Monterchi and Sansepolcro are located in the upper Tiber Valley on the border of Tuscany and Umbria. This is an area of great tranquillity, set within acres of sunflower fields and olive and chestnut groves.

Florence, Siena, Assisi, Perugia, Citta di Castello, Cortona and Gubbio are world famous and have interesting museums specialising in Etruscan and Roman finds. Bologna and Rome are less than a 2 hour train trip from Arezzo and for the adventurous can be comfortably visited in a day.

Closeby are the ancient hill top towns of Anghiari, Citerna, Monte Santa Tiberina, Lipiano, Caprese Michelangelo (birthplace of Michelangelo) and Montone, which are all worth exploring. The Medieval center of Sansepolcro is steeped in history and offers museums and upmarket shops and restaurants.

Major attractions include the Piero della Francesca Trail - The Madonna del Parto in Monterchi, the Risen Christ in Sansepolcro and the Fresco Cycle in Arezzo – and the historical sites associated with St Francis of Assisi.

For those who wish to walk or mountain bike there are numerous forest trails around the hills above Sansepolcro. There are Golf and tennis facilities locally.

On a hot summers day it is refreshing to walk along the banks of the Tiber or the shores of Lake Montedoglio. Lake Trasimeno makes a pleasant days outing with a boat ride to lunch on one of its two Islands. For those who are more adventurous flights can be arranged over the Tiber Valley.

All of the local villages have a variety of festivals and outdoor events. There is an outdoor cinema in Sansepolcro and Monterchi. There is weekly (free) concert in the gardens of Monterchi and other musical events in Sanspolcro and Anghiari.

There are a many annual historical pageants. An archery competition in Sansepolcro, a Palio (race) in Gubbio and Anghiari and a horse racing Palio in Siena. There is a flower and music festival in Spelleto and a celebration of Jazz in Perugia. The well established Preggio music festival is also worth a visit.

The harvesting of mushrooms, truffles, chestnuts and olives provide an excuse for celebration. Numerous food festivals are held in village squares. Restaurants range from Michelin Star to local Trattoria. All take great pride in serving local produce, freshly picked. Wines are almost infinite in their variety.

Local markets take place in Sansepolcro, Anghiari, Arezzo and Cotta di Castello. You can purchase anything from garden and kitchen utensils to tomatoes! There are upmarket shops in Anghiari and Sansepolcro specialising in local produced textiles and food.

The area is still rich in wildlife with Wildboar, owls , porcupine, deer, buzzards, woodpeckers, hoopoes, badgers and foxes.