Relais Della Rovere

The grounds are beautiful, the rooms feel grand, and the staff were wonderful. My husband and I loved our stay. After dinner at the restaurant one evening, I accidentally left my leftovers behind. The staff put them in the refrigerator and called our room to say they'd saved them for me. I'd absolutely recommend staying here.

The rooms were the biggest letdown for what we paid and compared with other places we'd stayed in Italy. They felt stuffy and dim, even in daylight, with no window, just a small pane in the ceiling for natural light. Getting to them meant climbing about ten short but very steep steps, and no one was there to show us the way or help with bags. We'd arrived for New Year's, and the gala dinner cost almost as much as the room. At reception, the staff didn't even smile when we met them. We had expected much more from the property.

The restaurant was pretty good, and having a bar at the hotel was a nice extra. Service was good when we got it, though the place seemed short-staffed. One gentleman was our host, waiter, and bartender for the evening, so credit to him for juggling all that. The AC wasn't working, but leaving the window open overnight gave the room some air. The hotel is fairly close to town, although the locals didn't make us feel especially welcome. Still, I'd give the stay a solid four stars.

The villa's design and decor are lovely, and I really enjoyed the countryside feel. The food was good too, and renting a Vespa from reception made our Italy experience even better. The room facilities were the weak point. Maybe it's because this is a historic place, but some of the hardware felt worn, and one night we couldn't get hot water. The design and the faculty are still very, very nice.