Property: 10 |
Cleaning: 10 |
Host: 10 |
Location: 10 |
Price/Quality: 10
| Breakfast: 9
I stayed only one night, unfortunately, but it was a wonderful experience: the farmhouse is a very pleasant place, with various well-kept spaces, a park with garden and animals, ideal for countryside walks and relaxing moments. Cozy and clean rooms, good food cooked by Mrs. Maria Enrica, who is the real surprise and the true treasure of Podere Palazzo Illica. A cultured, interesting lady who, upon request, opened her incredible library to us, full of books of all kinds and containing ancient and precious volumes. She gladly talks about her love for Podere Palazzo Illica, how she came to own it and how she renovated it over time, with the help of professionals and after extensive research in the archives to restore its original form (the one it had at the time of the father of the librettist of Puccini, Luigi Illica, who lived there). It's a convenient location to visit true gems like Castell'Arquato of course, but also the other medieval village with the castle of Vigoleno, the Roman ruins of Veleia Romana, the abbey of Chiaravalle, and on the way back to Mantova, we also visited the residence of Soragna. A weekend of relaxation for the body and nourishment for the mind and spirit: a lovely birthday gift for my husband. Highly recommended.
stayed from 09/02/2017 to 09/03/2017