Enchanting Italian village with direct train connections

About this assignment

This housesit is only suited to a couple as Ciro can not be left alone for any time. We prefer to host long-term travellers or people working remotely. In the past, our house sitters have been remote workers as we have a fully equipped office and this suits Ciro's routine.

We are looking for responsible, communicative and relaxed people who would like to experience life in a beautiful Italian village. Ciro is a very affectionate dog so he'll be your best friend as long as you love animals!

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Ciro is a very affectionate and smart, medium-sized dog. As a hound-mix, he is happy to just chill out with people nearby but also loves getting out and about. He needs a long walk of about an hour every day and loves to get out into the countryside for a stroll. He is also happy to accompany you on your day while you explore Umbria and is very well-behaved in public. He gets fed twice a day and is very food motivated.

He is a rescue dog who has separation anxiety so can't be left alone at all but we have two local dog sitters that we can arrange to come to the apartment if you would like to leave him for a few hours (at our cost, of course). He can't be let off the lead outside of the apartment as he can't be trusted to come when called and he does not get along with cats. He gets along well with adults, children and other dogs unless they are particularly large (he barks at a Saint Bernard that lives in town).

We also have some plants inside and in the garden that need regular watering.

What are the good features of the property and location

Spello is an enchanting, ancient walled village in central Umbria. Our two bedroom, one bathroom apartment is ideally located on a beautiful laneway only 20 metres away from the main street of the historic centre. The apartment is quiet and sunny, with views over the characteristic Umbrian hills. We also have a garden that is private and perfect for relaxing. It is rare to find such a light and open apartment in an Italian historic centre. Our home has high-speed fiber internet, central heating and modern appliances. There is a main bedroom, smaller second bedroom and a separate home office. We both work from home so there are adequate facilities (desks, offices chairs, printer etc) for two people to work remotely. There is a washing machine in the kitchen and ample space to dry clothes in the garden.

Our dog Ciro is a very loved member of our family and we hope to find someone to look after him while we visit other countries. We have previously travelled via work exchanges and love meeting and hosting new people in this incredible part of the world. Come stay in our apartment, experience la vita italiana and enjoy the company of a 100% Italian dog!

We have recently purchased our home, and there is a second connecting apartment that we are currently living in while also doing some DYI projects. You will be living in our guest apartment which has a separate entrance and is fully renovated. As a historical building , there are some aspects of our apartments that are a a little quirky but it is a delightful and comfortable place to live.

Please note that we live on the second floor without an elevator so you need to be fit enough to climb the stairs.

We prefer to host a couple or two friends as Ciro can not be left alone for any amount of time.

Spello has many lovely restaurants, bars, clothing boutiques and tourist attractions. There is a train station which is 15 minutes by foot from the apartment that has direct connections to Rome and Florence multiple times at day. It isn't necessary to have a car if you are looking to visit Umbria and other parts of central Italy while staying in our home but there is plenty of free parking available if you do.

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

We like to have a video call with sitters before we confirm an application. We will also have one night of overlap at the beginning and the end of the sit to ensure a proper handover. The guest apartment is separate so you will have your own space for the two nights we are here.

For this sit, we will be in Australia so the time zone differences mean that communications might be delayed. For this reason, we are looking for house sitters who are able to be slightly autonomous if anything goes wrong while we are asleep.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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