The Story Behind Antonio Umbria Villa Services
Antonio Umbria Villa Services has been providing trusted property management in Umbria for overseas homeowners for more than twenty years. We’re Andrea and Tony Camerota, and this is the story of how a young family from Coventry built a new life, a successful family business and a future in the heart of Italy.
From Coventry to the Heart of Umbria
Our story began in Coventry, where we met through a mutual friend. We married in 1997 and, a few years later, welcomed our twin daughters.
Although Tony grew up in Coventry, Italian was his first language. It was spoken at home with his parents, while English was learned naturally through school, friends and everyday life. Today, that unique background allows him to communicate effortlessly with overseas homeowners while working confidently alongside local Italian contractors, suppliers and service providers throughout Umbria.
More than twenty years ago, we made the life-changing decision to leave Coventry and begin a new chapter in Umbria with our twin daughters, who were just two and a half years old. It was a leap of faith that would shape not only our family life but also the business we would eventually build together.
Like many families, we were searching for something different. We wanted a slower pace of life, a stronger sense of community, and the opportunity to raise our children surrounded by beautiful countryside, historic towns and traditional Italian values. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions we ever made.
Family Is at the Heart of Everything We Do
Moving to Umbria gave our family a wonderful new life. Seeing both of our daughters graduate in Psychology from university in Rome was one of our proudest moments, and we hope to build a business that becomes a lasting family legacy.
BUILDING A BUSINESS – TOGETHER
From the very beginning, we worked as a team.
While Tony worked hard to establish himself in Umbria, Andrea focused on raising our daughters and creating a happy family home. Living in Italy also meant ensuring they grew up with the very best of both cultures.
Helping our daughters become truly bilingual was never left to chance. We wanted them to feel equally at home in both England and Italy, so English became a natural part of everyday family life. Today, they speak both English and Italian naturally and confidently, without either language feeling like a second language, something we are incredibly proud of.
As the business has grown, Today, Andrea oversees the administration, client communication, accounts, marketing, website and digital presence of the business, working alongside Tony to ensure every client receives the high level of service we’re known for.
One of the things we’re most proud of is that we built a business around our family, rather than building a family around our business. Sharing breakfast, lunch and dinner together most days wasn’t something we took for granted—it became one of the greatest rewards of the life we chose.
TONY’S JOURNEY
Tony’s first work in Umbria came through a local estate agent, carrying out painting, gardening, property clearances and general maintenance. His reliability and strong work ethic quickly earned him an excellent reputation.
That reputation led to an opportunity to work alongside one of the area’s respected local builders, where he learnt traditional Italian building techniques, including plastering, mixing cement, site preparation and building dry stone walls. Those early years gave him an invaluable understanding of how Umbrian properties are built and maintained.
He later worked alongside an experienced British landscape gardener, further developing his knowledge of estate maintenance, gardens and outdoor spaces. He also received professional training from a local swimming pool company, learning the correct methods for pool maintenance, water testing and seasonal care.
When the Italian building industry slowed during the traditional August holiday period, Tony began taking on small gardening and property maintenance jobs independently to support our young family. By September, recommendations had grown to the point where Tony had enough work to continue building his own business full-time.
What began with a handful of local clients gradually grew through word of mouth into the trusted property care business we proudly run today.
About Our Property Management Company
Tony officially established the business on 20 February 2007 and continued trading under his own name for many years. In 2026, the business became Antonio Umbria Villa Services, bringing together Tony’s long-standing experience in property care and maintenance under a dedicated business name.
Tony’s years of practical, hands-on experience mean he sees things many people simply wouldn’t notice.
He understands how Italian homes are built.
He knows what to look for during every inspection.
He recognises when something doesn’t look quite right.
Most importantly, he understands that the smallest issues, if left unnoticed, often become the most expensive repairs.
Today, rather than carrying out every physical task himself, Tony focuses on regular property inspections, identifying potential problems early and coordinating trusted local contractors to ensure every property receives the attention it deserves.
That practical knowledge allows us to provide a level of oversight that simply can’t be learnt from behind a desk.
PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY CARE FOR OVERSEAS HOMEOWNERS
As overseas property owners ourselves, we understand the challenges of looking after a home from another country.
Whether you’re in the UK, the USA or elsewhere, owning a property in Italy shouldn’t mean worrying about unexpected maintenance issues, organising local contractors or trying to overcome language barriers.
That’s why we created Antonio Umbria Villa Services.
Today, we specialise in caring for privately owned villas, country homes and second homes throughout Northern Umbria and the neighbouring Tuscany border.
Many of our clients visit only a few times each year. They don’t simply need someone to hold a set of keys – they want a trusted local professional who regularly inspects their property, keeps an eye on things while they’re away and communicates clearly in English.
Owning a home in Italy doesn’t mean you need to speak Italian.
We deal directly with local contractors, suppliers and service providers, so you don’t have to.
Through years of living and working in the region, we’ve built trusted relationships with reliable plumbers, electricians, gardeners, pool specialists, cleaners and other local professionals who share our high standards.
Our role is to become your trusted local representative…
We act as your trusted local representative, ensuring your property receives the care, attention and oversight it deserves while you’re away.
Not just when something goes wrong—but by helping prevent problems before they happen.
OUR VALUES
Everything we do today is built on the same values that guided us when we first arrived in Umbria more than twenty years ago:
- Integrity and honesty.
- Clear communication.
- Attention to detail.
- Preventative property care.
- Long-term relationships built on trust.
- Treating every home with the same care and respect we would expect for our own.
Looking back, we didn’t simply build a business, we built a life in Umbria. Today, Antonio Umbria Villa Services reflects everything we’ve worked hard to achieve: trust, professionalism, local knowledge and lasting relationships.
Learn more about our core Management services