Il Rosciolo

For €25 we had a sunny day in the greenery, a swim, and a full lunch, appetizer, first course, second course with a side, and the food was fantastic. Highly recommended. The cuisine was impeccable, too. The setting among the green hills is beautiful, with breathtaking views. There are two pools, one small and 40 cm deep for children, which was very handy, and another smaller pool for adults. A large garden surrounds them, with shaded terraces.

In summer the pool is open to agriturismo guests and people coming in to dine. The restaurant also welcomes outside visitors who aren't staying overnight. You can choose bed and breakfast, half board, or full board. The property sits in a park with pine woods and an olive grove, though I can't remember exactly how big it is. The owners are genuinely warm and welcoming, and the place has a homely feel. You enter straight into the dining and breakfast room, which leads to a magical fireplace. In winter, that fireplace can be a real pain in the ass. It's a nice spot to chat over local wine. There are five rooms upstairs, if I remember right. The others are outside the main building, one almost at the front where there should be three rooms, and another near the pool where there should be two.

The welcome here is extraordinary, the kind that makes you feel at home right away. The managers did their best to meet every request. It's a peaceful agriturismo in the Umbrian countryside and a great base for visiting Perugia, Gubbio, and Assisi. The rooms are simple, but clean and equipped with what you need for a quiet weekend in the country. The cooking is simple too, made with local ingredients. Highly recommended.

We'd booked well ahead, looking for a comfortable place away from the city for two adults and a child. Instead, Mr. Salvatore showed us a dark, claustrophobic room for €83 a night. There was just one tiny light and no bathroom window, and we couldn't even open our suitcases. For up to €100 more, he offered a so-called quadruple room that was just four beds crammed together with no space. Fortunately, we decided to leave. We didn't want arrogance and misleading photos and reviews to ruin our holiday. We found somewhere much better nearby.