Reviews (or extracts) by people who have rented La Dogana recently
"This was our third holiday in La Dogana but certainly not our last. At the heart of the experience of La Dogana is the perfect balance between the house itself and its location. The house is not just comfortable but full of character. It is sprinkled with many quiet nooks and crannies in which to read or snooze, sheltered from the Umbrian sun, but at the same time offers many options for more active guests including a superb pool and table-tennis room ...... But the attraction is not just the property itself but also its location.
La Dogana's situation is secluded and peaceful. It commands superb views across the valley,best of all having pre-dinner drinks on the upper terrace as the sun set on the very same Umbrian landscape which inspired artists many centuries ago.
The nearest town, Lerchi, offers reasonable shopping - not to mention excellent ice cream ....... the nearest large town, Citta di Castello, is elegant, unpretentious, interesting and well provided for in shops and restaurants ......... In short the achingly pleasant dilemma is that La Dogana is so attractive that one would like never to stir from it and yet the surrounding area is so full of attractions that one would like never to stay at home.
It is in the daily resolution of that dilemma, different strokes for different folks, that the pleasure and excitement of La Dogana most resides.
Our four adult daughters and their significant others each enjoyed the holiday in their own chosen way and would wholeheartedly add their "Amen" to this small hymn of praise. The line from Shakespeare's sonnet captures something of our experience: "When I consider everything that grows, holds in perfection but a little moment...."
August 2009
******
"We've been staying in Italy every year for the last 10 years, and I can honestly say this is the loveliest house we have ever visited. La Dogana has it all - stunning views, a beautiful pool and garden, lots of games on site, and a wealth of delightful mediaeval towns in easy striking distance. But above all it's not an impersonal holiday let, but rather the loved country home of its owners - comfortably furnished and prettily decorated, lined with books and paintings, with a fantastically well-equipped kitchen(even a kettle - an unheard-of luxury in Italy!).
A typical day for us: breakfast on the terrace with views across an unspoilt wooded valley to the ancient walled hilltown of MSM Tiberina - a morning pottering around Citta di Castello or Sansepolcro, followed by the inevitable Italian lunch - a lazy afternoon reading by the pool, while the children splash around, watch lizards, or thrash each other at table tennis - supper watching the shadows lengthen across the valley in the evening sun - and a highly competitive family bocce (bowls) tournament over a bottle of wine to round off the evening.
We stayed with another family, with a total of 4 adults and 6 boys ranging in age from 11 to 18 - with so much indoor and outdoor space and so many lovely places to sit and gaze at the view we never felt crowded.
It is an intensely peaceful place, the sound of birdsong and bees buzzing in the lavender all you can hear most of the day. We saw hares in the fields nearby, and rescued a large hedgehog who had clambered into the pool overnight and was looking very sorry for himself on the top step when we found him. Porcupines also visit the garden - we heard some strange scratchy swishy noises overnight, but we never saw one.
The local towns are not grand and busy like Florence or Siena, but they're nonetheless dripping with atmosphere, art and architecture ....... the famously inaccessible Urbino is well worth the longer drive across the mountains. The frescoes in the Oratorio di San Giovanni there were breath-taking.
Mark and Jocelyn, and their English-speaking agents in Italy (Jim and Carrie), have made this house a place you never want to leave. They have been attentive to our interests and needs, made suggestions of things we might enjoy, always responded quickly to queries, and made us feel for a brief while that this bit of paradise was ours too."
July 2009
*******
"La Dogana left many happy memories and we are all talking about coming back. We were left wanting for nothing. We also used a local girl Narayana on three nights who came to cook for us, giving the Mums a holiday after kids tea.
We were lucky enough to be surrounded by an army of fireflies the first couple of nights. We all loved the house and the garden - I am sure a lot of love (and effort) has gone into it and it shows"
July 2009
*******
"We had the most wonderful Easter at La Dogana. The house is lovely, extremely comfortable and very cosy sitting around the log fire.... visiting the surrounding villages is perfect... local restaurants are delightful.
After twenty years of renting villas in Italy, La Dogana is one of the loveliest and most memorable. We definitely hope to return."
April 2008
******
"We have stayed at la Dogana for two family holidays and will definitely go back again. It is the most wonderful place .... extremely comfortable whilst keeping all its original charm. It is very well looked after by a nice couple and always immaculately clean. It is in such a stunning setting with wonderful views and very private. The pool is lovely and there are plenty of other things for children .... A really, really special place, highly recommended."
2008
******
"... far exceeded expectations ... more beautiful than the wonderful photographs ... emotional at leaving ... fun and laughter ... fantastic house in wonderful position"
2008
*******
"Well...we've had a fabulous time and our anniversary and big birthday celebrations went brilliantly; indeed, how could they not in the wonderful location and in your all-singing, all-dancing house with its amazing attention to detail."
2008
*******
"A tribute to your vision and energy ... accommodation, facilities , comfort ... all excellent ...but of greater value was the 'sense of rightness' and feeling of welcome."