La Cicala

CHICKENS TO PLUCK Reluctantly, I have to say this was the worst “agriturismo” I’ve ever stayed at. We paid 135 euros for one night in a very small quadruple room with no air conditioning. The bathroom mosquito net was broken. For our family of four, the food bill was 86 euros: four slices of salami, four slices of prosciutto, two sesame rolls, hard focaccia that wasn’t fresh and we left uneaten, three portions of spaghetti with tomato sauce and one tagliatelle with mushrooms. In my opinion, the pasta was industrial, not homemade. We also had half a liter of wine, which I doubt was homemade, a bottle of water, an amaro, a portion of Viennetta and one peach. We didn’t have meat or fish apart from those eight slices of cured meat. That seems excessive to me, especially compared with other places that charge less for a full fixed menu. I found it unfair. When I asked, I was told, “Well, I charge 20 euros per person.” But the kids only ate one plate of pasta each. Twenty euros? I absolutely don’t recommend it. We were just passing through and felt they wanted to rip us off. I can’t understand the positive reviews, unless the negative ones were deleted. The only homemade item was the berry tart. That was good at breakfast, but everything else was disappointing. ANSWER ANSWER ANSWER Perfect mosquito nets? Take a closer look at the one in the bathroom. Are we cheapskates? If you think 86 euros is fair for eight slices of cured meat and four first courses, three of them spaghetti with tomato sauce, then let’s talk about it! I’ve stayed at other agriturismos that cost more, but at least I got everything from appetizers through dessert. We were welcomed with open arms, but paying 135 euros just to sleep is, of course, something else. I truly wish you good luck too.