In summer, when the main house at Borgano is open and the pool's in use, this cute apartment down by the pool offers a charming optional extra for two further guests. It's ideal for those in a large party who may sometimes want a little independence and privacy away from the main group so during the summer season, "Il Nido" is available only to those booking the main house. Otherwise, in spring, autumn and winter, Il Nido can be booked at any time, by anyone.

So the choice is yours - Borgano as a large family villa for 10, with the optional extra of Il Nido for 2 during the summer season - while for the rest of the year Borgano offers Il Nido and the ground floor of Borgano as two entirely separate, 2 person apartments.

Owned for generations by one of Rome's ancient families, Borgano is a gem. It's strategically placed half way along the old route between Rome and Florence and there has been a house on this site since Etruscan times (well over 2000 years ago). The ancient Romans developed Borgano into a mansio (a small inn and staging post to pick up fresh horses), and the house still has its ancient Roman water cistern.

Il Nido is a very appealing apartment as you can see, and it's perfectly placed for sightseeing. It's a light, bright apartment with a grassy terrace for its " garden". The sitting room is comfy and if you open a bottle of the local vino, adding a log fire for the cooler evenings, you'll understand why it's called The Nest! There's a dining table just for two, strategically placed close to the kitchen, which is a good size and equipped with all you'll need. As you can see, the bedroom's charming and the door directly out to the grassy terrace gives the room a happy indoors-outdoors feeling. The bathroom (with a shower) is right next door. The main highway and a railway pass within a mile of Borgano, so you may hear some traffic noise if you are out on the terrace, depending on the wind direction. If you are allergic to traffic noise, this isn't the place for you. It's a matter of knowing yourself and choosing what suits you best. Being close to the motorway brings advantages - you are perfectly placed for sightseeing trips!

The grounds at Borgano are beautifully kept, with sweeps of holm oaks and pines, banks of hypericum and oleander bushes. The nearest supermarket is barely 5 minutes walk away and Fabro Scalo, a bustling small town is only a 5 minute drive away. Fabro Scalo is great if you want to park and grab a cappuccino at the station bar before letting the train take the strain of getting you to your next sightseeing destination - say a day trip to fabulous Florence? And the village also offers a very amenable butcher, a baker and a greengrocer too. If you prefer to concentrate on local spots, then we'd recommend the charm of ancient Fabro on the opposite side of the valley, the local pottery for sale at nearby Ficulle, the food at San Quirico d'Orcia, the picturesque waters at Bagno Vignoni, the cheese and wrought iron at Pienza and the costume jewellery at Todi (not to mention the breathtaking views). The ancient city of Orvieto is barely 30 minutes drive away - and it's got to be up there at the top of your must-visit list with its sparkling medieval cathedral, its fascinating Etruscan museum and its excellent wine shop (where you can taste your way around the beautiful local countryside).

If you are looking for a comfortable, well placed apartment for two, with swift access to the Autostrada del Sole making it easy to explore both Tuscany and Umbria and where it's easy to hop on a train into the centres of both Rome and Florence to see the city sights, then "Il Nido" will fit the bill!