Agriturismo Il Brugnolo

Claudia and her husband were incredibly helpful. Claudia even called five restaurants for us before finding one that could take a reservation, and her husband was great too. The property and our room were both very clean, and the grounds are kept in lovely condition. There’s also laundry on site. If you’re staying in Reggio Emilia, this is the place I’d choose.

Our Studio Apartment was thoughtfully equipped down to the little details. There are open garden areas, and you can park right outside your door. Such a beautiful setting.

We booked Il Brugnolo for five nights and left after two. This was one of the worst accommodation experiences we’ve had, and the first time I’ve ever cut a vacation short because of where we were staying. The apartment was filthy, communication was frustrating, and the host was unhelpful and repeatedly tried to make our concerns sound unreasonable. We felt misled and didn’t experience hospitality from the start to the end of our stay. Before we arrived, we received several messages asking when we’d get there, with the same information repeated. I replied that we’d come at check-in time, perhaps a little earlier. When we arrived 30 minutes early, I messaged to say we were there and would wait. After about ten minutes, the host came out and scolded us for not calling or ringing. We explained that we had sent a message, which he hadn’t read. While showing us the apartment, he said the heating and air conditioning were off. Since the forecast was above 32°C for the coming days, we asked about the air conditioning. He said he could switch it on if it got hot. As we unpacked, we found the place dusty, full of flies, and plainly dirty, well beyond the bit of dust we’d expect in a rural setting. We cleaned the surfaces ourselves. The cheese grater still had old cheese stuck in its holes, so we went out and bought some kitchen utensils and tea towels. When we got back and the room was already hot, we asked by message about turning on the air conditioning. The host said he couldn’t because a technician had to come, and the appointment wasn’t until after the following week, a few days after we’d be gone. Air conditioning was mentioned three times in the apartment description, and the heat was a serious concern because my wife is sensitive to it and can suffer heat stroke. They did some cleaning and eventually turned it on. The host brought us the remote, but first told us that the previous week they’d sat outside at night in long sleeves, that this was abnormal weather for late May, and, in effect, that we were weak for wanting air conditioning. Even after that, we said we appreciated him switching it on. The next morning, we were told that construction would start the following day right beside our apartment and continue all week. They suggested we leave from 8 AM to 5 PM to avoid the noise. They also said they’d waited to tell us because, if they’d mentioned it before our arrival, we wouldn’t have booked. We’d chosen the place to rest, and my wife had a cold, so being asked to spend most of the day away because of construction noise made us decide to leave early. When I told the host, there was no apology. Instead, he said there wouldn’t be much noise because they were only insulating the apartment next door. He also brought up the air conditioning again, saying guests in a hotter room had refused the remote when it was offered. The poor communication, dirt, lack of help, and the way our concerns were dismissed made this an awful stay.

The outside space was a highlight for our family: lots of room and shade, kids’ play equipment, plus foosball, ping pong, sun loungers, and a BBQ. The host was very friendly. Inside, the apartment was spacious and suited a summer stay, though it felt a little dark. The kitchen could use more equipment, and there seems to be room for a dishwasher and another work surface. The welcome basket also felt a bit disappointing. Everything in it was vacuum packed, from the little oil and vinegar packets to the rusks and tiny jam jars. At other agriturismos we’ve had everyday things like small oil bottles and proper cake or rusks; I’d generally expect local or better quality products, rather than the cheapest options. We stayed in Angelica, which has the only terrace on the grass, and it was lovely. There was some noise from a fairly busy road, as well as construction work on the farmhouse roofs during our stay. The ceilings may have been renovated, but I was only commenting on the lack of light. There aren’t any special services. The kitchen is large enough for a dishwasher without it getting in the way, and a few useful additions would be a vegetable grater, peeler, breakfast bowls, small dessert plates, and wine glasses, especially in this area.