"Whenever I go away," says Francesca, owner of Villa Il Cancello, "I'm always astonished that other rental villas never provide nearly enough pans, plates and glasses." Accordingly Villa Il Cancello is splendidly equipped and we guarantee you won't lack for equipment!

Evidently it was intended to be a grand villa but for whatever reason only the one floor was constructed, which is why it looks so curiously low-key from the outside. If you imagine a second (or third!) floor added above that imposing front door and tall windows, you'll get the picture. The original owner was an Italian Count and used the house as his summer retreat. He called the villa "The Granary" though there are no signs that it was ever used that way. From the Count's summer house, it morphed into the local school and now the family have transformed it into the comfortable home you see in our pictures. It's very like Dr. Who's Tardis: step inside the plain facade and you'll be astonished at how big the villa is! Bursting with authentic Tuscan character, you'll discover incredible vaulted ceilings and tall airy rooms, the perfect retreat from the summer heat. The pretty garden offers unspoilt views swooping all the way down and across the Valdichiana to Cortona.

The main sitting room is on the garden level, a real scene stealer with its soaring vaults. There's a romantic open fire for autumnal nights and wide double doors opening directly onto your lawn - lovely! There's a fine family suite just off the sitting room: a small lobby leads to a big double bedroom (which makes into singles if preferred), then there's a plain and simple bedroom with bunks. The two bedrooms share a sparklingly clean modern bathroom with a bath and shower. A second suite, off another corner of the main sitting room, offers a spacious double bedroom with a bathroom with shower. To complete the sleeping arrangements there's another double bedroom with doors out to the terrace running the length of the back of the villa (this double bed also makes into twin beds if required). The tiny lobby leading into this bedroom has a low ceiling (such ancient quirks are the price of authenticity), so tall people will need to beware! However, it's only the lobby's ceiling that is low, not the bedroom itself, so it's very easy to cope.

You'll also find an elegant dining room on this floor. Francesca's husband loves to dabble in woodworking and he made the dining table in this atmospheric room from one of the estate's old cedar trees! The library / TV room is here too. A pretty room, as you can see. The two sitting rooms, plus a tiny office space on the landing above the main sitting room, ensure there's ample space for a large group to to be together, but those who need a little quiet privacy are well looked after too. The main kitchen is welcoming in a happily homey sort of way. It's very well equipped with a large fridge freezer, a dishwasher, a microwave, an electric oven with 5 gas hobs, double steel sinks and a breakfast table.

On the lower level of the villa, there's a fine double bedroom (which makes twin beds if required) and a smart modern bathroom with a shower. There's also an amazing old kitchen with antique fireplace complete with hobs fed with embers from the fire. The servants cooked the Count's meals in here so it's a fascinating, historic bonus rather than a proper, modern kitchen. It's a handy resource for a snack or cup of coffee, but the main kitchen upstairs, with all its modern work surfaces and cupboards, is the place for serious cooking!

This villa has location, location and location (the Count was no fool even if he never did finish building Il Cancello!). You are entirely private, but only a minute's walk from the owner's own villa should you have a problem or need to tap their boundless local knowledge, especially for the best local wineries and restaurants. The vibrant hilltop town of Montepulciano is barely a 5 minute drive away. Montepulciano is justly famous for its world class wines. You could easily fill your holiday simply sampling your way around the local wineries! Lake Trasimeno, with its cute ferry boats, little islands and quaint villages, is a 20 minute drive away. You can happily potter about the pottery shops of Passignano on its shore. The ancient town of Chiusi, with its fascinating Etruscan museum and mainline trains down to Rome and up to Florence is a 25 minute drive: park and hop on a train for an effort-free day exploring the Eternal City or visiting the magnificent art of the poet Dante's home town. Pienza, Perugia and Arezzo are all within an easy drive, so if lounging by the pool, under the Tuscan sun, doesn't do it for you, there's plenty of great art to "do" too. From high fashion outlets and serious antique shops, to inexpensive handicrafts and farmer's markets offering top quality ingredients for a rustic meal at home under your shady 200 year old oak tree - there's no shortage of pleasures to enjoy when you take a break at Villa Il Cancello! Children too have been carefully considered, so you'll find not only a cot, highchair and useful microwave, but even a wonderful miniature wood, complete with special seats - your very own "Fairy Corner" built just for those who wish to chatter with the woodland pixies.

Villa Il Cancello is for families: it's for those who want to re-charge their batteries in genuine Tuscan surroundings in authentic Tuscan style. Villa Il Cancello is guaranteed to fill you with lasting memories of a very special holiday experience!