Podere L'Aquila

Firstly Assunta and Rudiger the hosts are lovely people who could not do more to make you feel at home. Assunta’s cooking is incredible, Rudigers hospitality is brilliant with an eagerness to show you the area, take you on bike tours or walks. If you get a bee sting, they will help, the car has issues, they will be there. Really kind people. Also the model of everyone eating together and 1 set time (8pm) is a really unique and lovely way to meet new people and eat together like a family. The pools (it has 2) have incredible views. The kitchen was well stocked with all the things we could need and every apartment had an area / private terrace where you could enjoy the views in the morning whilst you ate your breakfast in the cool and read your book. Our teenage boys and myself loved the pool, there were always beds available and the families we ate with the night before would share a vino at the pool side or join in with fun in the pool. Was a great environment to be in.

It is 30 min drive from everywhere. Supermarket - 30 mins. Other restaurant - 30 minutes. So a supermarket run took most of your morning. No bakeries near by for fresh bread or pastries (bread dries in a day due to humidity and temp). Also the rooms have no cooling in them. No fans. No air con. Usually not an issue as it’s in the mountains so usually a cool breeze blows and all windows have insect mesh on them so can leave windows open. But when we were there for 2 weeks there was no breeze. Thankfully we took a pushchair / stroller fan per person with us so those helped. Also you need insect repellent. We got eaten alive every night and it became a bit of a distraction. Having said all the above they are first world problems. If you are looking for a place to escape the world and read a book and re-energise, then this is the place you need to go to.

The views are incredible and Assunta’s cooking in delicious.

Nothing, we loved everything about it.

Hosts, food, setting

- Exceptional values for money - Gorgeous nature and surroundings - Big, clean, relaxing pool - Perfect for detox from city stress and daily routine - Formidable hosts - Well furnished apartments

- It's an old farm house, quite remote from town, so expect: - Some old equipments - Long travel fro grocery - Bad internet connections

Oh my goodness, I could write a novel about how wonderful our stay at Podere L'Aquila was. First, Assunta and Rudiger have perfected the art of hospitality. We felt as welcomed and at home as if we were at OUR home. They are simply delightful. The view from the property is breathtaking. Every turn brings a new vista. Our room was very well-appointed, clean, and comfortable. The pool was still open and offered a relaxing spot to chill out. Assunta's dinners were sumptuous. Delicious food, well-prepared, and served on their patio overlooking the valley. The produce from her impressive garden provided a fresh, local vibe. Her meals were simply delicious and were accompanied by a surprisingly varied wine and beer collection. Pizza Night on Friday night is not to be missed. Their gorgeous new wood-fired pizza oven and all the fixings made it a fun evening. Definitely take advantage of the communal dinners. They were a highlight of our stay. To top it off, Assunta invited my wife into her kitchen to help prepare one of the meals. This was a MAJOR treat for my wife and produced a great memory. Bottom line, if you are looking for kind hospitality, awesome food, a spectacular view, and a place to relax I can't recommend Podere L'Aquila strongly enough. We'll be back, for sure!

The bumpy gravel road to the property was a bit of a challenge, but we got used to it. Probably wise to rent a car with a bit of ground clearance to navigate it safely. We had an Audi Q5 and it worked fine. Honestly, the remote location added to the appeal for us. Made it feel like we had found a hidden gem. :^)

Our stay here was the best part of our 5 weeks of travelling. The location looks and feels like a postcard. The food was amazing! The hosts were amazing. Perfection! We will be back

We loved it all. If you asked my kids they missed having a tv, but I think it was good for them to not have one for the week. (They survived haha!)

Awesome hosts and location. They cook amazing food for you upon request and serve a great breakfast as well. The apartments are fully equipped with everything you need. You feel like at home.