The finest sandwich you've ever had might be merely a £40 flight away. An unassuming hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop in a modest town roughly 65 miles south of Florence serves up what one connoisseur claims are "the best sandwiches in Italy".

Il Pizzicagnolo di Bartoccioni is the somewhat impressive title for a compact sandwich outlet tucked behind a church in the little Umbrian hillside town of Città della Pieve. Run by Luca Bartoccioni, the establishment specialises in sandwiches piled high with regional produce.

Food critic Russell Higham writes in the Sunday Telegraph: "A rustic kitchen with outside seating serves what are, I'm reasonably certain, the best sandwiches in Italy."

• Ryanair passengers told to take cardboard boxes on flights


• Man buys pint in 'UK's worst seaside town' and is stunned when bill arrives

Il Pizzicagnolo di Bartoccioni bears no resemblance to a bustling high street Pret churning out mass-produced butties for time-pressed workers. "When you order, we bake the focaccia fresh for you right there and then," Luca explains.

"Our sausages and red onion are from right here, and the cheese is from Todi, another hilltop town nearby."

He revealed there's "something else" that elevates his €9 (approximately £7.80) creation: "That's 'truth', and it's a word we use a lot in Città. It means you have to give people what you promise. And when you do that, life becomes simple. It means you can believe what people say here."

It's not merely the superior quality of ingredients that make Luca's sandwiches a must-try when visiting Umbria. It's an intangible ethos that permeates Città della Pieve, instilling a sense of calm, focus and dedication in its inhabitants.

"Life is simple here," shares Luca's assistant, Andrea Ciculi. "Quiet - most of the time - and relaxed. The town is beautiful, so life is beautiful too. It's as simple as that."

For much of the year, you can savour your sandwich in peaceful reflection, but come August, the town bursts into life with a vibrant festival honouring Città's rich history. A regular highlight, an archery contest between the town's Borgo dentro, Casalino" and "Castello districts, featuring three archers from each team aiming at a rotating target, unfolds right outside Luca's sandwich shop.

Luca's sandwich bar, open daily from 10am to 2:30pm, has consistently earned rave reviews on TripAdvisor. Despite being essentially a small takeaway with a lean team, Il Pizzicagnolo di Bartoccioni manages to cater to even sizeable groups with ease.

One thrilled customer penned: "There were 10 of us and we were all served at the same time. That might seem obvious except that the place is run by a single person who takes orders, takes payment and prepares everything.

"What's more, every sandwich is cooked and prepared on the spot. Excellent raw materials, as well as craft beers. If you pass through Città della Pieve, eating here is a must!".

If Luca's sandwich descriptions have tantalised your taste buds, Ryanair offers flights from London Stansted to Perugia, the closest airport to Città, for a return fare of £40. British Airways provides a service from Heathrow to Perugia starting at around £90, reaching just over £110 in August, coinciding with Città's Palio dei terzieri festival.