Rastrello Boutique Hotel
Rastrello is a small luxury boutique hotel located in the Italian medieval town of Panicale in Umbria. A delightful sense of place, it is one of those hotels that you instantly fall in love with.
Rastrello Boutique Hotel
Chiara, the General Manager on first meeting personifies the very essence of the hotel that makes it the only option if visiting the area. The warmth of her welcome was replicated throughout our stay.
With just eight rooms, this is a beautifully designed property within walking distance to the tiny hilltop top town of Panicale. We had a standard room and although it was small there was really nothing standard about it. Think beamed ceilings, stone walls and gorgeous views, with spacious bathroom complete with walk in shower and full sized Grown Alchemist toiletries. It had all the usual luxury amenities but it was the blackout blind and insect screen which came down at the touch of a button that made for an excellent and comfortable sleep.
I could wax lyrical about the room and the views but what really set it apart was the ambience and those special touches that are not always present in every hotel. With not an air of pretension in sight, this a hotel where you can truly make yourself at home. Help yourself to a cup of tea or a glass of wine and a biscuit in the lounge, take it upstairs and sit on the balcony.
The food is also delicious, from granola, fruit and yoghurt at breakfast to the small plates served in the evening. There is nothing better than sitting on the terrace on a warm summer’s evening looking out over Lake Trasimeno with a glass of wine in hand. Francesco ensured we had a fabulous evening with a huge sprinkling of La Dolce Vita. Chiara also recommended a superb restaurant in the centre of town, Il Gallo Nel Pozzo.
Panicale feels a world away from reality but is in fact close to major towns and cities in both Tuscany and Umbria. We also managed to get a train into Florence from a nearby station so if you have a car there’s no issue with sightseeing. I was worried that I might miss a pool in the heat of the summer but it really wasn’t a problem.
The quality of this hotel matches and complements the beauty of the hilltop town of Panicale and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Rastrello Boutique Hotel is a member of Design Hotels.
Image credit (Main): Design Hotels
Most def not a millennial. Too old to drink s*** wine. Penchant for luxury travel. Sharing my fav things in life; past, present and future.