About us
On the hills to the south-west of Gubbio, nestled on a natural terrace overlooking Valle dell’Assino joining Gubbio and Umbertide, Niki’s Resort is located, an old village from 1137 composed of the Church of Santa Maria di Agnano, its fortress to defend the territory consisting of a central body with a tower that served as a lookout post on the valley below, in addition to another building. Set in an atmosphere from another time, along “the paths of silence” that characterised the spiritual history of Umbria and Le Marche, influencing social life from 1200 onwards, Niki’s Resort has been completely restored, maintaining the original materials and forms, with furniture designed with care to respect the simplicity, style and atmosphere of a small jewel of medieval architecture and history.
A radical environmental restoration was also carried out
Historical notes
The complex dates back to 1137 as stated by a bull of Pope Innocent II addressed to a man named Benedetto, who was appointed to the rectory of San Mariano at the Cathedral of Gubbio. With this bull, the pope reiterates what belongs to the various canonical churches scattered throughout the diocese, including one called “Plebem Santctae Mariae de Algnana”. For Pieve, it meant at the time a church where it was possible to perform baptisms, so much so that Angnano had a baptismal font, which is now on display at the Diocesan Museum of Gubbio. It seems that the origin of the Pieve di Santa Maria di Agnano dates much farther back, namely to 416 A.D. and this was obtained by a decree of Pope Innocent I to the Bishop of Gubbio Decentius referring to the cult and rituals practiced in the church. The logo of Niki’s Resort is a lamb supporting a cross. The lamb is a symbol of peace, identifying the church of Pieve d’Agnano (lamb) by a low stone relief from the year 800 A.D. This bas-relief is now in the custody of the church of Camporeggiano, located at the foot of the valley below the complex we manage. This bas-relief must be returned to the original church from which it was taken, to protect and preserve it.
The Restoration
The restoration of the buildings took place under the direction of the Superintendent of Monuments of Umbria, adhering carefully to the architecture of the period, intervening with normal maintenance works on the outside and radically restoring the frescoes. A radical environmental restoration was also done, while maintaining the original vegetation, the layout of gardens and historic access routes.