Our family of six spent five nights at Antica Dimora Country Castle Alica in June 2015. We booked this property as part of a three-week tour of Italy with the hope of finding a comfortable and clean location where we could regroup after hitting the big cities. We found that, and so much more. This property is stunning, and provided everything we needed to relax, cook dinners at home, swim and unwind.

Apartment: The one-bedroom apartment was very clean. It is tastefully decorated. We slept well in the cozy bedroom, and our kids were comfortable in the fold-out couches in the main room. There is a small but serviceable kitchen; we cooked most of our meals here while we were in residence. All linens and towels were provided. Our favorite part of our stay was eating our meals outside our door in the courtyard. The panoramic view is stunning. There are huge curved doors that open the main room up onto the courtyard as well.

Property: The castle was built in the 10th century. We were amazed at the beautiful structure and enjoyed learning about its history. There is even a bell tower that rings on the hour. Pretty gardens are available for a stroll. The parking lot was easy to maneuver in. Our children got a thorough use of the pool.

Location: We were looking for a quiet, off-the-beaten-path place to stay. This fit the bill perfectly, yet still was close to shopping and other conveniences. I think that the property was easy to get in and out of, and recommend having a private vehicle for use during your stay. It is only a few minutes drive to the grocery store, bank, bakery, pizzeria, gelateria, and coffee shop(s). We made the 30-minute drive into Pisa to see the famous tower. Our favorite trip was to the Martelli family owned pasta making facility in the historic town of Lari. We even got a personal tour!

Owner/Host Communication: We stayed in five different vacation rentals while in Italy. Fabio was the best host, hands down! His pre-visit communication was excellent, providing directions and confirming details. When he personally met us at the property, he had the sofa beds set-up, beverages ready for us, and even made us reservations at the pizzeria. He offered to help us with any other reservations or details that we needed help with, and even made a special trip to see us when we had a problem.

Antica Dimora Country Castle Alica is a charming, clean and cosy property. I honestly don’t understand how Fabio can keep the prices so low! I suggest booking this property before it gets away.