Casa Vacanze "Il Carrugio"

We were a group of seven, looking for somewhere away from the crowds and about an hour from Sanremo for the Sanremo Music Festival. The unusual vertical apartments in Chiusi Castello (Imperia) caught our interest. We were met in the free car park below and shown to our apartment. It was warm, comfortable, spotlessly clean and well equipped. We especially appreciated the shared lounge as a group. The little roof terraces look out over the whole valley.

The village is lovely and makes a good base for walks, cycling and exploring the region. The owner gave us a warm welcome and was friendly and helpful. Our apartment was clean, nicely arranged and had a large bed, spread across three floors with a rooftop terrace. The main drawback was the heat in August. The room got extremely hot, as the only air vent is directly under the terrace, which gets sun all day.

I was enchanted by the quiet valley and the hardworking people who live there, as well as the welcome and help from the owners. At Il Carrugio, I loved the village and hamlet, the attic and its terrace looking over the Impero Valley. I got up each morning to photograph the mountains. There are beautiful trails among olive and oak trees, and you can walk from the village to Pizzo d'Evigno. From its 988-metre summit, the view takes in the sea around Imperia and Albenga, Gallinara Island and the Cuneo mountains. I'm so glad I stayed and explored the valley. I usually like to visit somewhere different each time, but I may well be tempted to come back.

A welcoming place with good prices. The services were good, everything was very clean and the rooms were perfectly tidy. Just right if you're after peace and relaxation.