BrianS6601
Google
I was expecting something special at Casa d'autore given the beautiful pictures, the very good reviews and upper price range. I was not gravely disappointed, but there is definitely room for improvement at an establishment of this high calibre.|The guest house is very close to the lovely main square and other attractions of the walkable old town, and free and unrestricted street parking was easily found - in mid-June anyway. Lovely big bedroom in beautifully restored old palazzo, big bathroom, all in restful tones of white and beige, matching the old stone. Good linen. However, no coffee or tea making facilities in room, nor anywhere else in the establishment, as my diligent search, in desperation for a cup of tea, proved. At €220 per night, this is not acceptable.|Lovely pool and inner courtyard. It has been paved since the pictures were published here, showing grass and flowers, which is a pity. It looks more like a small and quite stark piazza now, with one or two trees and shrubs, a few struggling geraniums and a magnificent old olive tree. |The house is very beautifully if minimally decorated with some lovely antiques and some quite peculiar modern pieces which, in my opinion, rather jar on the eye. I especially loathed those brassy metallic side tables/pillars in the dining room. To what end are they there?|The place is run by the sweet Maris. She is very kind but merely a servant fee'd and can't really do anything to mitigate the impersonal flavour of the place as a whole.|The breakfast, despite a delicious omlett prepared specially by Maris, was entirely average. Peculiar absence of rolls and decent bread (except for several types of croissants and toasting bread.)|My key to the room was impossible to operate and i hadn't time to do a PhD in Italian security arrangements. It caused me some inconvenience and delay. |All in all, then, a competent guest house, but very much in need of improvement in certain basic respects. See my 5* review of a similar place in Matino for how things should work at the Casa d'autore.|