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> SlowTrav > Italy > Vacation Rentals > Reviews > Umbria Review 2419: Villa La Rogaia, La Pipo
1bed/1bath apartment near Castel Rigone, Umbria 
When7 - 14 October 2006, 1 week LocationThe “Agriturismo” property is near the village of Castel Rigone, not far from Lake Trasimeno in Umbria. It’s an old farm house (plus converted barns) with five apartments that the German owners let out to holiday makers. The farmhouse is very remote (the nearest village is about six kilometers away) and from the road you go down a windy and bumpy track to the house which is about three kilometers long. The surrounding countryside is peaceful and beautiful with many layers of sometimes mist-covered rolling hills. We stayed in a barn that was split into two apartments and we stayed in the smaller one "La Pipo." We sometimes heard some noise from next door, but otherwise it was very quiet. The main farm house is nearby, but there was no disturbance from there. Our apartment was very quiet. Nearby AmenitiesThe nearest grocery store and cafe was in Castel Rigone which was about 10 - 15 minutes drive away. I guess you could walk (we haven't tried), but it would be tough and could take about an hour. The House/ApartmentIt’s an old farm house (plus converted barns) with five apartments that the German owners let out to holiday makers. The owners live there as well (fluent in German, English and Italian) and are very helpful with any questions you might have. They love children, and pets are also welcome. Our one-bedroom apartment (“La Pipo”) was in a building that looked like a former stable and was very nice and clean. It consisted of a bedroom with double bed, a kitchen/living area and bathroom. It had white marble flooring, nice furniture and was tastefully decorated in white with blue accents. There’s no telephone, radio or TV in the apartment as the owners want to give their guests “the luxury of quietness and seclusion.” The flat was a bit cold on our first night, but as the weather warmed up so did the flat or maybe we just got used to it. I have to admit that in spite of the peaceful position, I had some problems sleeping due to a woodworm making scraping noises at night. In another place, I probably wouldn’t have heard it, but as it was so quiet otherwise, the noise did bother me sometimes when I was trying to sleep. But I guess this is common problem with properties like this. GardenWe had a private balcony and it was a lovely, shady place to sit in the afternoon. The pool behind our apartment was surrounded by trees and other greenery and at the back looked out into the hills. Even though it could be used by other guests as well, it was hidden and kind of our “private pool.” We heard that other people used it, but I've never seen it. The water was freezing cold in October, but we were brave enough to jump in it a few times. Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living AreasThe apartment was nice and sufficiently furnished for our needs. See more details above in "The House/Apartment" section. Bedrooms/BathroomsThe bed was a bit soft but not too uncomfortable. The bathroom was clean and spacious, but the shower was at times not much more than a trickle. KitchenThe kitchen was fully equipped for cooking, but didn’t have luxuries such as microwave, dishwasher or washing machine. We didn't cook much as we booked a "Tango Holiday" with a group which included breakfast and dinner. For dinner, we would sit at a long table and get served various courses of delicious Umbrian specialities. It was like being part of a big family and we met loads of interesting people. Problems or BonusesThe long drive up the track every day was a bit tiring after a few days. Otherwise, it was a beautiful place and once you were on the main road it was easy to get around. We loved the area and beautiful countryside. It was also nice to be able to visit Siena, Perugia and Cortona. The best thing about this holiday was that it was an activity holiday, we improved our tango dancing, and we met loads of interesting people. Agency and Representatives (and price)We booked directly with the owners. Communication was easy and there were no problems. Prices are available on their website. Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?Yes, I'd definitely recommend it and we will hopefully return for another Tango Holiday in a couple of years. It is a beautiful location; however, it was very remote and might not suit everyone. Things to do in this areaAs the house is quite remote, you definitely need a car if you want to explore further. There are loads of beautiful historic towns nearby such as Perugia, Assisi and Cortona and it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to visit. We also did a day trip to Siena which was about 70 minutes drive away. The nearest village Castel Rigone is a lovely old hill village with a grocery shop and great views of Lago Trasimeno. Lago Trasimeno was a bit disappointing, the lake is quite shallow and the water looks a bit murky. It’s probably okay for sailing and other water sports but I wouldn’t swim in it. However, it looks idyllic from the distance and was a different colour every day. We flew into Rome and had a couple of days sightseeing there before driving to La Rogaia and felt it was a good combination of city/countryside holiday. This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com. |
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