Although private and peaceful, Casa Fontemaggio is not remote. It is well placed to either luxuriate in the excellent cuisine and wines of the region or take trips through a landscape of vineyards, fields and olive groves to the historical and cultural sites of both Tuscany and Umbria. In about an hour, you can be in Siena, Florence, Assisi or Gubbio.  But don’t overlook the gems nearby, many of them awarded ‘Top Villages of Italy’ status.  The timeless hilltop village of Lippiano, crowned by the Renaissance castle that can be viewed from the terrace at Fontemaggio, may be walked to for a drink at the friendly bar.  3km away, the local village of Monterchi, a tiny triangle of medieval perfection, is Roman in origin and home to Piero della Francesca’s renowned fresco The Madonna del Parto.  The landscape that appears in Piero’s works, painted 500 years ago, is clearly recognisable in the views around Fontemaggio. You will find the local community in Monterchi welcoming and friendly.  There are food shops, bars and many excellent restaurants serving local gastronomic specialities.