Podere Fontanil

The ground floor houses four of the five bedrooms, each air-conditioned and with its own ensuite bathroom. Two of these rooms can be configured as twins. Upstairs, a generous suite pairs a double bed with two French beds in an adjoining area, plus its own ensuite with both an open shower and bathtub. A living room with a smart TV shares the first floor. Throughout, finishes are considered and tones are kept calm and warm.

A professional kitchen gives you proper space to cook, and the garden supplies fresh produce to work with. There is a large barbecue area for eating outdoors, and a pergola by the pool where you can settle in for the afternoon. A daily three-hour cleaning service is included, and cooking services can be arranged on request. The estate also hosts horse stables set among the olive groves, worth knowing if that appeals.

Tuscia rewards the curious. Tarquinia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has Etruscan tombs and sandy beaches. Tuscania offers Romanesque churches and the striking Basilica of San Pietro. Vulci brings ancient ruins and hot springs, while Capalbio is home to the Giardino dei Tarocchi and unspoiled stretches of coast. Restaurants and a golf course sit nearby too, so days here tend to fill themselves quite naturally.