fresh and unique products from the surrounding area. On the main street (Via Vittorio Emanuele), you’ll find the Mechelli bakery, where you can buy fragrant, freshly baked bread in the morning, as well as traditional Umbrian treats like ciambelline, tozzetti, crostate, and cakes. The grocery store sells fresh ricotta, Pecorino cheeses from nearby dairies, and well-known cheeses from the Val d’Orcia, along with traditional cured meats like Cacciatorino and Finocchiona. Across the street, Marco’s fruit and vegetable shop offers fresh, locally sourced produce daily from the areas around Orvieto and Viterbo. The butcher shop sells Chianina beef from local farms.

 

At the small Murogrosso shop, located at Via Nazionale 65 (the provincial road that runs through Fabro Scalo), we sell our own products alongside high-quality items from local companies that are not available in supermarkets. These include lentils from Dal Savio, Moretti jams, Prudenzi olive oil, Barbanera cheeses from Montegabbione, Ferraldeschi honey and nougat from Parrano, Scianca cured meats from Montecchio, and Mazzuoli saffron from Città della Pieve.

 

Accommodations and Hospitality
Our hospitality offering began thirty years ago with the restoration of Podere Marone, reflecting the history, culture, and love of rural life that our family holds dear. This project was undertaken in the spirit of Italy’s agritourism law, which allows farms to host visitors in the former homes of farmers who once worked the land. The buildings were restored to retain their rural character without converting them into villas or hotels, allowing visitors to experience the landscape, people, and activities that make the Italian countryside so special.

 

Podere Marone
Podere Marone is a typical Umbrian farmhouse, built at least two centuries ago to house a farming family. It has been carefully restored, respecting its original architectural features. The first floor has three double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a large living room with the original fireplace. The house is equipped with modern amenities like heating, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. The garden features a pool, a pergola, and a stone barbecue for outdoor dining.

 

Podere degli Archi
Podere degli Archi is an 18th-century farmhouse with a distinctive two-arched portico and a gallery with three large windows. The first floor has been converted into an apartment with four double bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen-dining area, and a spacious living room with an original fireplace. The apartment is air-conditioned and has Wi-Fi, offering a comfortable stay for extended periods.

Guests staying between early September and late October can observe the winemaking process, from grape harvesting to fermentation, either up close or from the windows overlooking the winery.

 

For any special requests, please contact Margherita at booking@murogrosso.it, +39 342 5849583 a few days before your arrival. Whether it's transportation from the airport, car rental, a taxi for local tours, or an expert cook to prepare traditional Umbrian-Tuscan meals, we’re here to make your stay exceptional. Wine tastings can also be arranged at the winery by appointment.