Agriturismo Lanterna Rossa

Everything was five stars for us. The rooms and the rest of the place were clean, and the path to the pool was well cared for. Raffaele, the owner, was lovely, friendly and ready to help. I’m vegan, and although it’s also a pig farm, they made food for me. We had a smart box and were able to add another night on the same package. Dinner and breakfast were generous portions. I’d recommend it even for families with little kids. My four-year-old and I had a wonderful stay.

I stayed here last year with my family and some friends, and we got excellent service from the moment we arrived. The rooms were spacious, nicely furnished and had everything for a comfortable stay, including a kitchenette and air conditioning. The pool was lovely, and the quiet, green setting is close to Lake Trasimeno and plenty of towns worth exploring. They’ve since opened their own restaurant, so they can now offer hotel-like services at a much lower price. I’m definitely coming back this year.

I came with a smart box and left very disappointed. The cleanliness was only adequate, and the tiny room had no air conditioning. Dinner was part of the package, but the choices were very limited: it had to be a first and second course, with no option to swap the second course for a main and side dish. The food was just about adequate. Breakfast was packaged croissants. At an agriturismo, I’d expected at least a homemade tart. Other guests were also staying with packages, which makes it seem like that’s the main reason people come here. A little more effort from the owners could make guests want to return.

The breakfast cappuccino, made by the owner, was a real highlight. The foam was so thick, better than what I’ve had in even the best cafés. There were cookies, doughnuts or fruit too. If you’re only booking a room, breakfast is €3 per person. I’d have loved to see the place in sunshine and enjoy all its colors, maybe next time. This farmhouse is in Bologni, a few kilometers from Lake Trasimeno and Castiglione del Lago. It’s a good base for Assisi, Perugia, Spello and the many nearby villages. On one side there’s peaceful countryside, while a dense forest surrounds a small lake next to the property. We had rain all weekend, so we didn’t really get to enjoy the setting. There are rooms and fairly new apartments, some joined together for larger families or groups. The mini kitchens are cleverly tucked into little closets. The apartments have new furniture that goes well with the upholstery, and the bathrooms had clean towels and a hairdryer. TVs are only in the living rooms, not the bedrooms. The beds are box springs, but the mattresses could do with replacing. There’s a small room with bicycles and a foosball table, plus a little pool in the garden. Children can cuddle the kittens and see what pigs look like, which is a novelty if you’re from the city and usually think of them as sausages or cartoon characters. The place is also a pig farm, and the menu is based on that, at the small restaurant next door. You need to reserve. A married couple run the whole property and always seem busy taking care of the large grounds.