Recommended places of interest: Rome and Florence (by train), Sienna, Pisa, Bologna, San Gimignano, Lucca, Modena and Orvieto.

Rimini is on the East Coast, we loved it. The beach and sea were both fantastic. However, our housekeeper disagrees, she says the West is more beautiful.

Closer to home: Perugis is a beautiful historic city. Gubbio is also a beautiful city. In Cortona there are more Brits and Americans than you can shake a stick at. It's quite touristy but very pretty with lots of bars and restaurants. Be sure to venture off the beaten track.

Tuoro has a fantastic beach with sun beds and parasols. The lake is clean and good for swimming, and there are showers and toilets and a snack bar and restaurant.

At Lago Trasemeno there are islands within the lake. You can take a ferry from Passignano and go on a circular tour or you can disembark and stay for the day on one of the islands with a picnic. It is much cheaper to take the ferry from S.Feliciano. We spent the day on Polvese picknicking and swimming in the lake, we had the island to ourselves!

Gelato (ice cream) is available in every conceivable flavour possible, be sure to try them all!

Many local restaurants are run by local families. If you are going out in the evening, be sure to visit the restaurant during the day to reserve a table. They get busy in the summer months. Children are welcome in all the restaurants and bars. There are some fantastic fish restaurants at Tuoro and Passignano.

Italy closes for a siesta in but the cities, so if you've got shopping on the mind, go before 1pm or after 4pm. Restaurants and bars stay open all day. There is a market in Umbertide on Wednesday morning, Citta di Costello on Thursday morning, Tuoro on Friday morning and Florence every day except Sunday.

There are several supermarkets and delis in Lisciano Niccone and Mercatale. There is also a butcher, bread shop, bank and post office in Mercatale. There is a chemist in Lisciano and Mercatale (the staff speak English.)

If you feel the need for a huge supermarket, there is one in Umbertide 15 minutes away and well worth the visit. Grab a slice of pizza from the pizzeria on the way back to your car.

The supermarkets are closed on sundays but you can buy essentials from the bars.

There is a new state of the art swimming pool and leisure complex across the road from the supermarket in Umbertide. Take a picnic and stay all day! Alternatively, as I already mentioned, get sun beds down at the lake, remember your sun lotion!