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Review 4697: Owner, Villa Bastiola

www.villabastiola.com

Recommended.  Review by AlanT from New Zealand

2bed/2bath apartment near Trestina, Umbria

When

May 2010, 2 weeks

Location

Villa Bastiola is located in the hills close to the Tuscany border above the small village Calzolaro. A side road leads from this village to the top of a hill and into a valley to the south roughly halfway between Niccone and Mercatale and the Villa is located halfway up this hill. There are a number of small farm holdings on this road and up a little further is an extensive 10th century convent restoration. The road is surrounded by pastures and woodlands and there is an old chapel at the top.

The villa is approx 300 years old and the owners live on the top floor. The rental is the middle floor and has been extensively modernised but with regard to the age and locality. The area comprises rolling verdant hills which are farmed.

Nearby Amenities

The village has an alimentari and 2km away Trestina has two supermercato. There is an excellent restaurant about 300 metres from the house.

The House/Apartment

The rental has a lounge, open fireplace, fabulous kitchen with granite bench and new oven and there are two double bedrooms each with an en suite shower and toilet also new.

The apartment is very peaceful with only the sounds of rural life to contend with.

Garden

A terrace at the rear provides seating and shade with a view over the olive grove.

Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living Areas

The furnishings were very clean and tidy and there was seating for four comfortably.

Bedrooms/Bathrooms

The beds were very comfortable and each room had storage also. The en suites were new and built to a high level.

Kitchen

The kitchen is fantastic with sufficient facilities to cook well and the table seats four.

Problems or Bonuses

No bad surprises at all and the owners are just lovely. Sally Ann is English and married to Marco a local who is also a professional jazz musician so we had the benefit of a free performance most days! They have a daughter Emma who is a real sweetie.

Agency and Representatives (and price)

We booked and dealt direct with Sally Ann who was great.

Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?

Absolutely on both counts!! It is a very high quality rental at a reasonable price.

Things to do in this area

We thought the area was brilliant because we wanted to be away from the typical tourist areas but close enough to travel to them if we wanted. Cortona and Monterchi, both small villages in Tuscany are only 20-30km away and the drive is pleasurable. Gubbio and villages to the east are also accessible and Perugia is only 45 minutes to the south. We visited the likes of Assisi and Deruta but felt we were hemmed in by constant tourist activity so it was great to be able to travel back and relax.

Monterchi and Montone have excellent cafes, the one at Monterchi seemed to be open most days and there are about six or so good restaurants dotted about the hills serving excellent local fare. Umbertide has a good Wednesday market.

This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.

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