Il Poggio Dell'Artilla

The property is lovely and looks just like the photos. The host experience, though, made the stay difficult. They came by every day to check on things, which felt like being inspected. A broken sprinkler woke half the house between 2 and 3 a.m. each night; the hosts already knew about it, but it still took three days to fix. The male host also watered plants outside my bedroom window at 8 a.m., which felt very invasive. The Wi-Fi barely worked. The biggest problem was the waste policy. I support the property's green aims, but there weren’t enough useful supplies to follow the rules. They asked for a €500 deposit, first in cash, then agreed to arrange it through Airbnb. They plan to keep €250 because we supposedly used “too much plastic,” and we’re still waiting for a clear, objective explanation of what that means. As another Airbnb host, I understand being protective of your space, but guests need to be trusted and given privacy. Expectations should be explained clearly. If sustainability is the goal, provide practical guidance: a booklet on sorting waste, since rules vary by country, suggestions for nearby shops with less packaging, reusable containers or bottles, and somewhere to leave unused items. Throwing away perfectly good canned or dry food because guests can’t leave it behind isn’t green.

The best part of our two weeks traveling around Italy with my mom was our time at Il Poggio dell’Artilla. This was my first agriturismo, and the only thing I wished was that we’d stayed longer. The farm’s family made us feel so welcome: they were kind, fun, hardworking, and generous. The beautiful setting and their hospitality are hard to beat. We still smile thinking about our stay, and I’d recommend it to anyone hoping to experience the heart of Italian farming and food culture.

Roberto was so helpful. We arrived during a heatwave, and he managed to find us an extra air conditioner. He also had my contact lenses delivered to his place, which was a big help. Staying in the yurt was a great experience, and his tips for local restaurants and things to do were lovely.

The house is nice and well maintained, with a bathroom in every room. We paid €2,477.46 for a week, and it’s worth understanding the setup before booking. It sits on shared grounds with the other accommodations, so you get privacy indoors but not outside. The owners are there daily, which shows they care, but it could feel stifling. My sister, sleeping downstairs, was woken at 8 a.m. by the owner watering plants beside her open window. We were also reprimanded for having a water balloon fight. It felt like being watched by kind but strict Italian grandparents. Wi-Fi was out for about half our stay and doesn’t reach the whole house. There are lots of rules, including no plastic bottles, but only three small water carafes. That didn’t work for our family with young kids who needed bottled water for their bottles, and two pregnant women. The recycling instructions weren’t clear either, especially with different rules in our home country. Cleaning costs don’t cover the kitchen. We had to clean it ourselves and were expected to leave it spotless, even with nothing left in the dishwasher, which made the last day involve a lot of cleaning. We booked through AIRBNB, but were asked for a €500 cash deposit. We chose not to pay it because there’d be no recourse if it was kept, and with so many rules it seemed likely we might not get all of it back. The rough communication, rules, and watchful attention meant this wasn’t a very relaxing holiday for us. I think it would suit people better without small children.