By and By

By and By: Tuscany

Ideal for a group of friends or perhaps a multi-generational break, this farmhouse is said to be the oldest building in the village and, although it's been smartly modernised, it's still beautifully traditional. Just as it would have been when it was built, the main house is divided into separate apartments – one upstairs and one on the ground floor. With two small kitchens, two bedrooms and two bathrooms each, it's perfect if you'd like to all mingle in the outdoor space but retreat to some privacy at night. And with an additional one-bedroom guest house too, it becomes even more flexible.

Deep in the Cortona countryside, it's a great base for exploring Tuscany, with Arezzo, Montepulciano, Siena and Assisi all within easy reach for a day trip by car. Get out and about on walking or cycling routes and even visit the coast if you feel like it. While you're out, don't forget to pick up some delicious local food and drink – perhaps stopping to sample the offerings at the nearby wineries. And serve dinner out on the terrace before moving inside to your characterful, comfortable quarters for the night.

Home truths:
*This traditional farmhouse has a main building with a two-bedroom apartment on the ground floor and another on the first floor, as well as a one-bed guest house
*While you'll find it in the other sections of the home, there's no air conditioning in the ground-floor apartment
* An extra sofa bed can be requested in the lounge downstairs and another in the kitchen upstairs
*A cot and high chair are available for little ones
*Each section of the home has a private entrance
*A car is essential and there's plenty of private parking on the drive