Special Places to Stay - More than a bed for the night

The pretty twin bedroom once housed the wood oven. La Casetta dates back to the 1700s and has been seamlessly extended by Peter and Richard – it is simple, unpretentious, charming. Separate from the main house, it faces the opposite way, with wonderful rolling views across farmland and to mountains. Bliss it is to spill into your own private garden with a pergola covered in roses and a fig tree to plunder; all this yours, and – beyond a leafy arch – box hedges guarding herbs and lavender. Back inside are peachy curtains and two checked sofas, an open fireplace and lovely low beams: a warm and inviting place to hole up in in winter. The kitchen is proper country-style, a delight to work in, but if you wish to shed your chef's apron there are restaurants in Frontone – and medieval Cagli, three miles away. Urbino and Gubbio, sensational 'città d'arte', are a half-hour drive, and beaches not much further. Peter and Richard, who have written guides about Italy, have a big library of books for guests to borrow. Hard to imagine more generous – or good-humoured – hosts.