Go to page:     2     3     Accommodation     Location      Favourite places     Prices & contacts To print any page, go to "file/print" on your browser, or right-click your mouse in a blank space Casa del Lauro - Genuine Reviews Review Submitted: October 6, 2009   Date of Stay: September 2009   Jaunty from South Carolina "But who else is staying with you?" was the question we received most often when friends and family saw the photo of the beautiful villa and grounds that make up Casa del Lauro. "Just us!" we'd gleefully reply. This is the perfect location for a dream vacation to bask in the delights of the green heart of Italy (the food! the views! the sun! the food!) with all the comforts and conveniences of home. Green your heart will be with envy wishing you were fortunate enough to have been born one of the friendly locals. From our lavish post we were easily able to visit numerous charming hilltowns in western Umbria and eastern Tuscany, usually two or more in one day. Coming home and throwing open the shutters, cracking open a bottle of Prosecco that the owners had put out for our enjoyment along with peaches, olive oil and milk for our coffee, taking a soak in the large tub with views of the olive groves, or perhaps a dip in the pool, then watching a brilliant sunset over the rolling hills before having dinner under the grapevine- & wisteria-roofed loggia or in a nearby town...this is your vacation holiday at Casa del Lauro. Review Submitted: October 6, 2009    Date of Stay: September 2009 We (party of 6) spent an fantastic week in September at Casa del Lauro - the house and surrounding area was fantastic, we couldn't have asked for more! The welcome gifts were lovely, and we very much enjoyed the home grown grapes and olive oil. And Kathryn, Silvio and the two cats also looked after us well. We were impressed by how well equipped the house was, especially the kitchen as we like to cook when on holiday, but also there was a fantastic selection of books and music to keep us occupied. The restaurant recommendations that the owners provided were also very handy, I think we tried 3 or 4 and all were good! In the surrounding area we thought Castiglione del Lago and Lake Trasimeno were well worth a visit, we also took a boat across to one of the islands. But most days we just enjoyed taking in the views at the Casa! Review Submitted: May 29, 2009   Date of Stay: May 2009  Malclyn from Bournemouth Casa del Lauro is a holiday location that dreams are made of. Upon arrival we were greeted warmly and shown around and immediately we were captivated by the rustic charm and beauty of the house, its gardens and spectacular surrounding scenery. The house and beautifully kept grounds are a credit to the owners and clearly demonstrate their love of the place. We had never spent so much time outside on a holiday, sunbathing, reading or sitting under the shade of the Pergola to eat, or listening to the cuckoo and star gazing at night with a glass of wine by the pool. We did visit some of the local walled towns, including Citta Di Pieve, Cortona and the nearby lake at Castiglioni di Lago which demonstrate the wonderful Umbrian culture, and we also ate in some of the local restaurants. But we did not spend half as much time as normal sightseeing as it was so hard to drag ourselves away. The pool was a real treat for us and we even watched the sun go down one evening whilst swimming. The house itself envelopes you in sheer comfort and every need is catered for, making it a real home from home. From every aspect of the house and from every window there are breathtaking views and as I said the house itself is very pretty, by day and by night. There was also plenty of choice in terms of food shops for self catering and the nearest town of Chiusi is mentioned in the film ‘My House in Umbria’, starring Dame Maggie Smith. Casa del Lauro captivates you and, as you can tell, it certainly has a warm place in our hearts. Thank you both for a wonderful holiday, we would thoroughly recommend Casa del Lauro. Date Submitted: 23 January, 2009   Date of stay: 14 June, 2008   John from UK: We’ve stayed at Casa del Lauro three times and each occasion has been so welcoming and relaxing. Whilst we’ve enjoyed visiting local towns and villages some of our favourite days have been spent ‘at home’. With jasmine perfuming the air we enjoyed a glass or two of wine on the patio and let the world come to us! A pair of Hoopoe would often fly into the pine trees in the garden and then down onto the lawn to dig for insects. It was a very shy yet mystical bird to watch. Regularly in the early evenings we heard and then saw a flock of Bee Eaters flying high in the sky above the house as they rose to catch insects. Their call sounded rather like a softly blown referee’s whistle – and that’s how we knew they were nearby. We first saw them sitting in a group on a telegraph wire which crossed the track leading up to the house. Golden Oriole called to each other throughout the day. We saw them regularly as they flew between the trees just a field away. They love soft fruit and stripped a cherry tree quite quickly. They’re beautiful to watch whilst doing so - unless it’s your tree! Most evenings just before nightfall a Little Owl flew in over the olive trees, across the patio and rested on a telegraph pole. It sat there each time just for a few minutes before flying off. Later in the evening Fireflies came to life darting all around us. And, although we didn’t see the Nightingale it sang us to sleep most nights during our first week in 2008. During two of our visits we saw the ‘Scarce Swallowtail’ butterfly – an absolutely wonderful sight flitting around the lavender plants. Humming-bird hawk moths loved to hover over the pots of geraniums. Just down the road and well worth a visit is Lago di Chiusi where there is a magnificent heronry. The smaller, and for us rarer, Squacco herons could be seen standing on the lily pads by the edge of the lake. On a couple of the warmer evenings we heard the grunting of, but never actually saw, Cinghiale. Both times they were in the new olive grove next to the house just the other side of the laurel hedge. Perhaps next time …. Date Submitted: December 08, 2008    Date of Stay: June 2007   Michael from Dorset, UK: We had always heard that Tuscany was the most beautiful, tranquil and relaxing place to visit. Such descripitive adjectives seem to have their epicentre at Casa del Lauro and then eminate out from there, as ripples on a pond. To awake in the morning with the sun streaming in from a clear blue sky, to hear only the birds and crickets and to look out over the Umbrian hills from Casa del Lauro's hilltop setting was nothing short of sheer bliss. This is not so much a holiday rental as a home. Comfortable, spacious and wonderfully positioned from where to set out to visit the many charming walled towns and villages, to walk in the hills and to relax in a private garden by the pool. If you are looking for peace and quiet, excellent local tavernas and plenty to do within easy reach for those that want it, stop looking, Casa del Lauro is to us the ultimate. Date Submitted: December 04, 2008   Date of Stay: September 2008   Osric from Yorkshire, UK: I cannot imagine a more beautiful place to relax and unwind in complete solitude with a stunning pool sharing the same views as the house overlooking the distant Tuscan Hills. Inside the house is immaculate and VERY comfortable - the owners obviously go to great pains to keep the house in perfect condition. An excellent list of dining places is provided - and in the local village of Moiano the restaurant there is first rate and very good value as compared to the larger towns, and is just 5 minutes down the road.Within one hour - or less - there are lots of places to visit ranging from Orvieto Assisi and Perugia to the smaller towns of Castiglione del Lago and Citta del Pieve and the delightful hill villages of Paciano and Panicale. I would recommend Casa del Lauro VERY highly.