charming, traditional villa with annexe in the countryside

Villa del Piero is set in the Le Marche region of eastern Italy, known for its rolling countryside and historic hilltop settlements. It's located just on the edge of a small village with a handful of useful amenities such as a bakery, restaurant and post office. A 5-minute drive (3km) will lead you to up the hill to the local village of Mondavio, where you’ll find a selection of restaurants, bars and small shops. Picturesque and steeped in history, Mondavio’s fortified walls date back to the 15th century. There is also a well-preserved castle and bell tower. Do not miss the Renaissance-style banquet held every August or the celebration of the grape harvest in November if visiting during these months. Corinaldo (8km) is another village on Villa del Piero’s doorstep. Check out the piaggia – a stairway through the ancient centre of the village, claimed to be one of the most beautiful of its kind in Italy. The nearest beach is in Marotta (18km), around a 20-minute drive by car. Rent a sun lounger and parasol from one of the many beachside lidos – perfect for relaxing whilst the kids create their own fun. And when everyone starts to feel peckish, the town of Marotta has plenty of restaurants to sample the local cuisine (followed by some gelato of course!) Alternatively, head to Senagallia’s spiaggia di velluto (velvet beach) in just under half an hour’s drive (25km), which boasts 13km of fine golden sand. A day trip to the city of Urbino (43km) is also highly recommended for its mix of history and art. An example of this is the National Gallery, held inside the ancient Palazzo Ducale. Here, you can see works by the likes of Urbino-born Raphael and Titian.