Sina Brufani

Sina Brufani has no golf course and no services for golfers: to play nearby, book directly with the club.

The leading name in the area is Antognolla Golf Club, north of Perugia. It has 18 holes designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., at 6,112 metres (6,884 yards), inside a 540-hectare estate. The course winds around Antognolla castle, dating from the 12th century, with steep elevation changes, undulating greens and water hazards that demand precision. The club says it was named best golf course in Italy at the World Golf Awards in 2020 and 2022, and offers an academy with PGA instruction, 7.5 km of buggy paths and irrigation that allows play all year.

Sina Brufani presents itself as the first five-star luxury hotel in Perugia, opened in 1884. It was founded by Giacomo Brufani, from Assisi and of farming stock, who had worked with visitors to Umbria from a young age by managing horses and acting as a guide. The website says the hotel grew as international tourism in Perugia began to flourish, and that in 1986 it joined Sina Hotels, which renovated it.

Today there are 94 rooms and suites with antique furnishings and a classical feel. The Superior measures 20 m², the Deluxe 25 m², the Junior Suite 35 m², the Suite 46 m² and the Suite Deluxe 55 m². The Superior sleeps up to two guests, the other categories up to three. The address is Piazza Italia 12, in the medieval centre with views over the Umbrian valleys; the site gives Assisi at 20 km, Orvieto at 50, Florence at 150 and Rome at 190.

The Sina Wellness Club is open every day from 7 am to 10 pm. Its centrepiece is the heated indoor pool with a whirlpool corner, built under Etruscan vaults with a transparent floor through which the ancient walls can be seen. The area also has a sauna, a Turkish bath and relaxation zones. Massages and treatments can be arranged in the room on request.

Collins' Restaurant is described by the hotel as one of Perugia's most sought-after places to eat: historic halls and a modern outdoor space, with regional Umbrian cuisine prepared by the hotel's kitchen team. Collins' Bar looks out over the Umbrian landscape and its bartenders are known for craft cocktails; the hotel says it won Best Innovative Bar in Central Italy.

• A founder who was guide and stable hand. Giacomo Brufani started out with horses and guided visits for travellers in Umbria.
• Illustrious guests. The website recalls the Queen Mother of England and the Prince of Monaco.
• Meeting rooms named after artists. They carry the names of Raffaello, Perugino, Pisani, Oderisi and Pinturicchio.
• Sustainability certification. The hotel has earned DCA certification for its sustainability commitment.