The house where our guests stay has a wonderful view over the Arno valley. Outside it has the typical characteristics of a seventeenth century farmhouse (actually parts of it may be older), with its small tower, arches, outside staircase and a balcony adorned with geraniums; while inside the floors are of terracotta and the ceilings have oak or chestnut beams.

Rendola Riding has six bedrooms for guests, each with its own bathroom. They are mostly on the small side, but the curtains and bedspreads are brightly coloured (why are they a dismal brown in so many hotels?), there are pictures on the walls and shelves full of books, mostly in English. In each bedroom there is information about local places of interest.

In the evening guests can gather in the comfortable sitting-room to read, chat and, when the weather is cool, enjoy the log fire.

If you wake up early in the morning and look out of the window, you will see horses grazing peacefully among the olives in front of the house.

You will hear birdsong (in Spring nightingales sing night and day), you will smell the delicate perfume of wisteria and jasmine and possibly a whiff of manure as well.