This is a casa colonica that’s been lived in and maintained by contadini (the farmers) since it was built. As a result it’s been looked after and is weathertight and structurally sound, however the upper floor, where the owners live, is pretty basic and will need a fair amount of cosmetic work to bring it up to modern standards. The lower floor will require complete refurbishment with the plaster hacking off and a new ventilated floor slab. In addition, there are innumerable outbuildings fit only for demolition but whose volume can be reused.

The property is 7 km from the local market town of Umbertide with its full range of shops, restaurants, banks etc. A tarmac road leads almost to the door of Casa Fondacci, so access will be no problem even in the worst of winter weather! Umbertide is handily located for visiting northern/central Umbria and eastern Tuscany. Sansepolcro, Città di Castello, Gubbio, Cortona, Perugia and Arezzo are all within an hour's drive or a little over.

Altogether an interesting project with the possibility of phasing the works over time.