Unbelievable Umbrian Escape: Your Dream Casa Vacanze Awaits in Magione, Italy!
Unbelievable Umbrian Escape: My Dream Casa Vacanze? Maybe… Let's Be Real, Folks! (A Review That Actually Feels Real)
Okay, buckle up Buttercups, because I'm about to spill the beans (and maybe some spilled Chianti) on Unbelievable Umbrian Escape near Magione, Italy. They call it a "dream Casa Vacanze," and after my stay, well, the dream is… complicated. Let's just say it's closer to a solid, delicious risotto with a few burnt bits, you know? And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
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First Impressions: The Good, The Slightly Odd, And the "Oh, Hello There!"
The property itself is… sprawling. Seriously, I felt like I was entering a Tuscan village just to get to my room. The views? Stunning. Rolling hills, olive groves, the whole shebang. Instantly, you're hit with that classic Umbrian vibe – tranquility, beauty, and the faint scent of woodsmoke. Pure bliss. Or so I thought.
Accessibility?… Well…
Now, before I get too carried away, let's talk turkey. Accessibility. This is where things get… interesting. While they claim to have "Facilities for disabled guests," the reality is a bit more nuanced. The property’s vastness means getting around, even in some common areas, is a workout. I didn't personally need extensive accessibility, but I observed some potential challenges for guests with mobility issues. There's an elevator, which is a massive plus, and some of the rooms might be more accessible than others, but definitely double-check specifics before you book if that's a primary concern. Forget about easy access to the pool with a view, unless you book very near to it.
On-Site Indulgence: The Spa, The Gym, The Food… My Stomach Makes Noises Thinking About It
Alright, let's dive into the juicy bits. The Spa/Sauna situation? Fantastic. Seriously, the Sauna was a godsend after a day of exploring. Steamroom too. Full stop. The Massage, well, it was worth the wait. The therapists were clearly skilled, and I left feeling like a noodle made of pure relaxation.
The Pool with view? Oh, the pool. It is as picturesque as the pictures suggest. I spent a solid afternoon lounging poolside, sipping Aperol Spritzes (courtesy of the Poolside bar) and feeling like a celebrity. And the views… chef's kiss.
The Fitness center? It's there. I saw it. I peeked in. Didn't actually use it (hey, a girl's gotta relax, right?). But, it seemed well-equipped for those inclined.
Now, about the food… Dining, drinking, and snacking are definitely a highlight. The Restaurants on-site had a diverse selection, from the A la carte in restaurant to a Vegetarian restaurant. I even had a Soup that made me weep (in a good way!). The Western Cuisine in restaurant was especially good! They offered a Happy Hour, but let's be real, every hour felt like a happy hour in Umbria! There's a Coffee shop for morning caffeine fixes, and a Snack bar for when you just need a little something.
Cleanliness & Safety: Feeling Safe, But Not Perfect (Let's Be Real)
Okay, let's get down to brass tacks. Cleanliness and safety are crucial these days. And honestly, Unbelievable Umbrian Escape had a strong showing. They do the whole Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, and all that jazz. Feeling safe is paramount, and after a long haul from the US, that mattered. The Hot water linen and laundry washing, Rooms sanitized between stays, and Staff trained in safety protocols gave me peace of mind. There was even Hand sanitizer everywhere. However, it wasn't flawless. I did notice a few cobwebs here and there. But hey, it's a rural property!
Regarding the more official stuff, the First aid kit gave peace of mind. The Doctor/nurse on call option is nice, but I didn’t experience needing it.
Internet: The Lifeline (Mostly!)
Internet is a modern-day necessity. Thankfully, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and Internet access – wireless were available and mostly reliable. I managed to get my work done (ugh), and actually had a good time. I needed to watch the football match back home. The Internet access – LAN was also present, though I didn't personally use it.
Rooms: My Cozy Umbrian Cave (Plus the Occasional Ant)
My room? Lovely. Okay, more than lovely. It was a spacious sanctuary with a comfy Seating area and Air conditioning. The Bed was incredibly comfortable, and the Blackout curtains were clutch for those glorious Umbrian naps.
I had a Seating area, Desk, Coffee/tea maker, and a Refrigerator. The Bathroom was modern and well-appointed. The Additional toilet was a bonus. Also I loved my Bathtub, I was feeling like a Roman goddess!
Daily housekeeping kept things tidy. There was a safe box, and the Wi-Fi [free] was a lifesaver. I did find an ant wandering along the Carpeting on my last day. That was memorable.
Services and Conveniences: Stuff You Might Need
They offer a whole host of Services and conveniences, including Daily housekeeping, Concierge, Laundry service, Dry cleaning, and even Baby sitting service. I didn't use most of them (I’m a grown woman!), but the fact that they were available was a major plus. There's a Car park [free of charge] (essential!), and even Facilities for disabled guests.
If you're into souvenirs, there's a Gift/souvenir shop, and a Convenience store for essential supplies.
For the Kids: Family-Friendly Fun (Probably)
I didn't travel with kids, but it seemed like they were well-catered for. They had Kids facilities and the option for Babysitting service. This is a solid option if your family is traveling.
Getting Around: Navigating the Umbrian Countryside
The Airport transfer is a major perk (especially after a long flight). They also have a Car park [free of charge] (essential!), and Taxi service if needed.
The Verdict: It's Complicated (But Definitely Worth It)
So, would I recommend Unbelievable Umbrian Escape? Absolutely. It's a gorgeous property with a lot to offer – the spa, the food, the views… are worth the trip. It's definitely a place where you can Relax and Ways to relax!
However, it's not perfect. The accessibility situation needs more attention (and transparency). And it’s not a five-star hotel. But it is a place where you can disconnect, rejuvenate, and experience the magic of Umbria.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 Aperol Spritzes!
Final Thoughts: This is a property with character, charm, and a good dose of Italian flair. Go, and enjoy the ride! Don’t forget to bring your own insect repellent!
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- Keywords: Umbria, Magione, Italy, Casa Vacanze, Vacation Rental, Review, Luxury, Spa, Pool, Food, Cleanliness, Internet, Family Friendly, Travel, Holiday, Accessibility, Unbelievable Umbrian Escape
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Bonus Rant: Seriously, the wine selection was incredible. I may have over-indulged. No regrets. #UmbriaLife #ItalianHoliday #WineOClock
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Casa Vacanze Vecchio Granaio, Magione: A Messy, Wonderful, and Utterly Unforgettable Week (Probably)
Alright, friends, buckle up. This ain’t your glossy brochure itinerary. This is the real deal, the messy, gloriously imperfect chronicle of my week at Casa Vacanze Vecchio Granaio, a place in Italy that, as I write this, is already clinging to my heart like a particularly stubborn limpet. Consider this less a schedule, and more…well, a slightly deranged and definitely caffeine-fueled collection of thoughts and memories.
Day 1: Arrival – Lost in Translation (and Luggage?)
- Morning (or What Passes for Morning After a Red-Eye): We hit the ground running…or rather, stumbling. Fly into Rome. The airport gods, in their eternal wisdom, decided our luggage should take a scenic detour to…well, who knows? The baggage claim carousel remained stubbornly empty. A frantic search, punctuated by increasingly frantic hand gestures and a phrasebook that felt more like a torture device, ensued. "Where is my bag?" turned into "Where is my bloody bag?!" Eventually, the air was filled with more expletives than Italian, and we resigned ourselves to the fact that we'd be rocking the same clothes for a few days.
- Afternoon: The Drive of Doom (and Discovery): Picked up the tiny Fiat rental car. Let me tell you, Italian roads feel like they were designed to test the limits of your sanity. Narrow, winding, and seemingly populated entirely by speeding Vespas driven by daredevils. The GPS, bless its robotic soul, kept trying to send us down goat tracks. There were moments, I swear, when I thought we'd end up in the Adriatic Sea. But then…then we rounded a bend, and bam! Umbria. Rolling hills, vineyards stretching to the horizon, and a sky that seemed to have been painted by a particularly talented artist. All the near-death experiences were suddenly worth it.
- Late Afternoon/Evening: Vecchio Granaio! (And Wine): Found it! Casa Vacanze Vecchio Granaio. It was exactly as described: rustic, charming, and smelled faintly of woodsmoke and…well, oldness. In the best possible way. The owners, a lovely, slightly eccentric couple, welcomed us with open arms (and more importantly, a bottle of local Sagrantino). We stumbled around the kitchen, trying to decipher the Italian appliances while simultaneously attempting to appear vaguely competent. Ordered pizza from the local pizzeria, ate it on the porch, and felt that first wash of utter, blissful relaxation. My luggage? Still MIA. But who cared? We were in Italy!
Day 2: Perugia – Lost in the Medieval Maze (and a Chocolate Dream)
- Morning: Attempted to make coffee. Failed. Resorted to instant Nescafe. Shameful.
- Mid-Morning: Drove to Perugia. Oh, Perugia. A city built on a hill, seemingly designed to make you question your fitness levels. The medieval architecture is breathtaking, and you can easily get lost in the winding streets, and I did. Thoroughly. Spent an hour trying to find our way out of a particularly delightful alleyway.
- Afternoon: Baci Perugina Factory Visit (and Chocolate Overload): OMG. The Baci Perugina factory tour. Forget the Colosseum, this was the highlight of the trip! We saw the chocolate being made. We sampled the chocolate. We ate so much chocolate, I’m pretty sure my glucose levels are currently somewhere in the stratosphere. I bought about a kilo of the stuff, plus a Baci-themed t-shirt. I’m not even ashamed. It was glorious.
- Evening: Tired and chocolate-buzzed, we grabbed dinner at a trattoria in Perugia. The pasta…the pasta was an epiphany. Seriously, if I could, I would marry that pasta. The tiramisu? Forget it. I’m going to start a new religion centered around tiramisu.
Day 3: Lake Trasimeno – Sun, Slips, and Swims (and a near-miss ice cream incident)
- Morning: Woke up with the taste of chocolate and the lingering guilt of Nescafe. Decided to embrace the messiness.
- Late Morning: Heading to Lake Trasimeno. The largest lake in Umbria and it's stunning. Did I mention stunning? I thought this would be all romantic, relaxing time, maybe a gentle dip in the water. Turned more into a comedy of errors. Tried to navigate a tiny rowboat. Nearly capsized. Somehow managed to get sunburned despite slathering on sunscreen. Almost lost my sunglasses to the murky depths.
- Afternoon: The Ice Cream Incident: Found a little gelato shop in Castiglione del Lago. "I'll take a small cone," I said, feeling virtuous. The gelato guy, a man with a twinkle in his eye, gave me a mountain of pistachio and hazelnut. It was enormous. I was halfway through when…splat! Dropped. The whole thing. Right on my face. The humiliation. I wanted to disappear. He just looked at me, laughed (politely, at least), and gave me another cone. He gets it.
- Evening: Back to the Casa. Pasta, wine, and the most beautiful sunset over the Umbrian hills. My luggage? Still not found. At this point, it's practically become a running gag.
Day 4: Assisi – Holy Hikes and Spiritual Snaps (and a Bit of Overwhelm)
- Morning: Up early. Vowing to be "spiritual." Today we're going to Assisi. Started with a hike to the Basilica of Saint Francis. It was beautiful, of course, but crowded. I'm not sure I achieved enlightenment, to be honest. Mostly just felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of tourists and the general solemnity of everything.
- Afternoon: Tried to find a quiet cafe. Failed. Ended up in a souvenir shop, buying more chocolate (sensing a pattern?). Bought a postcard of Saint Francis. Not sure why.
- Late Afternoon: Back at the Casa. Feeling the need to escape the crowds and find some space. Sitting on the porch, drinking wine, and just staring at the view. This is the true spirituality, I realize. The simplicity.
- Evening: Made a disastrous attempt to copy an Italian cookbook. The result was edible, at least. But the kitchen looked like a bomb had exploded. My lack of cooking skills truly are a spectacle.
Day 5: Montefalco – Wine, Wine, and More Wine (and Zero Regret)
- Morning: Sleep in! Needed it after the "spiritual" exertions of yesterday.
- Afternoon: Road trip to Montefalco, the "Balcony of Umbria." This is where the Sagrantino wine is made, people! Wine tasting was the name of the game. Visited a few wineries. Learned things about tannins and aromas and all that jazz, but mostly just enjoyed the drinking of exceptional wine. Seriously, it was heavenly. Soaking up all the sun I could too.
- Evening: Drove to a small restaurant in Montefalco. Had a slow, lingering dinner. More wine. By this point, my Italian was improving massively. My ability to speak sense, however, was declining.
Day 6: Spello & Bevagna – Flowers, Festivals, and Forgotten Passports (Oh dear…)
- Mid-Morning: Spello. Gorgeous little town. Famous for its flowers. Wandered through the streets, admiring the floral displays. Took a million photos. Felt like I'd stumbled into a fairytale. Almost forgot my passport at the cafe. This is a recurring theme on this holiday.
- Afternoon: Bevagna. Medieval festival was on. Felt like I'd wandered onto a film set. People in costumes. Craft stalls. More food. More wine. Bought a silly hat.
- Evening: Settle down for the night feeling exhausted, but content.
Day 7: Departure and Farewell to Casa Vacanze Vecchio Granaio:
- Morning: Packing. Reluctant packing. Sighing deeply.
- Afternoon: Head to Rome to fly out…
- Evening: Reflecting. Casa Vacanze Vecchio Granaio. It wasn't perfect. But it was real. It was messy. It was funny. It was unforgettable. And if my luggage ever decides to show up, I can wear my Baci t-shirt while I regale everyone with tales of Umbrian adventures. Ciao, Italy. I'll be back. (And maybe I'll learn to make coffee next time).
Unbelievable Umbrian Escape: The REALLY Real FAQs! (Brace Yourselves...)
Okay, Seriously, What's the Deal with "Unbelievable Umbrian Escape"? Sounds a Bit...Over the Top.
Alright, alright, I get it. "Unbelievable"? Look, when you're staring out at the rolling hills of Umbria with a glass of Sagrantino in hand, everything *does* feel pretty darn unbelievable. It's like, you're there, in Magione, and the world just...slows. No, *stops*. Honestly, we were aiming for 'Amazing Italian Vacation,' but that just felt... blah. So, "Unbelievable Umbrian Escape" it is. Embrace the cheese, people! Also, my partner, Marco, *insisted* on the dramatic name. (He's Italian, what do you expect? He's got a flair for the... well, *everything*.) And between you and me? It *is* pretty freakin' unbelievable. ESPECIALLY the pizza oven...
So, Magione. Is it... boring? I need to be honest, I'm worried about being *bored*.
Boring? Look, if your idea of a good time is a 24/7 rave with flashing lights and questionable dance moves, then yeah, probably. Magione isn't Ibiza. But if you appreciate, you know, actual *life* – good food, amazing wine, breathtaking views… you’ll be in heaven. Think of it like this: It's the anti-boredom boredom. You *think* you'll be bored, but then you're climbing a medieval tower at sunset, or stumbling upon a tiny trattoria with the best handmade pasta you've ever tasted, or finding a perfectly placed swing with a view. Trust me, the silence is golden. And the Vespa rentals… you’ll see.
The Casa Vacanze itself – what's it *really* like? The photos always lie, don't they?
Okay, fine. The photos *do* make it look ridiculously lovely. And yes, it mostly is. But. Let's be real. It's not some sterile, show-home. It's a *real* house, which means...character. And quirks. The shower pressure in the main bathroom? Let's just say it's more of a gentle drizzle. Marco will keep promising a fix, but you might need to resort to the guest bathroom (which is surprisingly powerful!). The kitchen? Well, it's equipped. I personally think you should learn how to use the pizza oven – trust me, THAT ALONE is worth the booking! There's the occasional spider (Italy, get used to them!), and the internet can be a bit temperamental. But those are just... little things. Like, imperfections are the spice of life, right? And the views? OMG, the views. They're 100% real, and they'll knock your socks off. More than once, I almost lost myself just staring at them.
How about the food? I need to know I won't starve. I have standards. (Okay, maybe not *high* standards...)
You will *not* starve. Umbria is a food-lover's paradise. Seriously. Forget your diet – it's not happening. The local markets are bursting with fresh produce, the prosciutto is to DIE for, and the olive oil…oh, the olive oil. I could drink it (and I might have, on occasion). There's a fabulous butcher shop just a short drive away, where you can get the most amazing sausages. And the restaurants? Small, family-run places where Nonna is probably in the kitchen, slaving over a pot of something delicious. They don't speak much English, but a smile and a lot of hand gestures usually get you what you want. My personal favourite: the truffles. Everywhere truffles!
Is it kid-friendly? We're travelling with small humans (bless their little hearts).
Kind of? It depends. There's space to run around, but the pool isn't fenced, so you'll need eagle eyes. The little ones love seeing the cats that prowl the nearby fields (don't feed them, please). The food is mostly kid-friendly (think pasta, pizza, gelato). There are even a few parks. The Italian lifestyle is *very* child-focused – you'll see families everywhere, and everyone is generally lovely to kids. However! The pizza oven is HOT. Really hot. And those rolling hills? Pretty but also a bit…hilly. Also, the parents are going to need ample amounts of Wine to get through the day, it's just a given.
Alright, the pizza oven. You mentioned it. Obsessively. Is it *that* good?
OMG. The pizza oven. Listen. I cannot overstate this. This is a game-changer. It's *life-altering*. Marco, bless his heart (and his borderline obsession with all things culinary), built this thing himself. HOURS of sweat, tears (probably), and near-disasters. And you know what? Worth. Every. Minute. I’m not even kidding. The first time we used it, the pizza was so crispy, so perfect, so unbelievably delicious, I think I actually cried. It's not just the pizza, though. It's the whole ritual. Gathering around the oven, chatting, laughing, drinking wine while we wait for the perfect crust. The smell of woodsmoke… It’s pure magic. We started with simple Margherita pizzas, then branched out to prosciutto and mushroom, and then… well, let's just say our waistlines suffered a *little*. You HAVE to use the pizza oven. You just HAVE TO. (And learn from my mistakes: preheat it for a good hour beforehand. Don't be like me, who almost burnt down the terrace on the first try.)
Are we going to have to deal with any mosquitoes? I hate mosquitoes.
Yes. It's Italy. There will be mosquitoes. Especially at dusk. Invest in some good repellent (the stuff with DEET is your friend), and maybe some citronella candles. The house also has mosquito nets on the windows and doors, so you can survive. Be prepared. And if you're really unlucky, you might encounter the dreaded 'zanzare tigre' (tiger mosquitoes). These little buggers are vicious. But hey, it's a small price to pay for paradise, right?
What should we bring?
Yourself! And a sense of adventure. Oh, and comfortable shoes – cobblestone streets are everywhere. Don't forget your bathing suit for the pool. Sunscreen is essential. A plug adapter (Italy uses European plugs). Good walkingSnooze And Stay
