SPORT

At the house - the eco friendly swimming pool has a salt based filter (no goggles needed!).  The  area is equipped with teak furniture and is shaded by umbrellas and creeper covered pergolas. There is a refrigerator for cool drinks. It is the perfect place for relaxing. There is a boules pitch and a ping pong room (with also table football and darts). There are wonderful walks straight from the house.  Loads of books and indoor games.

Nearby - Tennis is in the village. There is a championship golf course half an hour away and a congenial 9 hole course in the next valley. Riding on beautiful cross country paths is available at a B+B nearby.  Mountain bikes can be hired next door; ideal country for the (semi) serious. Water sports can be found at Lake Trasimeno (one hour away).

CULTURE

Piero della Francesca is arguably the top artist of the area (though Perugino, Pinturicchio, Signorelli and Giotto might disagree). Piero's Madonna del Parto is 15 minutes away in Monterchi (others are in Arezzo, Perugia, Sansepolcro and Urbino).

Arezzo (Piero's The Story of the True Cross), Assisi (Giotto ++), Gubbio, Spello (Pinturicchio not to be missed), Perugia (Piero's Altarpiece), Cortona (great Fra Angelico), and Sansepolcro (Piero's Resurrection + Misericordia) are all within a one hour drive.

Day trips can be made to Florence, Siena, Ravenna, Urbino (Piero's Flagellation), Todi, Bevagna, Montefalco and Orvieto. All these places are a delight - even for cultural philistines.  All the towns are quite different one from another.

For modern art lovers there is the world renowned Burri Collection.  Part is in a palazzo in Citta di Castello.  The other, more dramatic, part is in the outskirts in an amazing old tobacco drying factory - it's worth a visit even if you are not an art lover!

There are many concerts and festivals in the area in the summer months.

SHOPPING and EATING

Excellent shops and friendly family run restaurants, serving delicious local specialities, are within easy reach. Nearby Lerchi is good for every day shopping. The medieval city of Citta di Castello, a linen, truffle and antiques centre, is reached in 15 minutes. It has banks, supermarkets and a wide range of shops and restaurants.

Guide books (and information re shopping, restaurants, local towns etc.) are in the house.