Agriturismo Marilena la Casella — Hotel in Lisciano Niccone

I booked months in advance and emailed Marilena to let her know we were on track to arrive as scheduled. Nevertheless, when we arrived, no one was on the premises. We wandered around and finally dedeuced that the address number we had on the booking confirmation was the actual apartment number for our rental. There was a key in the door to the apartment, but no note of welcome, no explanation. It was odd and a little unsettling, but we decided to move in since rain threatened. Marilena eventually arrived and it seemed we'd done the right thing, so we chalked it up to an informal atmosphere. Note: Marilena speaks limited English and Giuseppe virtually none; emails are clearly aided by Google Translate or some such. We got by fine, but just FYI.||||Dinner our first night was very good and gave new meaning to "farm to table" since ingredients for the cured meats, homemade sage ravioli, and turkey breasts cooked in balsamic came a max of 100 yards from the table. Giuseppe was a jovial host and proud of his meats. Marilena was cute in her pink cook's outfit. No prices were stated in advance and we were just presented with a bill at the end. Advance explanation of the menu and prices would have been very welcome. The only choices offered came re the color of wine and at dessert. We enjoyed dinner, but given the price-to-value, we did not eat there again.||||Unfortunately, that first dinner was the high point of food. Breakfast was downright pathetic. A large, dry store-bought tart was recycled throughout our 4-night stay, although another similar store-bought breakfast cake joined it (and was also recycled) when a Finnish family with two young children arrived. There were a few sad store-bought croissants, melba toast, a little granola (which was good), a tub of plain yogurt (nearly empty the first morning, but happily replenished), sugary juice drinks, some jams and there was some honey from Marilena's bees and hard-boiled eggs. (Almost laughably, there were two nearly-empty large bottles of water, one sparkling which must have gone flat long ago, but which appeared on the breakfast table each day.) Some of Giuseppe's cured meats made a reappearance which my husband enjoyed. For the first time ever in Italy, I had to ask for coffee (or we'd have had none) and was offered only espresso or a lungo. No caffe latte, no cappuccino. The Finnish family pronounced breakfast "horrible" with "nothing to feed the children." They left early for various reasons, including the food and an empty pool which was a big selling point for them. (Giuseppe did fill the pool, but it took time and wasn't ready for swimming soon enough for the Finns.) I'd also chosen for the pool, but the weather was too cool for us southern types to want to swim.||||Our 2-bedroom apartment was quaint and spacious, decorated with charm. The bathroom fixtures are new and nice. The bed was comfortable. The t.v. was tiny, ancient and did not respond to the remote or its own buttons (but did have a modern channel box connected). When the Finnish family arrived and were housed next door, we realized how little sound barrier there was between apartments--and we shared a large balcony. We were thankful they had young children who went to bed early and that they did not smoke on the balcony where ashtrays were set out. Noise could have been a real problem with a family of older children or even just adults from a culture with late hours. A situation we could easily imagine in busier times, so be advised.||||||Although billed as "agriturismo" and they do have small farm animals and a vegetable and herb garden, Marilena La Casella is not large and was less of a working farm than I imagined. It's more a small, casual rural homestay with playground and simple soccer field. Wi-fi was fast enough on occasion, but less than reliable, dropping frequently. The location was good for day trips in all directions to both Umbria and Tuscany. There's nowhere within walking distance of Marilena La Casella in terms of places to eat or shop or of any historical interest. There are neighbors adjoining the property. In retrospect, I'd probably stay somewhere else, but I don't regret our stay.||||A car is essential. You can reach Marilena La Casella from two directions, but both involve winding, unlit rural roads. Use caution if driving here after dark. There are two grocery stores in Mercatale about a 10-minute drive away. Ristorante Pizzeria da Gianna in Lisciano Niccone is also about the same distance, is beautiful with a great terrace and good food. No pizza, though, except on weekends when we were there. A big disappointment. (It's hidden up a hill, look for her sign on...

We enjoyed a week with our 2 boys aged 3& 5 yrs but a car is essential. ||We stayed In "Marilena" apartment which has a double bed with a large upper floor balcony / terrace attached by double doors. I mention this because I wonder how safe this structure is? We enjoyed breakfasts sitting out there but I did worry for the children ( the fencing was not to standard so|My eyes were always in the back of my head incase they had opened the doors and walked onto the balcony !!) |The boys stayed in a room which had 3 comfortable single beds but again safety was a concern as the low window could be shut but not locked so tiny fingers could easily open the window & it would be a shear drop if they decided to stand on the window sill or lean over !!!!. I couldn't take the risk so my husband and I had to sleep separately & with one eye open,each with a child as neither room was child safe! |The kitchen down stairs had enough cutlery & utensils to prepare a wedding feast but there was no cupboard space to store food apart from the fridge? |I spoke to others there & they had lots of cupboard space but not even a knife. |There was a dishwasher & apparently there is a laundry room with iron/ washing machine but come prepared as you don't get a spare bin bag, no dish washer tablets, no dish cloth nothing so this all has to be bought! We did get a small complimentary shampoo/ conditioner |It was however very very clean & the views are exquisite!!|The pool area -|lovely shaded area with sunloungers !|The pool however doesn't seem to have a filter & I didn't see it cleaned once so the water was very very murky, we all had ear infections but that didn't stop the kids absolutely loving it.|However there was a large Italian party came to the restaurant one lunch, they were having a lovely time, very noisy, music singing and they were all in the pool which we didn't mind however the older Italian teenage boys were very rough with our children's inflatables, popped them with no care just moved on to somebody else's inflatables-i felt awful asking the young Italian children to get off all the pool toys & remove them from the pool! This went on till 8 pm!|The following day whilst our 3& 5 yr old played in the pool with other children the same age at 2 pm, we were approached by Marilena and asked to be quiet!!!!! ||The food as previously reviewed was very expensive for very basic food. There are lovely pizzerias and restaurants locally which provide a friendly service with great food so I wouldn't eat there again. I felt we were an in convenience! ||Giuseppe was a jolly person who we would see watering the plants. Marilena looked sad and tired. |If they improved customer service,cleaned the pool,sorted out some minor issues with the apartments, this place would be fabulous x may be we visited after a...

We were excited to be going to Marilena's and experience Umbrian home cooking but left disappointed in both the meal and shocked at the price that was never mentioned (I guess we should have asked). The standard was well below other local eaterys.||The restaurant had little ambience, a TV constantly playing banal Italy's funniest home videos and a dog wandering around, whilst all quaint for a while, the constant TV volume was very annoying after a short time.||A standard plate of antipasti was provided first and was the usuaul good standard for the Region, followed by a ravioli pasta with limited amount of sage sauce, leaving it to be bland, but the main course of meat was the most disappointing. A large flat and dry pork chop, a salty sausage and a fatty piece of speck, with the only accompaniment being a bowl of spinach. Very disappointing. Dessert was a tiramisu and pannacotta that were ok.||We chose a local wine that was tagged at 18euro but overpriced for quality and we left half the bottle.|| The biggest surprise was a bill of 91euros, well above what we had been paying across the region, even at the high-end restaurant of Il Caldaro, or the 26euros a head we paid the next night only 2kms down the road.||Through the night Marilena circled the tables, but avoided us, presumably because we were not Italian. Cant help but feel it was a night to leverage a profit from a tourist.||it was a...