La Fontana di Nonna Checchina B&B

You have to remember that when you stay here you are off the 'international tourist route' and that you are staying in a small town in the one of the remoter parts of the Italian countryside, loved by Romans getting out of the city. The hosts, Ettore and his wife and daughter welcomed us at 10.30pm on a Sunday night after we had collected our car from the airport. Ettore had asked me to phone him 10Km before we arrived. I am glad we did. he warned me to ignore the Sat Nav at a set of traffic lights and go straight on. Later in the stay I followed the sat nav and discovered why Ettore had given me those instructions, the road was a dead end. it was bad enough during the day turning round, I can't imagine what would have happened at night. However the welcome was warm, in Italian and I was advised against the room I had pre-selected which was at the top of the building in favour of one on the ground floor with its own door which was much cooler in the hot weather. I was carefully shown every part of the room and the breakfast room which is communal, shared with guests in 2 other rooms. Good night were said only when the family were satisfied that I understood everything they wished to convey. Breakfast is self service. Croissants are not fresh being pre-wrapped. There is the toast much loved in Italy, there is fruit juice, lovely home made jams and cake and of course milk and plenty of coffee. We were the first english people to stay there and something of a novelty in the town. Everyone was friendly, politely enquiring why were there and where we came from. It was a lovely place to stay and relax. The surrounding area has much to offer in terms of scenery, geology, ancient history food and drink. What more could you want? --- Just one thing, modern roads. Our hire car was brand new, only 7Km on the clock. I was worried that i would be returning a bag of nuts and bolts.