La Maestade

The garden and pool are a real treat, with a hammock, fruit trees, a private BBQ spot, and a short walk to the pool and its breathtaking view. Inside, the villa has everything you need and then some. We booked X Villa Cinciallegra through Booking, managed by belvilla OYO, and found the group serious and well organized. I made the reservation in chat and got a discount that felt like it came from heaven, even though I wasn’t a member, registered, or a past customer. The final price was very competitive. The owners are kind, cultured, and endlessly helpful, from local tips to lending you a head of garlic if you’ve run out. The area is enchanting, and Raphael was born here for good reason. Everything is as pictured. Gubbio, Urbino, the sea, the Frasassi Caves, and more are all an easy 30-40 minute drive away. The only downside is that eventually you have to go home.

The view from the estate takes in a full 360 degrees, with Mounts Catria and Nerone in sight. The final stretch of road is unpaved, but it’s well maintained and easy to drive. Cagli and Cantiano are only a few kilometers away, while Gubbio and Urbino take about 30-40 minutes by car. We stayed in the Cinciallegra apartment, a tiny one-room cottage with a bathroom, fireplace, and outdoor veranda. The estate and apartment are beautifully cared for, and the apartment was spotlessly clean and had everything, even protected iodized salt that keeps its iodine while cooking. There was also a barbecue and wood for guests, and the fireplace warmed the whole place nicely. Pio and Lilli are so friendly and helpful, always ready with directions to nearby places and restaurants. There are plenty of guidebooks in the apartment too. We were lucky enough to see snow a couple of times during our week, which was lovely for us and our two dogs. It was a beautiful week, and we’ve already booked to come back in spring.

Pio was always around to answer questions and offer ideas for exploring the area, and we felt very welcome. The apartment suited the two of us perfectly and had everything we needed, including breakfast treats and orange juice waiting in the fridge. La Maestade sits in the mountains of the nature park, with sweeping views over the countryside. The apartment is in a beautiful old house with exposed beams, wooden door frames, and thick stone walls that keep it cool in summer. Both the apartment and the grounds, including the large garden and pool, were carefully maintained and beautifully decorated, and we made good use of them. We had a wonderful time in the Marche region and would happily return.

The owners were really friendly and gave us lots of information about things to do in the region. We had a lovely time in a cute cottage with all the amenities we needed.