We (my wife and I, our son (8 years old) and his grandmother) were there for a short vacation in the beginning of November 2012. We liked it very much. It’s an excellent place and the people there are remarkable. It is nice to take a walk there; we sometimes walked as far as the neighboring village. There is a supermarket in the village where people can buy whatever they need and a good pizzeria too. Nothing unpleasant about the place, we loved it and would go there again.

"Not only is Mauro’s haven near San Benedetto Val di Sambro a veritable find, but so is the man, himself. His hospitality, generosity, and warmth are exceptional. He speaks fluent English and German, is full of interesting anecdotes, a myriad of life experiences and willing to debate and exchange opinions. Mauro communicates openly and honestly with his guests, making them feel at home from the first moment. He also gave us the opportunity to sample his delicious homemade bread, pasta, cheese, honey, elderberry syrup to name just some of the delicacies he creates. Our “couchsurfing” host is determined to make his small “agriturismo” environmentally sustainable and become completely self sufficient. I have no qualms that someday, he will indeed achieve this. We stayed in the “Fienile, one of the beautifully restored apartments in the stone house. It is a charming , simply yet tastefully furnished , functional, and cosy apartment for 4-6 individuals. From every single window, one can enjoy splendid views, and the large terrace overlooking the forest and hillside is ideal for relaxing or having meals outdoors. Our children loved visiting/feeding the animals with Mauro. The swing hanging from a branch of one of the large trees at the side of the house also proved a recreational magnet. Although the weather during our visit last week was not conducive to swimming , I can imagine that the pool on the property, available to guests, serves as a welcome amenity during hot summer days. Having had a sauna in the small, well equipped finnish sauna near the pool on one of the cooler evenings, I can vouch for its soothing, therapeutic qualities. An alternative to cooling down in the cold shower in between sessions is a dive into the pool (10 degrees at this time of the year) for the brave of heart! In the nearby vicinity, there are numerous small villages, with churches, meandering alleys and interesting market squares worth exploring as well as tranquil, varied walking trails for the experienced or inexperienced hiker which take you off the beaten track over streams, along rock paths, past old mills, abandoned houses etc. . One cannot ask for a more idyllic setting and for us it was the perfect compromise - rural serenity yet close enough to the unique cultural centres to which the area owes its reputation. For culture vultures, Bologna, Florence, Ferrara as well as other Tuscan towns are all within commutable/driving distance. We took the train to Bologna twice (30 euros round trip for 3 full and one half fares ) and Florence, once –needless to say these are beautiful, culturally/historically rich cities with a wealth to discover. Our trip to Italy, San Benedetto and Mauro’s “agriturismo” was memorable. Our only regret is that our sojourn was so short. We hope to return sometime soon for more stories, and rich experiences a la mauro. Thank you for everything, Mauro and good luck with your endeavours!!! This holiday accommodation definitely deserves a 6 out of 5! "

"The place is beautiful, perfect location - we visited Bologna, Florence, Siena. The house is nice and comfortable. Our stay was pleasant, but very short."

"I wish I could give this property 6/5! We stayed in two out of the three apartments (one in one week, one in the next), all of them contained in a beautifully-renovated stone house in an amazing rural setting with views out on all sides over the hills and forests. Fabulous sunsets. The first apartment (the one with the arched windows in the photographs) has two spacious and airy bedrooms with double beds, together with a smart shower-room, a large kitchen/dining area and a balcony. The second apartment (one large double bedroom and a big sofabed) is on the ground floor below, and has doors leading directly from the rooms out onto the stone-paved terrace at the front of the house, as well as the vine-covered pergola to the side. The beds were really comfortable, and the kitchens well-equipped. The farm is set along a rural track, not far from the road but with no passing traffic (unless you count horse-riders!) Mauro has done a great job restoring the building, which has terracotta floors and wooden beams but also all mod cons - including wi-fi. Each apartment has its own outdoor eating area with furniture (as well as good garden lighting), and there's lots of space in the garden/meadow around the pool in which to stretch out beneath the many fruit trees, or in the sun. The pool is about 5' deep throughout, great for a proper swim and kids can just jump in. It also has a paddling pool beside it which is ideal for families with babies or toddlers. The property is part of a small farm, where Mauro keeps a few chickens, rabbits, sheep, goats, cows - our neighbours' children loved seeing the animals and exploring the farm, which is small enough that they could go off together while their parents relaxed in the garden. It really is an ideal place for a family holiday but also for couples or friends who want to be near, but not in, the major cities of central Italy. And the location is ideal if you want a holiday out in the countryside but don't want to be completely cut-off because it's only about 10 minutes' walk from San Benedetto, a small hill town with a good supermarket (Crai: open 9-1 and 4-7.30, closed all day Thursday and Sunday afternoon I think - there's also the ECU about five minutes' drive away, open similar hours but closed all day Monday instead). The town has a couple of bars (one of which has gelati), a newsagent, cashpoint, pharmacist - and the Osteria/Pizzeria Lo Stuzzichino which has really good food at good prices (if you go on Friday/Saturday, they also have a special menu of fish dishes). The property is about 35 minutes' drive from Bologna, and about 45 minutes from Florence, but there's also a train station 8km away where you can park for free and get the train to both cities in about the same time for roughly €8 return. But what really made our holiday special was getting to know Mauro, who is just fantastic. His English is excellent (as is his German), and he's a really interesting guy from Florence who left a career in textile design (I think that's right!) to establish this place. Both he and his family were immediately welcoming and friendly. They live in an amazing wooden house on the farm, and Mauro is an incredibly creative, generous person who offered us wine, honey, fruit and vegetables from the farm. He held a couple of evening get-togethers which meant we made friends with our neighbours over drinks. Thank you, Thomas and Sandra, for speaking such very good English! "