Talking Stones

Perfect location. Great breakfast on the roof terrace. Also a good place to relax in the evening together with a good bottle of wine. Very good and tasteful restoration of the house.

Charming guesthouse in a charming village - run by charming staff, led by Signora Monica and her son. Delicious breakfast (including eggs) that is even better when served on the roof terrace in summer. The look of the interior is delightful, with exposed stonework in an ancient building in the heart of the village, close to good restaurants and views of the river and castle. A welcoming place we happily return to, and in a village that retains its character.

The only tricky point is the steepness of the stairs and the distance to the top two floors. Not suitable for someone with mobility issues unless they take the ground floor rooms. Some rooms have Jacuzzis and are therefore far pricier but make for a romantic stay. That said, out of season you can still find a good deal for simpler rooms. Minor point but the lights are very dim so tricky for reading or work -:but romantic. The nearest carpark is a fair walk from the guesthouse (but mostly flat) as the accommodation is situated in the pedestrianised part of town. Not a big issue except when it fills up in the height of summer.

It was clean

Location and basically everything

Talking Stones is a beautiful and beautifully situated small property in a lively and cosmopolitan village. It has a level of polish and design integrity that is unusual. Our multilingual host was very accommodating, and even helped my wife find a massage/chiropractor to address a muscle spasm issue resulting from our travel. (Session with him deserves its own excellent review. Quite a character). Breakfast was very nice, with omelets made-to-order among other great options. My wife and I are French speakers but not Italian speakers. Every other guess was French and the staff spoke French as well. Another treat.

This was not a problem for us but somewhere it needs to be disclosed: We were on the top floor of the building and the stairs up to the room were very steep and the rise of each step was definitely not to a US standard. I would guess probably 10". Stairs are regular, but very narrow as the flights turn back on themselves. There is no real bell service offered (that I could tell). I can easily imagine a senior traveler who would simply not be able to access the room ... especially not with anything resembling typical American luggage. We are seniors, but fit and using only carryon luggage and backpacks. Would also think it may be an issue for children. Not a problem. Just a consideration.