Above: What our TripAdvisor reviewers say about Al Palazz (word cloud created using jasondavies.com)
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What our visitors say
Since 2005 we’ve shared the joys of Al Palazz with over 90 families across over 140 weeks. People typically stay for one or two weeks - and some of our rentals are return bookings.
Most of our reviews are now on line and you can read them at Trip Advisor or VRBO. Since 2018, when we're at home at Al Palazz, we also let just the ground-floor apartment, La Cantina, as a relaxing rural retreat for two. You can read our 5-star reviews on Airbnb here. During the pandemic years (2020-2021) we chose not to rent Al Palazz as we couldn't be here long enough to ensure quality. Now in 2022, we're welcoming guests to Al Palazz again and delighting them as much as before! Down memory lane ... Back in the day, guests would write to us about what they enjoyed. Here's what they singled out as some of the highlights of a holiday at Al Palazz ... times change but Al Palazz remains as lovely as it ever was! “We are having our last dinner at Al Vecchio Podere [farm restaurant across the square]. Had a great time here and the house was awesome. Been out and about but loved the downstairs [pool] terrace. We loved our stay and its surrounding – you have a wonderful place.” (RV, Aug 2018) "We've had a wonderful stay n lovely Palazz!!! It is great to see how all your effort and love you’ve put in it, makes it a great place to stay!!! We’d love to come again.” (RM, Aug 2018) “We look back on a lovely vacation at Al Palazz. We hope to visit the house again.” (AH, returning, Aug 2018) “Thanks for another very nice week in your house.” (MS, returning, Jul 2018) “We are enjoying our stay very much, in this beautiful surroundings, with great food. Thanks for the tips for restaurants, both La Lina and the one across the square are really good. “(SK, Aug 2017) “We had a lovely lazy time at Al Palazz and we plan to book again sometime. Everything was really fine thank you and we did appreciate your new veg garden.” (GH, returning, Jul 2017) “We had a lovely stay. We stayed local with a lot of time close to your house (and pool). The kids loved it. We really appreciated your nice information books and we tried out some of the restaurants and shops mentioned. The fresh pasta and the torta di erba in Villafranca were great and so was the Parmesan cheese and crudo at the Monday market in Bagnone. What we liked a lot was the genuine atmosphere in Bagnone and the surrounding villages (few tourists) and of course your nice house, garden and pool area. We really enjoyed our week in your house and hope to be back someday.” (MS, Jul 2017) “We had a most enjoyable stay, thanks again.” (PR, returning, Jun 2017) “The cities of Italy are beautiful and full of history, but for a true taste of Italian life, I highly recommend this charming villa. Nestled on the side of a hill in a picturesque village, this clean, attractive villa offered two spacious bedrooms, bathrooms, and sitting areas. The view from the 2nd floor sitting area is spectacular and offers lovely sunsets. Easily my favorite part of our 2 week visit to Italy, four of us (2 couples) stayed here. It's a great location and with a rental car, we took day trips to local villages and medieval towns such as Tellaro and Lucca. Cinque Terra and Florence are also easy day trip locations. We enjoyed eating lunch out, then stopping at a grocery store on the way home and cooking in the easy-to-use and comfortable kitchen. We also enjoyed the couple of days we just relaxed in this beautiful environment. Must mention the amazing and tiny farm-to-table restaurant across the street that offers excellent food and plenty of it for an unbelievably low price. Hope to come back some day!” (DB, USA, Sep 2017) “The house and pool area were really well equipped, the best we have ever experienced. This exceeded our expectations. The instructions were extremely comprehensive except that it would have been helpful to have had some maps for the local walks. [Ed: we’ll do that for 2018!] Highlights: Lucca! The Agriturismo over the road was a gem. The little church next door was beautiful and attending mass in Italian and in a local community setting was an interesting and memorable experience. We loved listening to the bells in the valley and locally. We had a lovely holiday thank you.” (MSh, Sep 2017) “Thank you for letting us stay in your amazing house with beautiful gardens ! The view from the sitting room windows and the pool is breathtaking. We enjoyed every part of our holiday from our daily hilly runs on the country roads near the house, our relaxing delicious lunches by the pool, to our trips, to both the local villages of Bagnone, Filetto and Ponteremoli, and by train further afield to the Cinque Terre and Parma.We ate out at several local restaurants which included two visits to the Agriturismo across the road from the house - a real treat to be able to take a few steps to sample local Italian food and wine and a challenge to see if you can finish it all! Finally it is the preparation which Jane and David put into the organisation of the house prior to your arrival which means you can just relax and enjoy it once you are there! We hope to return !!” (FM, Sep 2016) “Go for more than a week if you possibly can - the temptation, if you just go for one week, is to make the most of your stay by going here there and everywhere to see the many wonderful places nearby, when the most wonderful thing of all is just to stay put or to mix days out with relaxing days in. It is amazing how quickly you forget what day of the week it is when staying at Al Palazz. What comes across strongly is that the owners try to think of everything that might make your stay more enjoyable. If you find yourself thinking, “it would be good if it had a …” try looking in another drawer for whatever it is you need, because it’s almost certain to be there somewhere.” (WD, Sep 2016) "The house, pool and gardens exceeded our expectations. Al Palazz looks very nice on the website but that's 2 dimensional so cannot do it justice. It's a magnificent location, the view from the sitting room on the upper floor is magical in that it changes so much depending on the time of day, the weather and the light. On the few occasions it rained, it was a pleasure to sit there and watch the storm/rain chasing the blue sky across the valley. The house is so well equipped down to things like rucksacks and walking poles. The terraces all enjoy the same wonderful views so bbqs and being in & around the pool are a delight. The location enjoys both peace and quiet and lively moments with the restaurant across the square - peoplewatching on a small scale. I could go on at length about our highlights!! Our dilemma was - the house and pool is so good, why go anywhere else?" (PS, Aug 2016) “We had such a lovely time at Al Palazz and hope to return soon. Loads to do in this part of Italy without feeling like we were on the tourism conveyer belt. But our favourite part of the trip was just exploring the surrounding the woods behind the village and enjoying the house itself.” (SD, Aug 2016) "I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Al Palazz as a holiday venue to others. The house is lovely and views from the upstairs bedroom and living room are stunning. The outside areas are perfect for relaxing and the pool is so warm that my girls spent about 6 hours a day swimming and playing in the water. The only noise you can hear is ringing bells, cow bells and church bells pealing through the forest and hills. Jane and David couldn’t have been more helpful both before and during our stay. If you are looking for a beautiful location to relax then I couldn’t think of anywhere better." (HK, July 2016) "Al Palazz is very well equipped with terrific views, situated in a quiet hamlet. This is the ideal place for a relaxing holiday." (PR, Jun 2016) "My family (husband, two teenage boys and my Mom) spent a week at the villa. Plenty of space, everything we needed to make ourselves at home and feel like we could unpack and relax. The villa is well appointed, comfortable and spacious – everything we needed was there. The view, however, cannot be captured in words or pictures. The distant church bells, cow bells and breezes filled the valley air to provide nature's music once the windows are thrown open. The grounds and flowers are beautiful and the pool was a balmy 92 degrees! The villa is perfectly situated to have easy access to the bigger destinations either by car or train. But when not engaging with other tourists – the location provides a peaceful retreat."(BK, Jun 2016) “Two weeks in Al Palazz with family and friends was a fantastic experience. The property caters for everything an adult will need, no matter what the weather. It is exceptionally well located for beach and mountain tours. Eating outside every evening was the highlight of our stay, both at the local restaurants and the expansive terrace. I would recommend this holiday villa to anybody who needs a relaxing break in beautiful Tuscany." (PJ Jul 2015) “Peaceful, lovely gardens and pool, and Tuscany all around. Views to enjoy all week. Ice cream and pizza 5 minutes away! Thanks for supplying all those things that others don’t (good directions, suggested places to go / eat, and washing up liquid!). The website and videos were very much appreciated so we could see what was there - but the reality was much better! Great to have so many books, maps and guides on hand.” (PB Jul 2015) “We had a wonderful week at this beautiful house. The pool area is absolutely amazing and would not be out of place in a small boutique hotel, with shower, changing area, toilet facilities, outdoor kitchen, table tennis and BBQ facilities. Just across the road is a small restaurant and there are some lovely restaurants in the nearby town. The pool is huge and warm, and most evenings our children were in it until late. The views are incredible and the house is very well equipped and spacious. A very special house! (CF Aug 2015) “A very relaxing, beautiful and extraordinarily well equipped house. There is no need to go rushing off anywhere, you are surrounded by wonderful scenery, gentle walks and friendly locals. It is just a fantastic place to stay and a different pace of life. A stroll down the hill for a cappuccino breakfast in the café was fab. The small supermarket in Bagnone was really well stocked and so friendly. Wonderful.” (JS, Jun 2014) “Beautiful house and surroundings, nice place to relax, very kind people in the village.” (CA, Jul 2014) “We look back on a wonderful vacation in Al Palazz! It is such a special and welcoming place, not only because of the spaces and careful reconstruction but also on account of the pots and pans, books and maps, tools and supplies. We appreciated the homely atmosphere and every day we used the generous amount of information you provided.” (AH, Aug 2014) Before: “You have been a joy to work with and we are really looking forward to our time in Italy.” After: “We had a wonderful stay at Al Palazz. Dinner at the restaurant across the road was a real treat! Everything was simply wonderful. You are one of the best hosts I have rented from. Thanks again for sharing your home with us.” (MS & JL, USA, Sep 2014) “Our stay at Al Palazz was delightful. The place is lovely, everything worked as advertised and it was extremely well documented. No complaints and we recommend it! You have done an amazing job with your renovation. The house and gardens matched our expectations perfectly and your explanations were not only extremely helpful, but remarkably thorough. While at Al Palazz we took many day trips and visited Pisa, Parma, Lucca, Bologna, Genoa, Portovenere and a few of the Cinque Terre villages, so we did not have a great deal of time to take advantage of all of your local descriptions. We did however take a short hike, go to Bagnone Castle, and eat at Gavarini twice - excellent both times. We also walked down to Bagnone and bought some local vegetables and cheeses on market day.” (LP, USA, Sep 2014) “Love your home. We had a truly wonderful time in Italy and enjoyed the long views from your home.” (SW, USA, Sep 2014) “House and gardens were well up to expectations as always. We appreciated the parking space. Your instructions and information were all very helpful. Highlight was a visit to the Museum of the Resistance. We had the €20 per head four-course lunch at the new agriturismo in the village - this was excellent.” (MK, 4th visit, Oct 2014) “We have just returned from a very relaxing week at Al Palazz. A week did not seem enough - we did not want to leave! The house, pool and gardens are amazing. The website photos are great, but seeing is believing - the views and surrounding countryside are amazing.” (SB, Sep 2013) “House, garden and location outstanding. The entire ambience reflects the thoughtfulness and care that has been put into Al Palazz. We will be back and might manage to drag ourselves away more from the house and pool the next time.” (BB, Aug 2013) “We enjoyed our time enormously. If only I could take that view back home! The pre-holiday details provided were excellent and only surpassed by the troika of black books left in the house which were so informative and really made the stay for us! We would certainly recommend Al Palazz to others.” (GJ, Jul 2013) “The house is a very beautiful and quirky building in a very lovely quiet spot, with astonishing views. Although its only about an hour from Pisa airport it really is a different world. Lunigiana operates at its own slower pace and the food and medieval villages are a perfect place to unwind. We walked from the house a few times using the very compre-hensive information available and it was like time travelling. The people in Bagnone are very friendly but this isn't a tourist area and it’s all the better for it. A charming and very relaxing holiday in a very well equipped old house.” (PC, Jul 2013) “A very well appointed house, feels like a much loved home. The documentation about the house and the surrounding area is outstanding. The garden is beautiful with some very imaginative planting. Much thought has gone into the organisation of the outside area - the dining area and pool are fully kitted out so that the whole day and evening can be spent in the garden.” (LM, Jun 2013) “We had a wonderful time. Everything was as advertised and the pool area is the best we have ever had. It was solar heated and the eating stage above was wonderful – it had a kitchen with fridge, huge BBQ, real good quality furniture and, best of all, that wonderful view … We would all like to return and will be recommending to our friends.” (VT, Aug 2013, Hosted Week) “We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Mochignano and will certainly spread the word. I would definitely like to return and would recommend it to our friends.” (CH, Sep 2013, Hosted Week) “The place was amazing! First day back in work today and all I could think about was Al Palazz, the views, pasta and peace! Views were breath-taking and there was so much to see/visit in the area. The extensive books were very useful during our stay - very informative and interesting. There was so much information that we didn't have chance to look at half of what we wanted to. The rock pools of Mochignano were amazing - we never saw a soul from start to finish (our kind of place). We thoroughly enjoyed the Restaurant La Lina and sitting in the Biffi Bar watching the world go by, and we had some good food in both the pizzeria and the trattoria at the bottom of the hill. All locals were really helpful, friendly and welcoming. Thank you so much for letting us book your property. We had a wonderful time and couldn't have got any more from our holiday. Just listening to the clocks chime and the cow bells was heavenly. Fabulous!” (RB, August 2012) “As far as the villa and the week I have two things to say – ‘WOW’ and ‘we will be back!’. Your insight and detail is extraordinary. Not enough time to see everything in a week. The house exceeded our expectations. We loved the swimming holes, the trails to the castles, exploring the local area, the Cinque Terre. Thank you so much! Very well done!!!” (PK, Canada, July 2012) “We had an excellent time at your lovely house. We did a lot of cooking - what a treat to get such fresh stuff locally. It was wonderful being there without a car. We found the bus timetables hard to get our heads round but managed a day in Pontremoli and really enjoyed the museum – I was knocked out by the stele statues. Why go much further afield when you can fossle around in the local towns and go on great walks? I loved picking chestnuts in Dante's wood in Filetto.” (LT, October 2012) “Our highlight was the ‘top of the mountain tour’ at Carrara. This could be a bit too exciting for anyone who doesn’t like heights, vertiginous drops and being driven up impossibly steep, winding, dusty roads in a Land Rover. There were times I thought ‘good grief – why am I doing this?!’ but the views are brilliant, and once you realise that huge lorries make the same climb and come down again full of marble, you realise that you will probably live to tell the tale! Other than that, we just did our usual ‘chill by the pool’ thing, with an occasional excursion to Bagnone or Pontremoli for a large beer. We had planned to eat out or go see a concert, but each time it came to it, we just poured another glass of wine and said, ‘Not right now’.” (BD, 4th visit, 2012) “We wanted somewhere memorable and special; Al Palazz is both of those. The views! The location! Nothing can beat waking up and looking outside to the valley below. The house is so comfortable and very well equipped - it has a wow factor but is unpretentious and very, very pretty. Nothing is left to chance and all needs and requirements are catered for. A nice touch is the fact that, unlike many rentals, the house comes with all the essentials for cleaning and a good selection of basic food ingredients. If there is a weakness it’s that two weeks, not one, are needed to do this area justice. You very helpfully assisted us to organise a family birthday Sunday lunch at Locanda Gavarini which was simply wonderful - the food and the venue superb and the staff so helpful. Other than that it was the pool area and the terraces at Al Palazz that were so relaxing. We had a great holiday and you were brilliant in helping make it a truly memorable fantastic week.” (JW, May 2012) “The house exceeded all of our expectations; it is superbly equipped and your guides and manuals are clear and comprehensive (although guests would benefit from some knowledge of Italian to get the maximum from their visit). The train to Lucca is an absolute gem - a 2-hour journey providing a glimpse of real Italy and its incredible history. Our first meal out on the evening of arrival was at La Lina, food and service spot on. A real "find" for Sunday lunch was Alla Piazza di Sopra in Filetto - fabulous family-run restaurant. We took the walk from the village down to the stream and up to Bagnone Castle, which is well worth anybody's time. We enjoyed the pool and the table-tennis was a real bonus - there are a lot of steps but you soon get the hang of remembering things! We would definitely recommend Al Palazz to others and I would like to think we would return because there is so much more to explore. A week's stay is really just a ‘taster’.” (NH, Jun 2012) “We enjoyed the beautiful location, the verdant stream-filled valleys, remote hilltop hamlets and just the get-away-from-it-all wrap-around peace and harmony with nature of the place. All your information both on the web and prior to arrival ensured a smooth transfer with no nasty surprises on arrival. The house is very well equipped with many thoughtful touches; simply, contextually and comfortably furnished, with all the requisites necessary for modern living such as DVD player, Wi-Fi and iPod dock. Evenings were spent genning up on next days’ activities (and compulsively watching ‘The Killing'!). We were filled with admiration for how you had managed to transform a steep stony hillside into a beautiful terraced garden, done with English design flair - lots of sitting places to admire the stunning setting and a gorgeous swimming pool. We would certainly recommend Al Palazz to anyone wanting a true taste of Italian life in the unspoilt Apennines.” (PM, May 2012) “The house was exactly as described and met all of our expectations and then some! The gardens and pool area were far better than expected and just have to be seen to be believed. The books that you have compiled are wonderful and incredibly helpful. We enjoyed exploring Filetto and the museums in Villafranca and Pontremoli. We tended to eat at home most of the time, because the outside settings were so lovely and because food purchased from shops was so good and reasonably priced. I’d like to book again next year, there is so much left to see and do here - I've only scratched the surface. Also, this is an incentive for me to study my Italian!” (LK, 2011, USA) “The weather at the beginning of October was glorious - much better than we expected. The house is lovely and affordable for two people at that time of year.” (MK, 2011, returning) “The swimming pool and the views were amazing, and the wooden ‘pagoda’ over the barbeque terrace is magnificent. The weather [early August] was nicely hot but nicely cool at night. The shopkeepers of Bagnone were delightful - bread shop, ice cream shop, and butchers were the best - and Pizzeria Roma was fantastic. We loved the plunge pools and messing about in the streams – the dragonflies there were stunning. There was a great medieval festival in Bagnone and a number of great musical performances in the square. Pisa was magical, Florence a bit too much hard work, Lerici was a nice beach and Portovenere was great fun. We had a wonderful time.” (RM, 2011) “The four of us had a wonderful week at Al Palazz. We think that your three information books are superb! The position is so beautiful that just being there is the holiday in itself. I fail to see how anyone would fail to enjoy the fabulous setting and exceptionally comfortable house. We have visited Al Palazz twice now, and would indeed be very happy to go again and again.” (PJ, 2011, returning) “We enjoyed our stay immensely, making full use of the house and gardens. The house was lovely and homely and very authentically decorated, which we much enjoyed. The look and feel of the house shows how much time and effort you have put into making it into the home that it is. We had a fantastic time, helped in no small part by the brilliantly organised information you provided and the care and concern you have for your tenants. The house had a wonderful rustic charm, and provided a fantastic base (as well as such a fantastic part) of our holiday. We felt both welcomed and well looked after by you, despite our distance from you! All my family are already wishing they were back enjoying the views, the people, and the way of life – looks like we beat the X-box! Would we return? Yes without hesitation.” (VB, 2011) “Al Palazz is situated in the most breath-taking location, a place of total peace with views like something in a fairy-tale. A breath of fresh air to stay in a house so obviously loved and not compromised for guests, but filled with furniture, fittings and accessories that have history, sentimental value and a real justification to be there - we described it like staying at Uncle David and Aunt Jane's house in Tuscany. Absolutely everything had been thought of, and just when you think I bet they've not thought of that, there it is - clearly explained and easy to find. Brilliant! The location is perfectly situated to explore the mountains, the valleys and the coast. It is 'so undiscovered' and long may it stay that way. And when the aim was to do nothing at all, then the house, the gardens and the pool were as far as we needed to go - total bliss. Thank you - we had an absolutely beautiful holiday and can't wait to come back!” (SP, 2011 and 2012) “We had a really good time The house was very much like we were expecting, with lovely exposed beams, interesting and quirky layout, and high quality materials and finishes throughout. It was also very well appointed and comfortable. The terraced gardens, pergola and pool levels were also beautifully laid out and finished.” (BP, 2011) “The house exceeded all of our expectations. The pool and the new barbeque were lovely "upgrades" from my 2008 stay and every conceivable issue was covered in the House & Garden Book. The new house book on local food is amazing – we would have never tried ‘testaroli’ without reading about it first. We visited La Lina twice and had a great time and very good food. We also did some wonderful cooking of our own, as a result of the great work you did on this and the Out & About Book. Attending Mass in the church next door was lovely, and almost everyone who saw us there was very friendly after that. We also took part in a Friday evening procession in Bagnone and the service afterwards - I wasn't sure if it was okay to join the procession, but no one complained and we enjoyed it very much. The lady in the gelateria, the folks at the butcher shop and the lady who works in the bakery near La Lina were all really nice to us, as were most of the other people we met. One 80 year old lady in Upper Mochignano walked us down to the path we couldn't find to get back down the hill (we’d walked up on the road) and told us stories of her life in French … one of those truly unique experiences that made our stay amazing. The only downsides were the day trips away from Al Palazz. Lucca was nice, but honestly we enjoyed just staying locally more than anything else. We did look at other places in and around your part of Italy and you definitely still have the best bang for the buck!” (JC, USA, 2011, returning) “The house in particular was just perfect for our needs – you have really got it right! The pool area in particular was simply superb. If you must drag yourself away then Lerici is marvellous, as is Portovenere and the Cinque Terre (now that’s what I call a boat ride!). We were very lucky to come almost face to face with a wild boar family and a herd of goats. The fireflies at night near the pool are fantastic. Your eating out recommendations worked well on the few occasions we ate out.” (GG, 2011) “It was lovely to renew our acquaintance with Al Palazz, with some fabulous new additions. The website gives some idea of the garden/pool, but you can’t do it justice just through photos. Even in late October it was fantastic. Because our previous visits have been in August, we hadn’t before been able to appreciate the stunning view from the sitting room of the valley half-shrouded in swirling, late October mists. I now have a new screensaver to replace the same view taken in midsummer! It also meant we were able to hone our wood-burning stove skills, which made for some very cheery evenings around the dining room and kitchen tables.” (DC, returning for a fourth time, 2010) "Well what can we say - everything was just perfect. We’ve been to many properties over the years but have never been anywhere with so much information to hand! We spent many a happy hour sitting browsing through your wonderful book collection, glass of wine in hand looking at the breathtaking views. The garden was delightful and we had lots of fun in the pool (the most comfortable sun loungers we have ever 'lounged' on!) The stock of provisions (and the pre holiday list of what was there) what a great idea, so too the instructions to the supermarket en-route from the airport). We were happy most days to walk down to the village to collect our daily rations, so only visited the supermercato once or twice. So in answer to your questions, everything far exceeded expectations and we can think of nothing else that would have made our holiday any more perfect! If we get the chance to recommend the house to anyone we certainly will." (SH, 2010) " The main house and pool in particular were wonderful. We used the guides you left extensively. We would definitely come back with another couple. It was truly beautiful and there is still lots to explore." (SR, 2010) "The web information is very good but even the photos don't quite do justice to the location and the view! We have stayed in many rented properties in France and Spain over the last 10 years, and this was probably the best, certainly the best equipped. I think you have a real gem there. The pool was very impressive, and there was lots of space and plenty of crockery, cooking utensils, etc. Your arrival instructions are very good, and saved us a lot of time at Pisa airport and getting from Aulla to Mochignano. The written material at the house is excellent; full of interesting and practical information, and we are only sorry that we didn't get to see more. The family were very impressed with your DVD collection; I enjoyed the Italian history volumes! I returned with a fair bit of crudo and Parmesan from the little grocery in Bagnone, which I liked a lot. The ice creams at the pasticceria next door were really good, and I much enjoyed the Monday market." (MS, 2010) “We had a fantastic holiday in a wonderful house in a fabulous location, definitely our best Italian holiday and we have had quite a few. Lunigiana and Bagnone in particular are very special. The house book was an excellent guide and we used it as our bible. I guess the best recommendation we can make is that we would very much like to come again (RD, 2007) ... We are now back in the UK after a really wonderful time at Al Palazz. We had a much more relaxing holiday this time courtesy of the pool and the fact we had done many of the sights on our previous trip.” (RD, 2009, returning) “We loved the decor - especially the 'sail' lights in the living room – and admired the new garden. Nothing can beat the view from the sitting room window and the garden terrace and the sound of church bells. It really does refresh the soul!” (MK, 2009, returning) “We had a wonderful two weeks, and did next to nothing. I ended up using half a tank of petrol, including the journey to/from Parma airport. We had planned to make one big trip to Florence, but as ennui set in we downgraded this to a day trip to Lucca and then, as we really got into full-blown lotus eating mode, we abandoned this as being far too much of an effort and never got further than the valley! We soon forgot what day it was or even what time it was. Einstein was absolutely right; time is relative, and Mochignano is plainly in its own time zone.” (BD, 2009, returning for a third visit) “We all loved Al Palazz. It is a beautiful house which is extremely well equipped. The setting is divine - we could have sat there all day just enjoying the ambience." (PJ, 2009) “Your recommendations and advice were invaluable. We would certainly recommend the house with its magic views. Greatly admired the construction of the whole area of pool and upper deck. Lovely views off the pool, almost like an infinity pool. Worth another visit in the near future." (CH, 2009) “We had one of the most relaxing and enjoyable holidays we can remember; the house undoubtedly played a big part in this! We loved the stunning views, the exceptionally comfortable beds and chairs, the glorious outside areas, the great pool, cooking on the BBQ and eating on the large terrace. The house, although obviously in the rustic Tuscan style, is very well equipped with high quality fittings and comfortable furniture. The area is absolutely beautiful, and the local town exactly what you would hope for from a small Tuscan village. We had a wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable holiday The locals are all so friendly and helpful, which certainly makes a change from some places.” (JD, 2009) “Tasteful and comfortable furnishings, spacious and beautifully landscaped terraced areas leading to the pool with ‘all mod cons’. ‘Serene’ and other adjectives are needed to cover the lifting of the soul and the feeling of happiness that the house, terraces and countryside induce.” (LH, USA, 2009) “ We loved the house, the garden, the whole beautiful region and Bagnone itself, as well as the people, and if we can, we’ll most certainly recommend it to our friends.” (AP, 2008) “We can look back on a wonderful holiday at your house. We visited Pisa and Lucca, and the deserted sheep village on the hills. We walked to Iera twice and down to Bagnone several times using the short cut (once we found it!). The St John the Baptist procession in the village took me back 50 years to my own childhood when even in England such processions were common. The neighbours were very friendly - we were invited to join the celebrations after the procession.” (AG, 2008) “We had a wonderful holiday. The weather was mixed [early April] and we were glad of the central heating and the wood burning stoves and the chance to watch a video in the evenings. It is a beautiful house in a lovely setting and I keep recommending it! We appreciated the homely surroundings and the very helpful information folders which you provided it was useful to be able to take the maps and information out with us. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, despite our lack of Italian.” (PM, 2008) “We were bowled over by your beautifully restored home in Mochignano Chiesa and its magnificent setting high amongst the Tuscan hills. The view from the first floor room was a little taste of heaven, scented with a gentle breeze that flowed up the valley and populated by the wheeling swifts. Your home had everything one could wish for in a home of your own, and if we couldn't find something straight away, a quick glance at your book resolved the issue. The guest manual was well laid out, comprehensive and informative. Our friends commented that you could tell a lot about people by what fills their home and they thought you would be easy to befriend. A small example is the lovely selection of Italy-themed books. We enjoyed the terrace and your English garden, and observed with interest the work being completed above the pool and the fascinating discussions it provoked with your farmer neighbours.” (CP, 2008) “ I can’t wait to return to Mochignano Chiesa; I hope the small village never loses its charm. The house was larger than expected, which was a pleasant surprise. Everyone devoured reading the manual. Visits included: Lucca, Florence (overnight), hanging out at the Villa, Chianti Region (overnight), Santa Margharita & Portofino, Cinque Terre, Sienna, Carrara, Luni, and hanging out at the Villa!!!" (HR, USA 2008) “Osteria Musetti in Pastina [nearby village] is a gem. We spent our first full day there having a 3 hour lunch. It was the perfect entry into Tuscan country living. In short, I loved your villa and the furnishings - the mixture of ancient and modern is so tastefully done it really pulls the place together - the landscaping, the neighbors, the views and the clean mountain air. This was the best vacation ever, much of it because we had such a nice place to stay as a "home base." (JC, USA, 2008) “No photos could do justice to the views. The facilities provided were splendid and the absence of English voices was a plus. It is so un-touristy and for us that is a real extra. Cinque Terre was easily done by train - 24 euros return for four was a bargain.” (JN, 2007) “It’s a wonderful home and we had a lovely time. We really appreciated the opportunity to stay in such a fantastic setting. It’s impossible not to relax with such a breathtaking and peaceful view. We spent hours simply gazing across the landscape!” (NH, 2007) “We really loved it all.” (MM, 2007, returned 2013) “The house is not the usual 'holiday villa'; it's a remarkable historic building lovingly restored with every possible convenience, well equipped and stocked (light bulbs etc) and with stunning views. Bagnone is one of the prettiest, most likeable towns with good shops and cafes. We think this is a magical place for a holiday which could be as restful or as active as you wish." (JR, 2007) “The house was even better than expected & we thoroughly enjoyed the experience of living in a typical Italian house. How tastefully you have restored it. Loved the location of the house - the remoteness only added to the charm, with very friendly neighbours. We also really enjoyed the close proximity to the coast. We found the house book very helpful, especially some of the walks and trips out and about, you covered every eventuality that we encountered. We feel that we have only dipped our toe in the water, so maybe a return trip at a later date.” (NT, 2006) “Our stay at Al Palazz was idyllic. It is an excellent base if you like to take lots of side trips, but we found the immediate area so enchanting that we were content to spend most of our time close to home.” (MCM, USA, 2006) “This place gives a whole new meaning to the word view! We had a wonderful time. We used your booklet as the guide and referred to it endlessly. We had difficulty adjusting to stores closing at noon, and then sometimes, but not always, reopening at four …ah, culture differences!” (KF, USA, 2005) “We had a wonderfully peaceful week which was what we sorely needed. This place is heaven. The fact that we didn’t phone you is an indication of how comprehensively helpful your house folder is. You provided the best end part to any holiday we have ever had and we were able to thoroughly relax after being all cultured out in Florence and Sienna”. (MW, 2005) |
Our favourite answerphone message of all time ...
We ask all our renters to call us when they arrive, so we know for sure that everything’s OK. Here’s our favourite message: “Hi David, Just to say we’re in your absolutely beautiful house. Can we stay here for ever? It’s absolutely amazing and everything is superb …” (DM) Artist Peter Osborne (2008) painted views from the house for us and named it The Mochignano Eden on a book cover he designed for us, based on the Inspector Montalbano detective series you'll find at the house.
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