La Limonaia di Casagrande

The setting and interior decor were lovely, and we enjoyed the owner’s complimentary breakfast. We were also grateful to the staff member who came by on Sunday morning with a spare set of keys after we made a mistake. But the apartment was in awful sanitary condition. We expected a few spiders in the mountains, but this level of upkeep was hard to believe. Dust was everywhere, with cobwebs and spiders around the house. The floor was dirty, with dead insects as well, and there was hair and fur on the sheets and pillowcases. Even the stovetop was unclean. The heating struggled to warm the house, so it was very cold. We sent customer service photos and asked for a refund, but the owner refused. We won’t post the photos out of respect for the property and its owners. It’s a shame, because with much better upkeep this could have been an excellent place to stay in Barga.

We stayed in this small apartment for one night, February 7-8. Its peaceful setting and the view are lovely, and Barbara greeted us warmly. The rustic annex has potential, but it needs maintenance. The fireplace worked perfectly and warmed the room. Outside there’s a green garden and a little gazebo with iron tables and chairs, though the weather kept us from using it. We hope the gazebo will be tidied up before spring. Inside, there were several issues. Mold marks showed on a number of walls. The windows are old and drafty enough that the curtains and lemon leaves in pots in front of them moved. The bathroom is separated from the rest of the apartment by a curtain, and the toilet is in a tiny, unlit cubicle where the door can’t be closed. The sink faucet is missing, with two red handles sticking out of the wall like garden gates, and no water came out. The breakfast left for us was a few croissants that didn’t seem fresh and toasted bread that was neither crumbly nor fresh. Dishes, pans, and cutlery sat on a shelf above the bed, which wasn’t convenient. It would make more sense to replace the kitchen unit, with its microwave and electric stove, with a small cupboard for the dishes. Giancarla and Agostino.

The bathroom was the least comfortable part. A thick curtain separated it from the main room, and the toilet had its own tiny cubicle, under 2 square meters. We couldn’t fill the standard bathtub because its drain seemed to leak. The place felt damp, and a storm left it practically flooded for two days. I think better weather would have made the stay more comfortable. The annex had large windows and several ways to warm up: a fireplace, split system, heating panels, and thick blankets. The small kitchenette was efficient and had what we needed for breakfast.

The owner wouldn’t offer a solution when I called about the condition of the property. He denied the problems and left, telling me I could go home. I had booked online, and asked for a refund for the amount already paid, but the owners refused. There were large damp stains above the bed and in the bathroom, with a strong, intolerable smell. Dust covered the bed’s headboard and practically every surface. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling beams, and there was a fairly large spider in a corner. I’ve traveled around Italy and abroad for years, both privately and for work as a tourism professional, and I’ve never encountered anything like this. I was very disappointed to leave and lose the only two days of rest I’d set aside after a long stretch of work. It was impossible to sleep in such a dirty place.