Casa Poggio was rescued from ruin ten years ago and the story of its slow restoration was told in The Daily Telegraph. The house has thick stone walls, terracotta floors, chestnut beams and whitewashed walls. Furniture is simple and comfortable; reading lights good. A good night’s sleep is guaranteed on super king-sized beds with luxurious linen. The large kitchen is equipped for serious cooks, and the dining tables inside and out are great for long communal meals. The small plunge pool is perfect for cooling off. A good choice of public pools and river swimming lie within a 15 minute drive.

The farmhouse nestles into the lee of a hill: you enter at upper ground floor level to an open-plan kitchen-dining room. The tranquil living room has French windows looking out onto Monte Soratte, a fireplace, a long sofa and armchairs, abundant reference books and good reading lights. At the other end of the upper ground floor is a twin bedroom with shower room – good for those who don’t like stairs or want a little more privacy.

Downstairs are two big double bedrooms and a smaller twin room with a cot, all with north-facing French windows opening onto a shady terrace. Each room has been restored to its original state – vaulted brick ceilings, thick chestnut beams and herringbone antique terracotta floors. One double room has its own shower and bidet room; the other shares a large bathroom with the twin. Bathrooms have modern designer fittings.