The villa is a traditional farmhouse with the living quarters on the upper level and the stores below – typical of many in this part of Italy. Upstairs is a very large open area with the kitchen, the dining area and the sitting area. A large fireplace dominates the sitting area and a small Italian stove (“stufa”) adds to the feel. Off this main room are three good-sized bedrooms, two with two single beds and one with a double bed. The sofas in the main room also convert to 2 single beds if required.

The villa is tiled throughout and the ceiling beams are all beautifully open giving a feeling of space and making it a haven of coolness when it’s very hot outside. The thick walls help in this, making the villa cool in summer and with the fires, warm in winter.

Also off the main living area is a utility room with the washing machine and storage; a bathroom with bath, shower and bidet; as well as a shower room with a toilet.

The kitchen has a oven, hob, microwave and large fridge and there is a freezer downstairs. Downstairs, built into the house itself, is an wood ‘forno’ (oven) – traditional in this part of Italy. The rest of downstairs is open storage for wine and wood – and of course the table tennis table!.

The villa sits in its own grounds on a quiet ridge with a new, large 15m x 6m swimming pool and panoramic views from every angle. The garden is completely fenced and very safe for children. The hamlet of Piandicastello (which has about 20 houses) is about 50 meters along the road and there are two very nice restaurants within walking distance. The very quite single-track country roads round about provide the perfect route to walk, cycle or drive around and explore this marvellous part of Italy.

The villa is 20km south of San Marino and 20km north of Urbino – Italy’s oldest university town. The nearest villages are Mercatino Conca and Tavoleto.