Il Sogno - Elegant 2BR Flat in an Ancient Hilltop Village Near Rome

Our time at Il Sogno was a perfect delight. Chris and Meg Phillips have created a beautiful and tranquil refuge in one of the most beautiful parts of Italy we have ever visited (and we go to Italy almost every year, given our many relatives there). We were happy, comfortable and greatly at peace throughout our stay.

Rosella -- the Phillips' "on the ground" contact person -- greeted us on arrival, led us up to Il Sogno and provided us with a very warm and helpful introduction. We didn't need any help from her after that, as it turned out, but if we had we know she'd have been just as accommodating.

We are attentive to the design characteristics of the places where we spend our time (starting at home with our 110-year-old house -- about a thousand years junior in age to Il Sogno!). These things matter to us. The tasteful way the Phillips have restored, furnished and decorated Il Sogno has made it, aesthetically, an exceptionally pleasing place to live while in Casperia. Beyond that it is fully equipped with a marvellous kitchen, laundry facilities, &c. The comprehensive binder of helpful information -- about how to operate the appliances, things to do and see in the Sabine region, &c. -- was very helpful.

We chose to stay for an entire week. It was the right call. There was lots in the region to keep us interested and we saw much during our stay. But we also found it very pleasing to ease back and simply take in the pleasures of the house and Casperia themselves. Il Sogno provided us a peaceful oasis of calm where we did not feel pressure to be out and about seeing sights every day. We slept in. We did some writing. We did some reading. It was bliss.

There can be no greater pleasure than venturing out during the day to explore the Sabine Hills and then coming back with wonderful wine and fresh ingredients to make a marvellous dinner at home. In that regard, a stop at the Ecofattorie Sabine location in Poggio Mirteto Scalo for, among other things, the to-die-for baked ricotta on offer there from the lovely Mary is an absolute must.

When restaurant meals feel right, don't miss Friends and L'Asprese. And, for heaven's sake, do not leave Casperia without taking a cooking class from the delightful and very talented Paola at the Gusto al Borgo Scuola di Cucina.

Altogether, we could not have enjoyed Il Sogno more. We will return.

Tom and Lydia, Vancouver, CANADA

My husband, in laws and a 16 month baby spent a whole week at il sogno last month. It was absolutely magical. You can read a lot about the hill towns of Italy, research, ask, buy the books, but nothing compares to the beautiful walk from the bottom of the town to the amazing property for the very first time. It was breath taking, not only because the amount of steps, but because you feel like you just went back to time quite few centuries. In Casperia the time has not past ... it was just perfect. The buildings, the scenery, the people, the house gives you a full medieval experience. Roselle was very nice to us and helpful. The house was VERY comfortable for grandparents who did not want to leave the house, and the baby who had plenty of walks and places to go and explore in town. We had no problems at all. I completely recommend this property for families. I have rented many properties all around the world, but no one has been as professional, reliable and actually show concern for our comfort and safety as Phillip did. it was a pleasure to deal with him and we hope to go back one day to this amazing home.

After staying a week at Il Sogno, we can't wait to go back. It is so beautiful and felt like home to us. The apartment is clean, spacious, well furnished and comfortable. The master bedroom has beautiful views, the most comfortable bed, plenty of closet and storage space. The living room is perfect for sitting and reading or listening to music. The kitchen is well equipped and we cooked many of our meals and were able to enjoy them in the garden, which was beautiful. The main bathroom is spacious and luxurious with plenty of towels at hand. The tub is huge and the rain-type shower head was very nice. There is a washer available and a drying rack, our clothes dried overnight. The second bedroom and half bathroom was private and had a special feel that starts with the spiral staircase that leads into the room. The whole apartment was so special and quite an experience. It feels like you are staying at a friend's house, not a rental.

We loved staying in Casperia. Our Italian is limited, but we got by nicely. We spent a lot of time just walking around Casperia, it is so captivating. We enjoyed eating at L'Asprese several times, the pizza was fantastic. We were able to go to Johnny Madge's one evening and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We rented a car in Rome and enjoyed driving around Lazio and found driving in Italy not as difficult as some say. The free parking lot outside the walls of Casperia was convenient. The caffe at the Petroccia bar was the best we had in Italy. Can't wait to go back!

Italy and the words “dream vacation” are inextricably linked for me. My first visit to Italy was in 1999. I fell in love with the country, the people, the food, the wine and culture. What’s not to love? Highlights from that trip included a day wandering the Roman Forum, a visit to the Pantheon, and two unforgettable side trips: one to the Umbrian hilltop town of Orvieto, and the other to Byzantium’s outpost on the Adriatic, Ravenna, with all its dazzling mosaics. Ten years later, we wanted to experience a different side of Italy—something slower paced, more restorative—something with a base in the hills outside the city, but still close enough and connected to Rome for us to be able to hop on a bus or train and head there, or north to Orvieto, if we pleased.Through an online search of hilltop towns in Lazio, we came across a picture of Casperia. There was just something about it that grabbed our attention and captured our imagination. The more pictures we saw and the more we read about the town we realized that “this is the place”. At first we considered staying in a bed and breakfast, but we discovered the website for “Il Sogno” and opted for a house rental. We are sure glad we did. The photos on the website can only hint at the character and charm of the Phillips’ house. The moment we came through the door we were in love with the place. For one glorious week in April Il Sogno was our home away from home.We love cooking, so we used the kitchen a lot at Il Sogno. The little alimentari outside the walls had everything we needed, from the delicious local campagnolo cheese, to a good selection of local wines, prosecco, and even grappa. There is a butcher shop and great little pasticceria at the gate as well. We highly recommend treating yourself to a weekend meal at the nearby agriturismo, Gusto Al Borgo. From Farfa Abbey to the winding streets of Roccantica to the Archeological Museum in Magliano Sabina, you’ll love exploring the backroads of the Sabine Hills. Orvieto and the delights of Umbria is little more than an hour’s drive away. We found that, in Casperia, every day trip departure had a promise of adventure that was always amply rewarded. But equally rewarding was our down time at Il Sogno.Just inside the city gate, situated on a picturesque little piazza with a beautiful view of the surrounding Sabine countryside is the Friends Bar. It’s a great place for your morning brioche and cappuccino, but this is also going to be whe