Things to do
Walking, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, golf
The countryside around Martinozza di Sopra is incredibly unspoilt. You are more likely to come across wildlife than people. The woods are home to deer, wild boar, porcupines, hares, toads, owls.... A guide to local walks is provided at the house. More serious hikers/ mountain bikers could try the Lake Trasimeno trails.
Sightseeing, culture and history
The house is a perfect base for sightseeing in Umbria and Tuscany. Cortona - about 40 minutes away - is a must. It is lovely with plenty of art, history, cafes, restaurants, pretty views, antique shops etc. Perugia, Arezzo, Siena, Assisi, Chuisi, Gubbio, Sansepolcro are all within a hour's drive. All beautiful. Florence is about 1.5 hours away.
The world-reknowned Umbria Jazz Festival takes place every year in July (8th to 17th July 2011). And the Perugia Chocolate Festival takes place annually in October (14th to 23rd October 2011).
Martinozza sits above Pian di Marte (the Plain of Mars, named after the Roman God of War). Apparently this valley, and Lake Trasimeno in the next, were key locations in 217 BC, when Hannibal and his elephants took on the Romans. Various other local placenames are testament to the carnage (Ossaia - the place of bones and Sanguineto - the place of blood, for instance).
Shopping
Although this is most definitely rural Italy and not Roma or Milano, there are some real shopping gems. Umbertide - a very pleasant little town about half an hour from the house, for example, is home to Anelli and Pagelli which are (not cheap) but rather fantastic shoe and clothes shops, respectively. They are both just off the main square in Umbertide. And if you like your labels, various outlet shops - including Prada, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana - are about an hour's drive towards Florence. Once a month there is an extensive antiques market in the old streets of Arezzo.
Sailing, boating, other watersports
Lake Trasimeno is the largest inland lake on the peninsula of Italy and, although it never gets very deep, it provides the opportunity for watersports of all kinds. If you don't want to get wet, you can take a ferry to Isola Maggiore from Passignano. Why not go for lunch? Several of the restaurants cook excellent freshwater fish during the Summer months. (In the Winter, you'd do better to take a picnic)
Eating and drinking See Food and drink
Prefer to just relax? See Gardens and pool, House, Food and drink......Some visitors never leave the house and grounds!