Vacation Rentals by Owner

Perfect vacation in anUmbrian idyll

Guest: Dan and Phyllis (Los Angeles, California, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/07/12 Review Submitted: 05/17/12

Panicale is an idyllic spot for a vacation in an Umbrian walled hilltop town. The historic center, inside the walls, is sall and inviting, with an 8 sided stone fountain in the center of the piazza. The town people are friendly and inviting. Gallo's Bar is the social center of the town, and its proprietor, Aldo Galloo, and his wife Daniela, are usually there, with a ready smile and greeting, excellent coffee and outstanding gelato.The house I rented - Sogno Panicalese -is about fifty yards up a small cobbled street off the piazza. It is an old building, but beautifully restored, with comfortable furnishings and decor throughout. The roof terrace has broad vistas of the lovely Umbrian countryside. Everything you need to make your stay comfortable is available in the town center; two grocers, with wonderful, fresh produce and fruit, a butcher, a pretty gift shop, four resturants (all excellent), a barber and a women's hair salon. The only thing about the house that could be improved is the water pressure; it is rather low, so two people cannot bathe or shower at the same time. The jewel in the crown of my stay in Panicale was Katia, who manages the pproperty for absentee owners. Katia is capable and willing to do everything possible to make her tenants' stay iin Panicale a complete success. She and her husband, Massimo, answered every question, solved every problem and provided advice and service that made us feel at home and like a membeer of a warm, close family. Now that we have found them, I cannnot imagine that my wife and I will not return to Panicale to see them and enjoy their delightful corner of Umbria. I will also certainy recommend Katia and Panicale to my friends and family..

Owner response:Buongiorno dears, thank you very much for all your kindness.I 'm really happy to know that you enjoyed your stay here in Panicale and I really hope you'll come again next year with part of your family. See you soon, Katia and family

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Sogno Panicalese, a great villa......... feeling welcomed and at home in Panicale

Guest: Elizabeth and James (New Hampshire, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/29/12 Review Submitted: 05/14/12

We find ourselves always returning Panicale,on this last trip we were looking for something larger than the apartment we had previously rented, that is when we came upon Sogno Panicalese. Once we saw the photos were knew exactly where it was located, just down a side street from the central piazza, where there are restaurants,and markets.... a great location. The villa is all that was promised and more. From the moment Katia, (the manager) unlocked the front door for us, we knew that this was the perfect place for us to stay. The bright,well equipped kitchen is a great place to cook. We went out to eat a fair amount but, we loved cooking in this kitchen and found joy in preparing meals here. For dining in there are options, a cozy kitchen table, or a more formal dining room table and for outside dining "fuori" there is the roof terrace with an incredible view of Panicale and out over the Umbrian landscape. The villa is spacious, sophisticated, fun and comfortable all at the same time. Our mornings started with a short walk to the piazza for cappuccino , it was not unusual to be greeted by a "buongiorno" from Katia and her family. Katia speaks English very well, she is helpful, energetic, friendly and so good natured. She is a delight and a large part of the reason we will return to Sogno Panicalese. The entire villa is bright and sparkling clean. The upstairs bathrooms each have tubs that come with views over the tile rooftops of the town and one with a glorious shower all with plush towels. Rooms are bright with tall ceilings and tile floors. The living room is a perfect place to read or listen to music, whether you brought your own or browse some of the books on the shelves. It is easy to feel at home here. Panicale is a historic medieval hill town that is warm and enchanting. It's central location make a superb location for visiting Umbria and Tuscany. The food and wine are divine. For now, until we return, we will dream of Sogno Panicalese, Panicale, and all the kind people there. Thank you Katia for making us feel so at home here.

Owner response:Buongiorno Elisabeth and James, I would like to thank you very much for all your nice words to us and about Panicale. I'm so happy to know that you enjoyed my village and the property. I'll wait you again next year! Thanks for all your kindness and friendly. Take care Katia

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Fantastic time

Guest: bagieta (Brussels)
Date of Stay: 03/30/12 Review Submitted: 04/10/12

We came for the one week only and after the first few minutes we dreamed to stay there forever! amazing place, extra equiped house with all facilities helping you to feel like home. The every-day breakfast on the roof with the paradise view on the area...extremely nice people, fantastic restaurant just next door and afternoon coffee with a taste you will never forget...and something to complete the dream - the quality of the service, offered help and unusual kindness which makes us feel like a members of the family. Thank you for everything!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Dream Vacation!

Guest: Nancy and Stu (Sellersville, Pa. USA)
Date of Stay: 10/08/11 Review Submitted: 02/06/12

My husband and I were fortunate to stay at Sogno Panicalese in beautiful Panicale for 4 weeks in the fall of 2011. What a wonderful experience. We can agree with everything written in the previous reviews but words cant't possibly express the feeling we had when we returned to this hill town and the beautiful house after a day of touring the contryside. It was like coming home. On most days we would return with the anticipation of eating a fabulous meal at one of the three incredible restaurants just steps from the house. Or we would enjoy a light meal at Bar Gallo. The people of the village were so friendly always with a "Buongiorno" as we walked by. We always found nice produce and lots of help as we shopped in the small markets. Our manageress, Katia, was so helpful and generous with her time. Other reviewers mention her energy, so true. It was such a pleasure to meet her beautiful family. We have rented houses several times now and have not had the personal attention and caring that we received from Katia. My sister and brother-in-law visitted us while we were there and my sister summed it up when she said"you found the perfect house in the perfect village". Thanks for helping us fulfill our dream vacation. Nancy and Stu

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great house in a lovely village

Guest: Iechydd dda (Caerphilly, Wales)
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 10/19/11

The house feels like home as soon as you walk in. It's full of character and very well equipped. Surrounded by art works and drinking up the sun (and the vino) on the roof terrace, we felt as if we'd won the lottery. Katia, who looks after the house, lives in Panicale and is very helpful and friendly. Panicale itself is a wonderful hilltop village, with fabulous views in all directions. There are some excellent restaurants around its beautiful piazza, and it is ideally located for touring the major sights of Umbria and Tuscany.

Recommended for:Sightseeing

Ah Panicale!

Guest: n/a (Harwich, MA USA)
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

This was our first trip to Italy and what a way to begin! We were infatuated with our arrival to the walled city of Panicale and the accommodation manager, Katia. She was everything you would want to welcome you to a new Country, Village and home, "Sogno Panicalese". Her outgoing personality reflected her true caring for this property that we were going to enjoy for the next week. Upon entering, we were amazed at its spaciousness and feeling of centuries of history within. Our guests and ourselves were more than pleased with its layout and easy accessibility to local attractions. Sogno Panicalese was very well-equipped and served the four of us (in our late 60s) with total satisfaction to say the least. What a wonderful way to begin our adventure in Italy. Thank you Katia for your outpouring of care and attention to our every need. If we ever do decide to return to Panicale, we will surely return to you and Panicale's Sogno Panicalese. I hope this will add to your many reviews for a wonderful visit to Panicale. Joyce, Bud, Arlene and Rob, Cape Cod, MA USA

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful Panicale

Guest: Rick and Lynn (Ketchum, Idaho)
Date of Stay: 08/28/11 Review Submitted: 09/22/11

The villa itself is wonderful in terms of the space . With 3 bedrooms, 3 ½ baths and over 3000 sq. feet of space spread out over 3 levels it can easily accommodate 3 couples with plenty of room for everyone. One of the highlights is the large terrace on the rooftop that overlooks the village and the beautiful countryside below. The kitchen is large enough to allow for everyday cooking should one to choose to do so.. However I must say that Panicale offers some of the best restaurant experiences we encountered during our trip. Aldo’s morning cappuccinos and cornetos in the piazza were to die for. His wonderful lunch specialties were superb and at night we could choose a light meal from his bar menu or move to his restaurant down the street for a wonderful 4 star local Italian meal of local offerings. He treats his guests as though they are family. The local grocery store provides all the requirements of a traveler from fresh meat, bread, wine and all needed sundries. The macelleria next door is like walking into a specialty meat shop in the states without the high prices. The panificio at the other end of town offers a great selection of breads, pastries and even special fresh sandwiches. Honestly one could not ask for more in terms of amenities offered by this charming village. As for the village of Panicale itself, what a wonderful gem in the middle of paradise with a spectacular view of Lake Trasemino!!!. Centrally located to many beautiful larger towns it provides a terrific home base for those wishing to take day trips around the area. Then after a day filled with sightseeing what a fantastic place to come home to. Thank you Panicale and all of its wonderful inhabitants for making us feel like family. And finally, and maybe most importantly, what a terrific experience we had with Katia the local property manager of the villa. How one person can exude so much energy in an effort to make her clients feel welcome and at home is beyond me. From the moment we stepped out of our car upon arrival until the moment we had to say goodbye 3 weeks later this lovely woman made us feel like locals and did everything in her power to make certain we had everything we needed, while at the same time introducing us to all of the village people as though we had lived there for years; and then her lovely family as well. Thank you Katia for all you did to make this trip unforgettable. We will be back and can hardly wait to see you, Massimo, Cristian and Gabriel again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Superb stay in Panicale

Guest: Rob (Leeds, UK)
Date of Stay: 07/29/11 Review Submitted: 08/07/11

Having just returned from a week at the Sogno Panicalese townhouse, I cannot recommend it enough. The property is spread over several floors, including 3 good sized bedrooms, a huge kitchen diner, and a fantastic lounge - all kitted out with everything you could possibly need. The highlight is the large terrace with views over the town and surrounding landscape. Panicale itself was the perfect base for exploring lake Trasimeno and has a good selection of restaurants and cafes. The property manager, Katia, was extremely helpful from the moment we arrived in the town and made it very clear that we could contact her with any issues or problems at any time (not that we had any problems what so ever). Overall - an excellent choice, highly recommended.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful townhouse (and TOWN)!

Guest: Nancy (St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 08/23/11

We recently stayed at Sogno Panicalese with another couple and had a wonderful stay. The townhouse is exactly as it is described and the view is even better than we anticipated. Getting there was easy and Katia was very helpful with all of the details. The townhouse was very clean and had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The town of Panicale itself is charming and all of the residents were friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed relaxing in the piazza and had great meals at all of the restaurants. It is in a perfect location as well - we did many day trips to the surrounding towns in Tuscany and Umbria. You will not be sorry if you rent this wonderful place! We hope to go back soon!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful home, Remarkable walled town

Guest: Julee (Oregon)
Date of Stay: 06/07/11 Review Submitted: 06/18/11

Panicale is the perfect location for exploring much of Umbria and Tuscany, and Sogno Panicalese is a haven to return to after a full day of Italian sights. We loved the well stocked kitchen, the comfortable living room, and big sunny dinning room. The house is perfect for a large group needing a lot of space, yet cozy for only the three of us. The bedrooms have good beds, lots of linens, and dressers. The baths are well stocked with big plush towels, soaps, bath oils, and toilet tissue, which never happens as a rule. We spent most evenings on the roof top, but you just have to experience it for yourself, as the views are so fantastic! They also supplied laundry detergent another surprise. Katia was such a gracious hotess, and gave us tips on local pruducts and where to buy the things we needed. She was helpful in so many ways, always with a smile and energy surprising for a mother of 2 tiny boys. The village square is always lively during the day, and the resaurants within the walls are all first class. I have stayed in a lot of rentals all over europe, but Sogno Panicalese tops the list.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

rooms with a great view!

Guest: Muffin's Mom (Charleston, SC USA)
Date of Stay: 05/15/11 Review Submitted: 06/16/11

Panicale is a delight. This townhome is even nicer than its pictures suggest. Everything you would expect in your own home (w/d, iron, hairdryer, etc.) are all there. The condition was excellent, clean and welcoming. Breakfast and antipasti on the roof deck were sublime. The kitchen is probably better equipped than your own!! The local residents are warm and helpful if you have a question. The location of Panicale for easy daytrips to Cortona, Todi, Orvieto, Perugia, Arezzo or even Sienna and Florence make it hard to beat.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Wonderful and Unique House - The Perfect Way to Experience Medieval Italy

Guest: Aaron and Hyeon-Jeong (Glasogw, United Kingdom)
Date of Stay: 04/02/11 Review Submitted: 04/09/11

Dear Katia. Thank you for your wonderful and most attentive service in preparing the house for our stay. The house is simply marvellous, from the serious, well equipped cook's kitchen, comfortable bedrooms, luxurious bathrooms and lastly, a rooftop terrace to dream about. The panoramic views from the terrace are magical. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the snow-capped, Sibillini mountains. Panicale itself is a gem of a town and the atmosphere of medieval intrigue permeates every unpredictable twist in this extraordinary hilltop fortress. We will count the days when we can return to this Umbrian idyll.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Julee
Date of Stay: 02/02/11 Review Submitted: 02/18/11

My husband and I, and two other friends of ours, have rented SOGNO PANICALESE two times: in november of 2010 and in February of 2011. We have returned, and we are planning to return to this property again next year, or in 2013 because the Townhouse is very large, spacious, full of light, charming, comfortable, clean, well-furnished and very cozy. I like this property also because, being conveniently located in the center of Panicale, within minutes we are able to get to any of the local restaurants, galleries, stores, etc. Also, within a few minutes from the apartment we can park our car and visit the nearby cities or the nearby train stations for Florence, Rome, Assisi, etc. We especially appreciate the fact that while vacationing in this property we feel right at home because of Katia, a young woman from Panicale who speaks English very well and meets us in the main Piazza when we arrive by car. She helps us to the house and during our vacation, she is always available to come and help us when we need her help. And the fact that she does not live right next door is very encouraging. We rented other properties in the past where the owner lived right above, or next door from the property they rent us, but that made us uncomfortable because, in a way we felt they were always there ready to tell us to be careful with their property. With this property we feel at home, yet free to enjoy the Townhouse our own way. We highly recommend staying at SOGNO PANICALESE. Julee

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Guest: Peter
Date of Stay: 10/02/10 Review Submitted: 10/20/10

Dear Katia, How nice to hear from you. We are safely home and the weather is getting cold. After we left Panicale we spent three wonderful days in Firenze and then another three splendid days in Venetia. But Panicale was special. The village is beautiful and the surrounding countryside is almost beyond description in its loveliness. We never tired of strolling through the lanes of Panicale. We dined at each of the three restaurants and the meals were magnificent. And they were most reasonably priced too. We also spent enjoyable visits to "The Bar" for a pizza or a drink or a morning coffee. The house was terrific. It was sparkling clean, equipped with everything we needed, comfortable and had an incomparable view from the roof patio. Some nice lady had even left a bottle of wine on the kitchen table. Who could that have been? The nearby markets had everything we needed in the way of groceries, meat, wine etc. Rome, Firenze and Venetia are of course world-class. But for us, the highlight of our trip was Panicale. We shall treasure its memories forever. And we thank you, Katia, for making our visit so successful. Best wishes to you, your husband, mother and father and your beautiful little boy. Peter Peart Viva Italia!

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Guest: Andrea
Date of Stay: 08/16/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

Dear Katia, we are back home - thank you so much, we had really great time und we are feeling so well. Sorry for the phone call in the morning, we left all keys in the house and then we thought we forgot something. But we didn´t - it was only panic time :-) We would like to come back to Panicale next year - from the 14.-27. August 2011. pls. check the date. Panicale was a really nice place to rest for us - to see a lot of of things around and to relax. Thanks for your great organisation. Best regards for today - to your son and your husband - and a greetings to "Mister Gallo" , yours Andrea & Friedrich

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Guest: Gordon and Roslyn
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 07/23/10

Katia, Our visit was wonderful and the house had everything that was needed for total comfort. The kitchen had everything that we needed to make wonderful dinners. The terrace had wonderful views that we will remember forever. We took many pictures to help us remember our visit. The concerts in Panicale were most enjoyable. Also, Panicale is a beautiful place to stay. The people in the town were very friendly and we loved the Piazza. Having a drink or lunch at Bar Gallo was a pleasure. We told Aldo that we left Basil plants in the house and he could have them if he wanted to. I am attaching two pictures that we took of your beautiful son Christian. I hope that you can see them without difficulty. Best wishes to you and your family for prosperity. We have not thought about next year yet but perhaps we can return to Panicale and Umbria and enjoy again this beautiful Villa. Thanks for your help. Roslyn and Gordon

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Guest: Patricia
Date of Stay: 05/20/10 Review Submitted: 06/16/10

Thank you very much for the use of your lovely home for our stay in Panicale. It was so spacious and convenient. We love (and used) the terrace and kitchen. I hope to return to Panicale - it is so beautiful and has so many places to visit nearby. Katia has been a wonderful manager. She always responded promptly to us. I was amazed that she manages to have a baby while we were e- mailing back and forth about our visit. Enjoy your stay. Patricia Willets"

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Guest: Maryann
Date of Stay: 10/18/09 Review Submitted: 10/17/09

Katia, thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to stay in your beatiful Villa. We enjoyed the village and the people. We enjoyed the food at Gallo's and the hospitality. We will never forget this visit and would like to come back.

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Guest: Debra
Date of Stay: 10/13/09 Review Submitted: 10/12/09

From the beginning to end a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Home like a comfortable feel to all rooms. Extraordinarly well equipped kitchen. Quiet, restful stay. Eclectically elegant. Excellent selection travel guides, maps, travel, local information Charming village, good restaurants, all needs within walking distance from groceries to internet well situated in Umbria for visiting other towns + vilages. KATIA: Property manager is helpful and very kind, + accomodating. We would like return to this accomodation without hesitation. Thank you a wonderful vacation!!!! The Canadians

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Guest: David
Date of Stay: 10/06/09 Review Submitted: 10/05/09

Katia, Thank you for a wonderful stay. The Sogno Panicalese was the ideal location for our Umbrian family holiday. The slow-paced, small town setting was just what we hoped for. We had no problems parking and we loved the apartment! Three bedrooms for our group of 6 adults, 3 1/2 bathrooms, a great kitchen and dining room, large, private bedrooms and a wonderful rooftop deck from which to enjoy the sunsets with a bottle of Umbrian wine. Lovely. We will surely recommend this place to our friends who want to come to Italy. Grazie! David & Larissa

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Guest: Mary Ann Biancotti
Date of Stay: 05/17/09 Review Submitted: 05/16/09

Katia, thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to stay in your beautiful Villa. We enjoyed the village and the people. We enjoyed the food at Gallo's Bar and the hospitality. We will never forget this visit and would like to come back. Thank you very much.

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Guest: Stark family
Date of Stay: 08/19/08 Review Submitted: 08/18/08

AMAZING HOUSE, WELL EQUIPPED, SUPERB LOCATION. WONDERFUL VIEW. WELL KEPT, BEATIFUL LARGE ROOF TOP TERRACE. WELCOMING, FRIENDLY COMMUNITY. VILLAGE. LIVE MUSIC IN THE SQUARE AMAZING SUNSETS. FANTASTIC ICE CREAM FROM GALLO'S BAR! IF YOU WANT TO DISCOVER ITALY COME HERE, IT'S PERFECT. VERY WELL ORGANIZED BY KATIA, WHO IS VERY FRIENDLY, APPROACHABLE. THANK YOU ALSO TO LUISA! WE WILL BE BACK LOVE THE STARK FAMILY

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