Sustainability & Enviroment
One of our favourite things about Torricella is how immersed in nature you are. You might be greeted by deer barking in the morning, stumble across porcupine quills as you pick berries on a walk, or catch a flash of a fox crossing the road at night.
Our herb bank not only provides a banquet for a wide range of pollinators, but also fresh ingredients to add to your own feast while watching the iridescent beetles and butterflies swoop from flower to flower. We also recently added 14 young olive trees to the grove below and continue to expand our oasis.
Keeping the centuries long tradition of farming alive at Torricella, the olive trees are harvested each season by our local farmer Aldo to produce a delightful, peppery olive oil. Our olives have been recognised as the best in the Nestore valley and you can certainly taste the difference!
Our first vintage of both red and white wine was bottled in 2019 with results that exceeded our cautious expectations; however it seems the wild boar have also acquired a taste for our grapes so hopefully there will be enough each year!
It has been a real pleasure to see how far Torricella has come in the last 10 years and even more so to share the experience with those who have helped us along the way. The team that helps run Torricella are all friendly locals and we feel very fortunate to be welcomed into their community. Our architect and artisans are also local Umbrians, from the carpenter creating custom-made cabinets and tables, to our operai specialised in renovations preserving traditional styles.
The construction used reclaimed building materials where possible and added solar panels to produce our own electricity and heat the water which is supplied from our two wells. The pool is run with salt water both reducing the chemicals needed and making for a more natural experience. Minimising Torricella’s environmental footprint was a major consideration in the restoration process and is a cause we constantly aim to improve on.
Thanks to these considerations we are proud to say that Torricella can now operate as a carbon negative property year round.
While your stay will not add to your carbon footprint, we would encourage our guests to consider carbon offsetting their travel arrangements to and from Torricella. We are aware this is not a cure-all solution however we are firm believers in making a difference where possible.
We are also part of Oliver’s Travel’s Sustainable Collection and have been listed as one of their Top Ten Eco-Friendly Villas.
The property ticked these points on their sustainable checklist:
Supports the Local Community (promotes local businesses)
Protects and Conserves Local Heritage
Committed to Renewable and Green Energy
Promotes Sustainable Living (Recycling)