Rebecca F.
The grounds are beautiful, and the pool was the highlight, especially since being out in the countryside can feel a bit isolating. We got a warm welcome, the homemade pizza was good, and the cooking class was great. Getting around was a real problem. We were told the family could drive us when needed, but they weren’t very available. If that hadn’t been mentioned, or if we’d been told in advance that we needed to book a rental car or private taxi months ahead, I wouldn’t have expected a ride. Once there, though, there seemed to be no way to find a taxi or rental car. We felt stranded. Downtown is a two-hour walk, which wasn’t realistic or worthwhile with our older guests. E-bikes were supposed to be provided to make travel easier, but they never arrived. Maybe we could have used those to reach town. There were a few other things that fell short. The air conditioning is only in the bedrooms, so we went to bed early instead of hanging out with our group in the hot living room. With so many mosquitoes and flies and no screens, opening doors or windows wasn’t an option. Once dusk came, we had to leave the pool to avoid bites. The well water in the sink and shower smelled like rotten eggs. I worried it might be bacteria, though I don’t know, and gagged while washing my face each day. We were also missing trash bags and an iron that we’d been told would be brought. The upstairs sitting area had a strong smell. The day before checkout, we were told the water and electricity would be shut off at 8 a.m., so we wouldn’t be able to shower, brush our teeth, make breakfast, or use the AC while getting ready. Maybe that’s an Italian law, but no apology or other arrangement was offered. The family had also promised us a ride to the train and then couldn’t provide it. Still, it really is a beautiful property.
