B&B Alla Palombara di Rossano

The valley of the Colognati is spectacular, especially at sunrise, and the road from Santa Maria gives you beautiful views of historic Rossano. The sea is about a 25-minute drive, and you'll need to go to Rossano Scalo for supplies. We had a great time in this little homestead, where kids can play and dogs can run around, and there's still a hot shower. It's a beautiful mountainous area with lots of biodiversity, ideal if you love nature. There's plenty to discover nearby and farther afield, including Sila National Park, Rossano, Corigliano and the coast. Walkers can find waterfalls and caves, and as a geologist I loved the range of zones, from granites and pegmatites through metamorphic facies to sedimentary areas. Try walking down to the Chiesa de St Ononfrio from the Sila side. You could stay for weeks and keep finding new things. It must be wonderful for a small family that enjoys nature. If you can't stand nature and just want to roast on the beach, go elsewhere.

May brought more rain and cooler weather than usual for Calabria, so being comfortable indoors mattered. We felt at home in the house, and the surrounding area is lovely for hiking, relaxing, painting or taking photos. Rossano has a beautiful historic center and there are other sights nearby, while the sea is a 20-25 minute drive away. The garden is full of little places to sit, so we found a different spot to unwind each day, and Antonio takes good care of it. The view is fantastic, as the photos show. Antonio was a very kind, helpful host, welcomed us warmly, and left the refrigerator stocked with soft drinks, jam and other treats, plus enough pasta for us. He was always available.

We had a great time and would happily return. It's a good spot for relaxing, doing nothing, or going for walks, and the kitchen has plenty of equipment. There were grapes and figs we could help ourselves to. We didn't have a car, so Antonio kindly picked us up at the train station in Rossano. He came by each day to look after the property and pool, which was no problem at all.

We slept really well on the mattresses and loved watching both sunrise and sunset. The house was very clean and furnished with care, and it's a lovely place to read, unwind or explore nature. It's set in the mountains with a view of the sea. Since we didn't have a car, Antonio drove us from the train station and was very kind and helpful throughout. He came by daily to work in the vineyards and clean the pool. We had a wonderful week and will definitely return.