STERLINGHE – UMBRIA, ITALY Completely private 16th Century farmhouse with stunning views over Umbria and Tuscany, Italy – six bedrooms, all with en suite bathrooms.

Sterlinghe is an ideal destination for two or more families wanting their own exclusive villas. Sitting on the crest of a hill it looks out over uninterrupted views of Umbrian and Tuscan countryside. Completely secluded, without any neighbours or overlooking houses, the villa is set in six acres of natural gardens with its own private 14 metre pool.

The best feature of Sterlinghe is the ability to book either the main villa, which has three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms on the second floor, or the smaller ‘villetta’ which has a further three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and its own fully equipped kitchen in a separate building just across the patio. Each are completely private from the other. In the off-peak season it is possible to rent just the villa on its own, which makes it the perfect location for smaller groups.

While completely isolated, Sterlinghe also enjoys easy access to the local town of Citta di Castello, being only five kilometres down a quiet road.

Belonging to the same family for hundreds of years, the farmhouse fell into neglect in the 50’s and was sadly allowed to decline into an uninhabitable state. In 2007 we managed to purchase the property from an extended Italian family before embarking on a three year restoration.

Set high in the foothills of the Apennines, the villa has three foot walls and shutters on every window, keeping it cool during the day, while the light evening breezes allow for a peaceful night’s sleep.

The views span a panorama untainted by buildings, roads or even telegraph poles. The shade provided by the olive groves delivers on the promise of the perfect Italian dream.

Whether it’s the solitude of a country setting or an opportunity to immerse yourself in some of Italy’s finest sights, Sterlinghe is ideally suited for all tastes at all times of year.

The house has six double bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, utility room, sitting room and TV room. In every room you have the option of arranging the beds as ‘doubles’ or ‘singles’.

The master bedroom has a walkthrough dressing room with a cot which can be used as a further family bedroom.

There are three further fold out beds if you find you need to accommodate additional children. There is a small additional charge for clients who use these portable beds to cover the additional linen and housekeeping charges.