Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom: Marche

Back in the 19th century, you would have caught farm animals seeking shelter in this stone building in rural Marche. Today, however, you're more likely to spot holiday-makers with some of the biggest grins you've ever seen.

Why the happiness? Well, it's very easy to fall in love with this home. The recent restoration work has managed to both retain characterful period features – such as the fireplaces and wooden ceiling beams – while adding a contemporary sheen that wouldn't be out of place in Italy's biggest cities. The layout is quite unique too, with the home now composed of two independent apartments, each with a wealth of living space and kitchens – ideal for two families travelling together.

Whenever you want to gather everybody together, there's ample space in the beautiful grounds filled with fragrant plants and trees. On warm afternoons, the natural-style swimming pool is sure to be popular, as will the leafy pergola ready and waiting for indulgent alfresco banquets.

If you're in the mood for sightseeing, the historic centre of Urbino – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, no less – is a good place to start and is only 23km away by car. The beaches of Fano are only half an hour's drive, too.

Home truths:
*One of the apartments has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, while the other has three bedrooms and a sofa bed in the loft, plus another pair of bathrooms.
*Neither of the apartments has bedrooms on the ground floor and the home isn't wheelchair accessible.
*There's air conditioning in the bedrooms.
*There's space to park on the premises – the final 500 metres of road before the home are unpaved but in good condition.
*The pool is available from the last Saturday in April until the first Saturday in October.
*Your host can provide a cot and high chair for free upon request.