Villa Metato

Eating

You breakfast outside under the wisteria and vines. It’s included in the price and prepared by the owners, who live next door. You’ll get fruits in season, with the wild strawberries, blackberries, figs, apples and pears coming from the garden. Homemade bread can be topped with local honey and washed down with fresh juices. Organic eggs from resident chickens and the odd slice of local bacon are also on offer for a small supplement. Breakfast can be left waiting for you at a certain time if you wish to not see a soul.

You have a fully equipped kitchen (with a cooker, all crockery, pans, a sink, a large fridge and a small freezer, but no microwave) to yourselves on the lower groud floor, so you can stay at home and whisk up your own lunch or dinner, and there's a BBQ for your use next to the Bocce court. The kitchen has French windows that open out on to your secluded terrace with a dining table and a cushioned seating area.

Alternatively, there are a couple of simple restaurants and trattorias in the village of Volterrano, a 5-minute drive away. However, for busier restaurants with a more extensive menu you'll need to drive to Città de Castello, 20km away. We had an excellent pizza from a local trattoria, and Nick is happy to go and collect it for you if possible.

And if you really don’t feel like lifting a finger, there's a private chef who'll come and cook for you - perhaps some lasagne or ravioli, followed by local meats (or fresh fish on Fridays), fresh fruit, homemade cakes and so on. It's very simple but tasty traditional Italian food (“just like mamma used to make!” says the chef). Dine alfresco perched above ancient woodland, watching the setting sun...

Nick has an endless supply of the local farmer’s wine, and can stock up the fridge with this and other supplies prior to arrival if you give him instructions.