Torre di Sotto - Montone - Umbria

This old tower was elegantly restored by its Italian architect owner with loving attention to authentic details. His own house is just across the courtyard from the tower, which faces onto the pool. Vittorio and his wife are retired now. You'll find them entirely discreet if you wish to be alone and wonderfully helpful should you want to tap their in-depth local knowledge! Torre di Sotto is a truly splendid Umbrian holiday choice, bursting with real character. You'll find gracious views, a bathroom with touches of gold in the style of Klimt. The fabulous swimming pool has speakers hidden in the fantastical polished sandstone ledges rising above the pool - bring your own CDs or borrow from Vittorio's huge jazz collection to enjoy music while you swim. And there's a separate hydromassage pool just to ensure you are thoroughly spoiled. Torre di Sotto is a Summer’s Leases holiday choice for those intent on some serious spoiling!

The house sits below Montone, a medieval hill town steeped in serene charm. The little town is officially designated one of Italy's "Most Beautiful Borgos" - and we think you'll fall in love with it! You’ll find a choice of restaurants, a couple of bars in the main square and one of those fascinating little sell-everything shops that have long since disappeared from Britain - and it's all just a 5 minute drive away (we don't offer isolated houses half way up mountain tracks!). The E45 superstrada, for easy access to the whole of Umbria and Tuscany is only a swift 5 km from your door. For a large supermarket, a great Wednesday morning market, banks, bars and half a dozen restaurants, Umbertide is 8 km to the south. Umbertide's market is a real treat, offering local produce like farmer's sausages, salami and fabulous veges as well as local shepherd's cheeses and a host of household bargains and inexpensive clothes and shoes.

Good Grey Gubbio, another beautiful medieval hill town, is half an hours' drive away. The funicular there will whisk you up above the merry jumble of Gubbio’s antique roofscape if you go to visit Saint Ubaldo, giving you an unrivalled view of the town and the wide valley it dominates. Gubbio also offers handsome pottery, all manner of medieval weaponry and wonderful plaster decorations that would tempt even a saint to overspend! Perugia is Umbria's capital city and only 40 minutes drive away - a must for art lovers and Etruscan enthusiasts. Lake Trasimeno (Italy's 4th largest lake), Assisi and its beautiful basilica in honour of Saint Francis, and the wonderful wines of Torgiano and Montepulciano are all within easy reach - if you can manage to drag yourselves away from that splendid swimming pool...? Pottery officianados will not be able to resist the highly decorated table ware and the richly swathed terra cotta pots at Deruta - and then on to the "Umbra" restaurant at charming Todi for lunch? The views from their terrace are to die for! You are also handily placed for exploring into Tuscany from Torre di Sotto. Stunning little Cortona and lovely San Sepolcro are both well within an hour's scenic drive. If you prefer to stick closer to home, why not explore the surrounding hills on horseback, with a guide from the nearby stables? Or simply go walking along the many lanes winding through the vineyards and ancient olive groves of this peacefully rustic area.

The main part of Torre di Sotto is artfully fitted into an old tower. To the left, you’ll see the splendid loggia, which makes an open air sitting room, perfect for shady meals away from the blazing sun or for enjoying the cool of the evening. The gracious brick arches, traditional terracotta paving and dark oak beams give this ‘room’ an authentic Renaissance feel. The ground floor of the tower contains a well-equipped kitchen with dining table. The cupboards are amply filled with crockery and saucepans, there's a fridge-freezer, smart electric oven with gas hob and a top-loading washing machine will ensure you are well catered for. A circular wooden staircase leads up to the bathroom and a landing with two bunk beds, then carries on up to an airy double bedroom (with air con) at the top. To the right of the tower is the separate annex with a twin bedroom and its own elegantly tiled en suite bathroom, with possibly the largest shower ever!

Wash away your worldy cares at delightful Torre di Sotto. Soak up the stunning scenery, graze on authentic local dishes and return to the fray refeshed by a truly memorable holiday in sainted Umbria.