B&B Il Casale dei Principi

Claudia welcomed us and quickly showed us the room and the beautiful view. The 19th-century farmhouse is splendid, furnished elegantly to a high standard. We were there for a weekend in Lecce and would love to return soon. I recommend it for the good value and the owner's helpfulness.

There was a small kitchenette and fridge in my spacious room, plus a little outdoor patio with chairs. Parking is beneath the olive trees. The bathroom and sheets were clean, and check-in was available around the clock without staff. Recommended.

Don't trust photos from six years ago. The photos and my earlier stay at the B&B Villa Maggiulli persuaded me to book this farmhouse for six days, but the experience was terrifying. It's a country farmhouse where there's no green to be seen. The outdoor area was dirty, overgrown with grass, dry, and burnt. The tables, chairs, and benches were rusty and worn. Inside was just as bad. The floors were filthy, the taps barely ran, and the shower faucet was broken. Cutlery, glasses, and cups were left uncovered on the rusty mini-fridge or dish rack, and there was limescale inside them. We left after three of the six planned days. Highly not recommended.

I'm reluctant to be harsh and mean this as constructive criticism, but the host should pay more attention to the room and bathroom's cleanliness. I stayed one night in room B. Based on the reviews, I expected a pleasant, tidy, clean, comfortable place, but it was a disaster. The two beds had single mattresses pushed together, and one was higher than the other. The walls and bathroom door were dirty. The shower was in terrible shape: the handles came off, and there was dirt in the gaskets and seals. Silicone catches dirt, so it needs to be removed and replaced from time to time. The outdoor area could be lovely, partly because of the cute animals, but these issues need attention or that can work against the place. I'm sure the positive reviews are sincere, and I urge the host to take care of all the areas.