Classic Italy

Charming, obviously well-loved property, not the usual bland holiday let. We found the house clean, comfortable and well-equipped. The pool far exceeded expectations with great views; good sunbathing and shade areas; large area of grass; good sunbeds and outdoor dining facilities. Extremely well-equipped for families. Sitting by the pool gazing out stress justs melts away. Centrally located for driving to the coast and many interesting tourist and cultural destinations. Local friendly resturants especially the Osteria which is fun, friendly with great food at reasonable prices as long as you like animals.
This is not the place for you if you have mobility problems (stairs), dislike drivng on country/mountain roads or want bright lights and pubs nearby.
We had a great time, plan to return and would highly recommend this property.

This was exactly what we were looking for. We (my wife and 2 teenage daughters) enjoyed 3 weeks in Italy based in Piandicastello; the most beautiful hilltop hamlet where we got a real sense of rural Italian life. The pool is fantastic with the most amazing views over the surrounding areas - the pictures don't lie it's breathtaking! The house is typical of the area, it was comfortable and clean providing all the bits and pieces noted on the inventory and it was reassuring that we were met by Frances, a Scottish expat, who manages the property. The downstairs area is a big store, basic but it has a table tennis table for the kids (if they need to get out of the sunshine) and there were inflatables for the pool; volleyballs; footballs; badminton equipment and nets. I even had a go at making pizza in the forno!

You should remember that this house is at the top of a mountain but our kids were happy with the balance the place gave us, quiet and peaceful but with the options for "biz"; if they wanted it Rimini and Cattolica were only about half an hour or so away. From a touring point of view we were about half an hour from the autostrada which opened up the whole Adriatic coast and the train links from Cattolica were also good - we even squeezed in a trip to Verona!

This was our second stay at Piandicastello, and I would thoroughly recommend this property. Facilities are as described and, in particular, all the bedrooms are of a good size and the beds very comfortable. The kitchen area is very well equipped, and the whole house was spotless (when we arrived that is!).
The views around the property are stunning, including the view from the bath!
For the more energetic, there are many walks to be had in the area. Plus, of course, there is the pool. As regards nearby attractions, don't miss San Marino and Urbino, as well as the Adriatic Coast.
To cap it all, just a ten minute walk away is probably my favourite restaurant anywhere! - Osteria di Mirecul - pizza, pasta, anitpasti, main meals - and all very reasonably priced.
We hope to return next year.

I have no idea who the family from Manchester are or what they expected from their holiday - however we stayed there last year, booked again this year (unfortunately had to cancel due to family bereavement) and are most definitely going again next year.

If you read the testimonials I would suggest that they paint a far more accurate picture of what to expect.

The property is described as being "away from it all" and it is. It is described as wheelchair inaccessible and it is. It is described as suitable for the elderly and infirm and it is - my wife is disabled and had no problems with access etc.

You would expect that a location that is described as "mountain" would be likely to be up an incline and around typically tight bends as is the case with almost all away from it all mountain properties!

We also found that our two teenagers absolutely loved the place - so much so that they never once wanted to listen to CD players or watch DVDs. The pool, table tennis table, local restaurants and of course the fabulous surrounding towns and villages enabled us all to really appreciate the "real Italy" away from the tourists and associated issues that normally prevent people from seeing a country and its people in their true light.

We found both Frances and Gaultiero (pool/handyman) to be a real bonus for answering queries about the locality and keeping the pool so clean and showing us how to change the gas cylinder (which we didn't need to do) - thanks Gaultiero!.

Oh yes ... given that the accommodation is clearly stated as being on the first floor and not downstairs, I am unsure how else anyone could expect to access a pool other than by going downstairs again (unless you choose to dive from an upstairs window!). As for having to walk round to the back of the house for the pool (a flat level path) - did the visitors really want the pool to be at the front of the house? For the record the pool is really large and nicely shallow at one end and all the way round the edges at the deep end too.

Upstairs living quarters - clearly spelt out in the opening paragraph - are inevitably going to involve steps. The steps themselves are solid, level and direct with good support all the way up.

With respect I would suggest that if you are looking for a holiday with CDs, DVDs, level access, and no twisty uneven roads ...... then perhaps you should try Rimini!

A superb place for a holiday that delivers EXACTLY what you expect from the description.

My family (husband, son aged 24, daughter aged 21 plus boyfriend ) and I stayed here in Pian di Castello for a wonderful week in July 2009. We found the owners exceptionally friendly and helpful, and their description of the house to be accurate and informative. I agree that the local roads are bumpy, but this is the real, RURAL Italy, not urban UK ! The house has everything one could want for a lovely holiday in a truly unspoilt part of Italy. In addition we all loved the way the house had been modernised and yet kept the original features. It was wonderful to swim in such a fantastic pool, surrounded by fabulous views. We certainly hope to return one day, and would not hesitate to recommend this property to friends and family.