My wife and I visited many of the 'major' places in Italy (Rome, Pompeii, Florence, several Tuscan hill towns and Venice) 4 months ago. After these months have passed I still look back at our two days in Palestrina at Villa Finzi as my favorite of the trip. We stayed at VF to start our trip to help us adjust to the 9 hour time difference and this idea worked incredibly well.
There are two reasons for my feelings about our stay. First, Francesca and Marcello are wonderful people that make their guests feel very welcome and comfortable in their home. I really enjoyed my time with them and wish that they lived nearby so that we could see them often. If you want excellent communication prior to your visit, superb hosts and a very relaxing spot that's close to interesting places, Villa Finzi is your spot.
The second reason I loved our stay here is that Palestrina has the wonderful feel of the 'old' Italy. I stayed in Northern Italy for 2 months about 40 years ago and really enjoyed the charm of the country, including the big cities. Palestrina is the only place in Italy that we visited where I felt this same thing on our recent trip. The town also has an amazing Greek ruin that shouldn't be missed -- the Temple of Fortuna, viewed from up-close and from a distance, is incredible. And, it's not well known at all although it should be, in my opinion.
Do yourself a big favor and schedule at least a couple of days at the Villa Finzi -- you will be VERY glad you did!
