Benvenuto al Six Keys Guesthouse

In the heart of the Umbrian countryside, step into our warm, newly renovated guesthouse, where modern amenities complement historic Italian character.

About our property

Six Keys is a cozy six-room guesthouse in Allerona, an 11th-century hilltop village in central Umbria. Each bedroom has one king or two twin beds, individually controlled air-conditioning and heat, en suite bathrooms with showers, desks, wardrobes and fast, free WiFi. We also invite guests to use our lounge and dining/meeting room. Please note that we do not have a kitchen or cooking facilities.

All spaces were designed with comfort in mind, to create a warm and welcoming environment for our guests. The house dates to the 14th or 15th century, and has been lovingly restored with the utmost respect to its ancient bones. While visiting, you’ll notice carefully preserved original wood beams, handmade terracotta tiles, stone walls, and other architectural features alongside a harmonious mix of modern and antique furnishings and decor.

Amenities at Six Keys Guesthouse

  • six keys guesthouse desk

    High-speed Wi-Fi


    Old building, new signal. We’ve got free, high-speed Wi-Fi throughout, whether you need to take a work meeting or just want to upload your tiramisu photos.

  • Living room with white stone wall, wooden ceiling beams, black leather sofas, a large mirror, a wooden coffee table, a colorful area rug, potted plants, and a window.

    Shared lounge


    When you’re not exploring Umbria, relax in our tranquil lounge, which features works from a local artist, board games and travel guidebooks.

  • A rustic dining room with a stone wall, wooden beams, and a wooden dining table with matching chairs. A small bench is at the end of the table. A modern chandelier with exposed bulbs hangs from the ceiling.

    Dining/Meeting space


    We use this space for occasional group dinners, but it works just as well for a glass of wine with friends, or as meeting space for 10-12 guests.

  • Bathroom mirror with built-in LED light, sink with faucet, two gray cups, soap dispenser, and toiletries on the counter. Towel hangs on a rack, and a toilet paper holder is visible in the mirror reflection.

    En-suite bathrooms


    Each of our six bedrooms has its own en-suite bathroom equipped with Italian-tiled showers, bidets, and organic, made-in-Umbria bath products.

  • A digital water tester screen displaying the word 'think:water' on a white stand with a built-in compartment on a wooden countertop, with a window, stone wall, a white electric kettle, and a fork on the sides.

    Courtesy area


    Refill your bottle with still or sparkling filtered water, make a cup of tea, grab a snack or help yourself to a glass of wine from the minifridge.

  • A narrow cobblestone street with potted plants and flowers along stone and plaster walls in a European village.

    In the heart of the village


    Six Keys Guesthouse opens onto a quiet, plant-lined alleyway right in the center of Allerona. The town bar, grocery store and restaurant are just steps away.

Preserving Umbrian history, one room at a time.

A rustic stone and brick wall with a small potted plant, a horizontal metal rod, and a wooden beam.

Our favorite find during renovations was the set of keys Paolo found while demo-ing the attic. We’ll never know what doors they once opened. But there were six keys in the bunch, and we have six guestrooms….so the name just felt natural!

We don’t know a lot about the history of the houses that form Six Keys, but they likely date to the late 1400s, when Allerona was rebuilt following a siege by troops of French king Charles VIII. During renovations, Paolo discovered an archway dating to the 1300s, and we found pottery from the late 1500s. Sealed off windows, doorways and arches turned up everywhere during renovations, further adding to the mystery of what the building might have looked like in the medieval era.

A metal keyring with multiple keys hanging against a textured stone wall.
Close-up of a textured stone and brick wall with an arch-shaped pattern in the brickwork near the bottom, with a tiled floor in front.
View of a glass elevator shaft with a round, black wheel at the top, set in a stone-walled basement or cellar with brick flooring.
Nighttime view of a narrow cobblestone street lined with stone buildings, lit by street lamps, with a bench in the foreground and people gathered at a distant cafe.

Gallery

A dining room with a rustic atmosphere featuring a long wooden table, a bench on one side, and six chairs on the other side. The floor is made of brick, and the walls are stone.»
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A modern bathroom with a white bidet and toilet, tile flooring, a towel rack with a white towel, and a glass-enclosed shower with dark tiles and a window reflection.
A bookshelf displaying multiple copies of the book 'The Architecture Lover's Guide to Rome' by Elizabeth F. Heath, with one copy lying flat on the shelf.
A cozy living room with a stone accent wall, three dark leather sofas, a wooden coffee table with magazines, a colorful area rug, potted plants, a full-length mirror, and a window with a view of the stone wall outside.
Cobblestone street in a European village at night, lined with stone buildings, lit by warm street lamps, with a bench in the foreground and people gathered in the distance.
A hotel room with a bed, white linens, two pillows, two bedside tables with lamps, a combination of exposed brick and stone wall behind the bed, and wood ceiling beams.
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A shower with green glazed tiles, a silver showerhead, and three bottles of shower products in a built-in niche.
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Interior of a wine shop with a stone wall, wooden and metal furniture, and shelves displaying wine bottles.
A group of people gathering in a European cobblestone street with stone buildings, some with shutters and hanging flower pots. Decorated with pink and blue flags, the scene includes outdoor seating beneath an umbrella, creating a lively atmosphere.
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A bedroom with a large bed, white bedding, and pillows, against a wall with exposed brick and stone, next to a window with beige curtains.
Living room with a brown leather couch, a wall decorated with a collection of colorful framed artwork, a clear acrylic chair, and a brass floor lamp.
A rustic kitchen corner with a stone wall, a wooden countertop, a black sink, and modern appliances including a coffee machine with a LCD screen, a white water dispenser, a kettle, and a pink box of snacks. There is a window with a small potted plant
A dining table set for a meal with plates, cups, and food items, against a exposed brick and stone wall. There are wooden chairs around the table.
View of a modern bathroom sink area with a large mirror, a soap dispenser, two cups, and a wooden countertop, with a bedroom visible through an open door.
liz edit - storage area in room - web size.jpg
View of small balcony with wrought iron railing, brick and stone walls, green plants, and neighboring building with blue shutters outside.
Night view of a narrow cobblestone street lined with stone buildings, illuminated by streetlights, with a person walking in the distance.
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Liz edit living area web size .jpg
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Your hosts, Liz & Paolo

We are pleased to welcome you to our labor of love, Six Keys Guesthouse! Liz is a travel writer and editor who moved to Allerona almost 20 years ago. Paolo, who was born in Allerona, is a master stonemason whose dedication to his craft is evident throughout the guesthouse.

We also run Villaggio Tours, a small group tour company that brings guests to Allerona for immersive experiences in a real Italian hilltown. We created Six Keys because we love our village, and we want to help visitors discover the special place we call home.

A woman with gray hair, wearing glasses and a black jacket, taking a selfie outdoors on a windy day near water.
Close-up of a smiling man with short, curly dark hair and gray streaks, wearing a gray shirt, standing in front of a stone wall.
 

Welcome to Allerona

Allerona is a tiny hilltop community in Umbria, located just minutes from the borders of Tuscany and Lazio, the region of Rome. It's a member of the Borghi Piu Bella di Italia (the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy), recognized for its well-preserved medieval core. The village itself dates to the 11th century, though there's evidence of human occupation going back at least to the Roman era.

Just steps from Six Keys is our town bar, where you can enjoy a caffe and cornetto in the morning or a glass of prosecco in the evening. There's also a small grocery store, a fine dining restaurant, an ATM, and a pharmacy open several days a week.

Allerona is surrounded by farmlands and forests laced with walking and biking trails. Within 20 minutes, you can reach Orvieto and its famed cathedral, the Tuscan town of San Casciano dei Bagni, as well as a host of other small villages . There are several wineries nearby, and we’re happy to help arrange tours and tastings.

Say buongiorno or send a query

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A quaint hillside town at dusk with historic stone buildings, narrow winding streets, trees, and streetlights illuminating the scene.
People gathered outside a stone building with open door, flags hanging from windows, and people sitting and standing, socializing under a green outdoor umbrella.

FAQs

Can I book just one room?

Yes, we rent individual rooms, with a two-night minimum stay requirement. Ask about discounts for stays of 5 nights or more.

Is there a restaurant/food service?

We offer breakfast and meals to guests who book multi-day tours through our sister company, Villaggio Tours. Otherwise, you can grab Italian-style breakfast at the bar in town (closed on Tuesdays), buy snacks at our town grocery, or enjoy Allerona’s fine dining restaurant. We provide a shared mini-fridge, filtered water, and a tea kettle, but no cooking facilities.

Do you have daily housekeeping?

We offer daily housekeeping for our weekly tours. Or if you join us for 5 nights or more, we’ll provide a midweek linen change and room tidying.

What is there to do in Allerona?

Allerona is the perfect base for travelers who want to experience a real Italian village, rather than a crowded, cookie-cutter version of Italy. In town, we have a historic church and two small museums, as well as a network of walking trails spreading through the surrounding woods and countryside. Closeby are the towns of Orvieto, San Casciano dei Bagni, Bolsena (Lake Bolsena), and Civita di Bagnoregio. Day trips to Perugia, Assisi, Todi, and the Tuscan towns of Montepulciano, Pienza and Siena are also doable.

Can I book the entire guesthouse?

Of course! Based on availability, you can book all six rooms for your group. Ask us about adding local experiences like cooking classes, nature walks, truffle hunts, or wine tastings.

Are you kid- or pet-friendly?

Well-behaved children are welcomed at Six Keys, though we don’t provide cribs or cots, and rooms sleep a maximum of two people each. We’ll consider pets on a case-by-case basis, please ask before booking.

What is Villaggio Tours?

Villaggio Tours is our experiential tour company offering small-group tours (no more than 12 guests) based in Allerona. We take day trips to local points of interest, enjoy nature hikes, cooking classes, wine tastings and seasonal harvests, and partake of Umbria’s culinary bounty.

Are some rooms better than others?

All our rooms have slightly different floorplans, but all feature the same comfy mattresses and pillows, and thoughtful, and convenient fixtures and amenities.

How do I get there?

Allerona Paese (the historic village of Allerona) is located on the SP49 provincial road, and is reachable from the A1 autostrada (Fabro or Orvieto exit) or the Cassia roadway that runs from Rome towards Siena.