The Niccone Valley runs from Tuscany to Umbria, between the towns of Mercatale and Niccone. Over the hills at the south you can reach Lake Trasimeno and Cortona. The north opens out to the Tiber Valley in Umbria.

The Niccone River runs along the valley and on its flats are farmland of sunflowers, wheat, tobacco and corn, while in its hills are ancient castles and watch towers, including the Castello di Reschio and the Castello di Sant’Andrea di Sorbello.

The villas lie above the small hamlet of Spedalicchio, which has a small grocery store, and is a ten minute drive from the town of Umbertide.

The nearest airport is Umbria International Airport, also called San Francesco d’Assisi. Ryanair flies regularly from both London Stansted and Brussels Charleroi, and a number of smaller regional airlines fly elsewhere in Italy and Europe.

The driving time from Rome Fiumicino airport is approximately 2 and a half hours. From Milan, the driving time is around 5 hours, while Florence is around 1 and a half hours.

There is a local train line in Umbertide, but the nearest mainline station is Terontola-Cortona, a twenty minute drive from the villa.

From the villas there are numerous walk and hikes that can be taken from the door, many of these trails are suitable for mountain bikes (no bikes are available at the villas).

There are many half day and day trips that can be made in the surrounding region. Cortona and Montepulciano are ancient Etruscan, and later Roman, hill towns, filled with winding hills, quirky shops and delicious food. Assisi is famous as a site of religious pilgrimage and its connections to the patron saint of Italy, San Francesco d’Assisi. Lake Trasimeno is the site of the largest ambush in military history, when the Cartheginian Hannibal defeated the Roman Consul Flaminius and his forces. There is art, history and wonderful places for lunch within easy day trip distances in places such as Siena, Arezzo, Perugia, and Florence.

There are a number of wine regions within reach of the villa – from the Vino Nobile Montepuliciano in Tuscany, to the Umbrian wines of Montefalco, Assisi and Torgiano. A number of the wineries encourage visitors and have tours and lunch available.

The region is well known for its maiolica and terracotta pottery. Both Deruta and Gubbio are famous for these crafts and have stores and workshops selling these beautiful ceramics, and in Deruta it is possible to see the kilns and artisans at work. Gubbio is a beautiful medieval town, distinctive in its architectural style and famous for its “human bird cage” , an open funicular which transports people from the town to the church of San’Ubaldo at the top of the mountain.

Other activities which are available nearby are golf, horse riding, and some water sports at Lake Trasimeno.

There are festivals throughout the year – from the famous Umbrian Jazz festival in Perugia in July, to the smaller festivals such as the Sagra della Castagna in Preggio (a chestnut festival) in October, or the Festa di Toro Cotto in the shores of Lake Trasimeno in the summer. Market day in Umbertide is Wednesday, and Saturdays is a special gourmet and artisans market in the town square.