Gudiolo is a well-appointed, well-stocked house, stupendously sited, with spectacular views. The pool area is very nicely designed and thought-out. Inside there is a good range of fine rooms - the house is excellent for large parties, because so spacious while granting privacy through the arrangement of the bedroom/bathroom suites. An extremely convivial house: good kitchen and indoor dining room, and a very pleasant sitting-room, as well as a dining terrace.

Georgina Paul, Oxford.

This was our third stay at Gudiolo (and our fifth year using Summer’s Leases). It’s like coming home to visit an old friend. This house has enchanted all the friends we have shared it with. The views over peaceful hills and valleys, the sounds of the cuckoo birds (not a clock, but real birds!) in the mornings and evenings, Sandra’s heavenly and abundant dinners and Juan Carlos, always cheerful and helpful: these are a few of our favorite memories of Gudiolo. This year, even my fears about the funky stairs, unsuspecting steps and low beams with one of our traveling companions, who is 85 year old, were unfounded. Gentle warnings about looking up and down when moving about the house were heeded without incident.

Umbertide with its Wednesday morning market and every day grocery stores is within 15 minutes and our favorite hilltowns, Cortona, Montepulciano, Citta della Pieve, Assisi and, of course, Lago Trasimeno, are all within easy reach. But, many times, our friends were content just to relax and enjoy Gudiolo with its comfy living room, the sunny patio or lounge by the pool.

When we didn’t ask Sandra to cook, a number of restaurants with good food and good value were found in nearby towns. And if you find yourself, as we did on a rainy afternoon, in want of entertainment, reading past comments from Gudiolo’s guest book is great fun. For example, we learned that a champagne cork, launched at a 78 degree angle from the patio, will hit the pool. Hilarious! And sorry we missed a cinghiale (wild boar) giving birth by the pool.

Each of us has returned with our favorite stories and memories of this special time and magical place. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit, if we and our friends didn’t find our way back to our house in Umbria, our dear friend, Gudiolo. After all, we have a champagne cork or two to experiment with.

Bill and Margene Marvin, WA.

We loved the location and homely feel to the property which was full of character. Well appointed and catered for the numbers of a large party in terms of cooking appliances , large pans and serving dishes and plenty of seating, dining space etc. It felt like ‘home from home’ - wanted to stay there and explore the locality more. Loved all the local markets - fantastic fresh produce inspired our son who is a professional chef who cooks Italian food at the River cafe in London - so we dined very well!! Would love to go back when the swimming pool is open.

Chris and Sue Fincham and family, East Sussex.

The place was perfect for us! All 12 of us loved it. We appreciated Juan Carlos and Sandra and whenever something went wrong (not often) they were very helpful. Three of our four grandchildren are fluent in Spanish, as were 3 of the adults, so we enjoyed communicating with them. We also appreciated all of the information about the region that was available, both in the house book and in the commercial travel books in the living room. The house was very comfortable and we would happily recommend it to others.

Thanks for a wonderful experience in Italy!

Lynne Strieb, Philadelphia.

We absolutely loved Gudiolo. Because we were eight people (rising to ten half way through) but all not in couples, we needed to use the tower (not so good for anyone who needs night visits to the loo!)

The pool area was lovely, enhanced by a drinks fridge and shade canopy one end. The terrace was a perfect place to eat out with stunning views. Sandra cooked two fantastic meals for us and she and Juan Carlos could not have been more helpful and friendly. They also kept the house spotless.

We all agreed it was the most wonderful house and location - definitely on the agenda for a repeat visit - we didn’t do half the sight seeing we intended because the weather was so good we were loathe to leave the pool!

Rosemary Collins, Belgium.

We really enjoyed our stay. The house is in a beautiful position, is spacious and airy and is well equipped. We loved having our meals (often using the BBQ) on the veranda overlooking the pool and the view to faraway hills, having had a quiet drink at the other end of the house to watch the sunset.

We enjoyed the place so much that we spent far more time there than we had intended and as a result doubtless deprived ourselves of many cultural highlights!

Robert Francis, London.

Delightful house in a wonderful location. Well equipped, well furnished in a manner that was in sympathy with the character of the property. High praise for Sandra and Juan Carlos who look after the property. Sandra cooked wonderfully. We were delighted to see a wild boar on the road up to the house one night.

An excellent, central location to visit some wonderful towns/villages in Umbria.

Angela Hanson, Bristol.

Gudiolo was fabulous, it exceeded our expectations and yes the photos on the net do not do it justice, it is more beautiful than photos can show. It is beautifully decorated and the owners have spared no expense. ... The crickets and bugs were a constant entertainment, while the pool was sensational and well used in the very hot weather.

The House Book was great an excellent read full of useful information.

We loved it!

Anne MacKinnon, London.