BB Elda Country House

We had such a good week at Elda's country home and would gladly come back. The stay felt like a real taste of Italy, from the affection we were shown to the breakfasts Elda made each morning. There was a large family table with rolls, eggs, cold cuts, yogurt, homemade croissants, garden fruit jam, and a different cake every day. A real treat. Alessandro speaks excellent English and can share fun details about the area and the history of nearby places if that's of interest. The house has a small ground floor apartment for four, two double rooms upstairs, and an attic apartment with three bedrooms for up to eight. Each attic bedroom has air conditioning. There isn't any downstairs, though the house is insulated well enough that it wasn't needed. There are plenty of shaded spots to sit outside, and the pool was beautifully cared for, with fresh, lovely water and comfortable loungers in sun or shade. The service was great, too. When we found two wasps inside, Alessandro arranged a replacement window screen and had everything sealed again that same day. If you like sports, ask about the nearby sports center for soccer, beach volleyball, and paddle tennis. There's a family connection there 😉, and the pizzas are delicious. We also loved visiting Cortona and Anghiari.

The place feels a bit dated, but Elda is a real highlight. She's wonderful, and it's well worth sitting down for a chat with her. Breakfast was good too.

The apartments are really lovely, and Mrs. Elda welcomed us with such kindness and a constant smile. Her cakes are delicious. Thanks for having us.

This B&B took me back to visiting my grandparents in the mountains or countryside as a child. It's a big house with several rooms, bathrooms outside the bedrooms, plus a kitchen and living room where everyone can eat around a large table. The quiet green setting brings cool mornings even in August, along with the rooster crowing. The owner does a bit of everything with real dedication: washing and ironing linens, tending the garden, cleaning rooms, making lovely breakfast desserts, and giving great advice on places to visit. The location is handy for Arezzo, Cortona, the Casentino Forests, La Verna, and more. Two drawbacks for me: the Wi-Fi in the room was too weak for watching videos, and the pool is reserved for the family rather than guests. That's a shame, since it would have been perfect.