Overall impression: ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FOR US
Highlights: THE DISCOVERY OF ORVIETO AND THIS PART OF THE UMBRIA BUT ALSO THE SHEER PLEASURE OF THE (BIG) GROUNDS, THE PATIOS AND POOL AT IL LECCIO. PLUS ROBERTO'S RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT IN ORVIETO (IL ORSO) WHERE WE HAD ONE OF THE BEST GOURMET MEALS OF OUR LIVES. A LOVELY THEATRE IN ORVIETO WHERE MY ARGENTINIAN WIFE WAS ENRAPTURED BY A TOTALLY UNEXPECTED CONCERT OF CLASSICAL TANGO MUSIC
Unpleasant surprises: HERTZ CAR HIRE SERVICE IN ORVIETO WAS POOR. WELL MEANT, FRIENDLY ENOUGH BUT INEFFICIENT. THE THOUGHT OF HAVING TO DEAL WITH THEM AGAIN WILL BE THE ONLY SLIGHTLY DAUNTING PART OF OUR RETURN TO ORVIETO. WE WILL TRY HIRING IN ANOTHER TOWN WITH ANOTHER COMPANY.

We go twice a year to Rome/Italy, for up to a month each time, and already look back fondly on Il Leccio as our best choice ever for a Tuscan/Umbrian villa. This is due in major part to the warmth and helpfulness of the Tosatti family who really could not do enough for us. I can mention welcoming food (lots of garden grown walnuts and hazelnuts included!) and drink, many books (and guide books to the region), regular visits to make sure all went well and generally very helpful tips on an area which they obviously love themselves.
Roberto's family actually move into the house during the off-season, from their own lovely tower property close by, and this means a huge difference, makes it a real home and not a sparsely furnished rental property. We were so impressed with the villa, the location, so close to Orvieto, and our host's sincere and efficient helpfulness, that it has become the first Italian property we have ever wanted to return to. That will be as soon as possible and almost certainly next year when we will base ourselves in Umbria for longer and use the villa for visiting Rome rather than staying in expensive, and miserably miniaturised, apartments in the city.
We heartily recommend Il Leccio, without any reservation, to anyone considering renting a property of this size. There was a previous comment about the dirt road which we couldn't agree with, but we live in Africa where real dirt roads can be real challenges. The recommended access road was not bad at all requiring only a tiny bit of care on one hill but could prove more of a risk for very low clearance cars. The alternative shortcut from Orvieto, through Il Lapone, with much more dirt road, was the route we actually preferred.
Frank (Malawi)