All the apartments are fully furnished and comprehensively equipped, and each has a cheerful glass-fronted wood-burning stove for cosy winter evenings. The large garden is available to all guests. Phyllis Thompson, who owns the house, is permanently resident and the house and grounds are well cared for and welcoming.

The village of Collesecco, although small, has a good selection of shops for day-to-day needs. These include a small, very well-stocked, supermarket, a first class butcher, a baker who bakes on the premises, a cake shop (in addition to the offerings of the baker!), several small clothes shops, post office, service station (all fuels), electrical supplies and repair shop, and a car repair garage. There are also two bars. About 4km (2.5miles) down hill is the small town of Bastardo which has a more comprehensive range of shops and services.

The local food is good, and regional specialties include roast boar, roast lamb, and mushrooms of which the most important are truffles. Local wines are excellent, especially those from our local wine-making co-operative at Todi. Several good restaurants and pizzerias are nearby.

Collesecco is almost at the geographical centre of Umbria, and therefore the centre of Italy (careful when map reading as there is another Collesecco over to the west near Acquasparta.) The location puts it within easy reach of a ring of historic towns, many founded by the Etruscans who lived in the area several centuries before the arrival of the Romans. Within a 45 minutes drive these medieval towns include Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto, Todi, Orvieto and Orte... the list seems endless. Throughout the year many of the small towns and even small villages, stage festivals. Our own village of Marcellano is famous for its "living nativity play" enacted for a week over Christmas.

Rome and Florence are within easy reach, about 160km (100 miles), with a journey time of approximately 2 hours by car or using rail or coach services.