Il Giardino Degli Elfi

The farm is centrally set for many Umbrian towns such as Spello (20 minutes' drive), Assisi and Trevi (each 30 minutes) and Perugia within 40. If you only have time for one, make it Perugia, the spectacular province capital and university city that dates back to Etruscan times. You'll need at least a couple of days if you can swing it: around the city's ancient buildings for Italian sightseeing but also to take in a few of Perugia's many events and festivals like the Umbria Jazz Festival and Music Fest. Umbria's national gallery is also here, and the fine arts gallery with its huge fresco by Perugino. Another day trip well worth the (hour and five minutes') drive is to Lake Trasimeno, famed in these parts for centuries. Italy's fourth biggest lake is a top spot for swimming, sailing, windsurfing and fishing, and for walking and cycling on its shoreside paths. The Trasimeno Wave Park (Umbria's biggest waterpark) is at the lake too, for active hours on and around the water.