I have just returned from a wonderful week-long stay at the brand new vacation apartment that owners Letizia and Ruurd have added to their beautiful bed-and-breakfast Alla Madonna del Piatto on a mountainside above Assisi. It was such a great experience! I travelled with two other friends, a married couple, and the apartment was perfect for the three of us. It has a very large kitchen, stocked with everything a cook could need - from an excellent stove and oven to a dishwasher, fridge, pots, pans, knifes…..since Letizia operates a cooking class she knows exactly what is needed! The apartment was actually larger than 3 people needed - with three bedrooms and two large, modern, well-equipped bathrooms - but it gave my married friends and me lots of space so we did not feel cramped. We also took one of Letizia's fantastic, hands-on cooking classes and each bought a copy of her new cookbook A Kitchen With A View (which I suspect my friend Bob bought only for the gorgeous photos of the Italian countryside). I will probably buy more on Amazon as gifts, as I have taken Letizia's cooking classes before and everyone wants the recipes! In the apartment, which Letizia and Ruurd only just built, the comfortable beds, the space, the quiet all make this a perfect retreat. I also appreciated the fact the main floor of the apartment is completely accessible to a person with a disability, such as a walk-in shower and lots of grab bars. Travelling with my elderly mother in the past trained me to admire and respect these things that can really help a person who has accessibility issues.

Je viens de rentrer d'un merveilleux séjour d'une semaine à la nouvel appartement de vacances que les propriétaires Ruurd e Letizia ajouté à leur beau B&B Alla Madonna del Piatto sur une montagne au-dessus Assisi. Il était comme une expérience formidable! Je voyageais avec amis et l'appartement était parfait pour nous trois. Il a une très grande cuisine, équipée avec tout un cuisinier pourrait avoir besoin - d'une excellente cuisinière et four à un lave-vaisselle, réfrigérateur, casseroles, poêles, couteaux - toutes! Letizia a un cours de cuisine, e elle sait exactement ce qui est nécessaire. L'appartement était en fait plus grand que 3 personnes nécessaires - avec trois chambres et deux grandes salles de bains, modernes et bien équipées - mais mes amis et moi avait beaucoup espace de sorte que nous ne nous sentions pas à l'étroit.

We stayed for four nights at the Alla Madonna Del Piatto B&B as part of a special anniversary trip to Italy. We had been to the B&B once before about 5 years ago, but at that time just to take one of the cooking classes. During the day we spent there we had found Letizia to be so friendly, and the house so charming, that we wanted to come back and stay there for a few days, so we made sure to work it into our itinerary for this trip. We took the separate apartment which adjoins the main B&B and provides lots of comfortable space, including its own kitchen. Letizia and her husband Ruurd have only recently finished the conversion of their former neighbour's house into the apartment so everything was nice and new and clean but with a good mix of old furniture to give it character. The location is a little on the remote side - but that's a good thing! Such a refreshing alternative to city hotels. The road up is a little narrow and bumpy, and the first time you make the drive you can wonder if you are on the right track - or even drive right past the house, as we did! Once you've driven up and down a couple of times it becomes much easier. There are magnificent views across to Assisi on its neighbouring hill with shifting sunlight during the day and twinkling lights at night. The terrace provides the perfect place to sit out as the sun sets and enjoy a restorative drink. Having wifi available in the apartment meant that we could keep in touch with the outside world when we wanted to or check up on details and routes for our trips out. The apartment provides the ideal base for days out in Umbria and even Tuscany with a wide range of stunning towns to visit - Perugia, Montepulciano, Orvieto and, of course, Assisi, all within less than 2 hours drive. Letizia can provide directions and recommendations for places to see and - most important of all - places to eat. It was a delight to come 'home' to our apartment after a hard day's touring and to be able to relax in it's simple comfort. We are already thinking about how to arrange another trip!

Every time when we visit Italy we spend a couple of days at the "La Madonna Del Piatto". It's an old farm house with very thick walls, almost like an ancestral castle, located in the hills a few kilometers north of Assisi. The interior of the farm house has been magically transformed into a lovely B&B. Apart from a number of beautiful rooms (where we used to stay in the past), you can also rent an apartment (named "Moraiolo"), which we did this time as we came with a group of four. It has several bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen where you can cook your own food while enjoying a beautiful landscape with Assisi's basilica in the far distance. In our opinion, there is no better place to stay in Italy. Friendly hosts. Beautiful views. A quiet and peaceful environment for early morning hikes. And all the comfort you need. "La Madonna" on its own is already enough reason to come to Italy, but of course you want to see a bit more. Assisi is just 20 minutes away and is of course a place you cannot skip. Besides, there are several other picturesque towns and villages to visit (Perugia, Gubbio, Montefalco, etc.). This year we made several day trips. One day we visited Florence; it's very busy but nevertheless a place you should not miss. Another day we went to see the Frasassi caves; it's an unforgettable experience. After visiting these caves you won't need to see another cave in your life. Letizia and Ruurd, the owners of "The Lady of the Plate" can tell you a lot about the places you can visit in and around Assisi. Oh..and before I forget, Letizia is also a fantastic cook who gives Italian cooking classes and who knows more about Italian food than Google. By the way, Google is their dog.

This is a lovely and spacious apartment in a beautiful region. There is a nice mixture of old and new, with plenty of characterful old furniture but new kitchen, bathrooms and décor (and very clean). We especially loved the study, with its little writing table, beautiful afternoon light and views across rolling fields towards Assisi. There were only two of us, so we didn’t even use the second bedroom and bathroom upstairs. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Assisi, supermarket, restaurants and the main road to other Umbrian towns. The road to the apartment is a little bumpy for the last mile, but not steep or narrow. Outside there is a small seating area, and a lovely larger terrace shared with the house and B&B. L & R were very friendly and knowledgeable, and brought us fresh figs for breakfast. We also booked a cooking lesson (starting with a tasting of local produce) which was brilliant. We stayed for a week here in September and would definitely consider returning for some restorative sunshine and good food.

My family of 5 (husband, 2 teenagers and my mom) stayed at Letizia's beautiful and lovingly laid out apartment this summer for 5 nights. I wish it would have been longer! There are many reasons I would recommend this apartment- here are a few: -First of all- the location is gorgeous. We love being off the beaten path but close to things- and this apartment offers just that. A lovely drive through trees and hills brings you to Letizia's B&B and apartment. The view is to die for, overlooking the valley and Assisi. At night the lights of Assisi twinkle in the distance. -Room for the whole family- a hard thing to find. We had 3 separate sleeping areas and 2 bathrooms for the 5 of us to share. We were very comfortable and the whole apartment has a nice feel about it, decorated with treasures from Letizia and her husband's travels. -Fantastic brand new kitchen with everything you need to make a quick breakfast before hitting the road for the day, or dinner as you watch the sun set over Assisi in the distance. Nice sized dining room table for family meals. -Privacy. This apartment is attached to the B&B and cooking school Letizia also runs, but it has it's own parking area and own entrance and is very quiet and private. You also have the ability to share the grounds including the wonderful panoramic terrace. We sat out there several nights and star gazed in the dark, our kids absolutely loved it! - Your host- Letizia. She is my favorite part of this whole experience! Letizia is a warm and lovely host. She welcomed us and showed us around the apartment, let us know if we needed anything to just knock on her door. She had made dessert (panna cotta) and left it in the fridge for us to have later, as well as cold water and starter supplies. She is very inviting- sharing her tips about the area, and many guidebooks. She also has an excellent binder full of area tips and suggestions in the apartment. My husband and I had taken a cooking class with Letizia in her home kitchen a few years ago, and I had hoped to return and stay there with my kids but wasn't sure how to economically do that since usually a family of 4 means getting 2 rooms in Italy. This apartment was just the answer! There is so much to see and do in the area- I recommend this place highly as a perfect home base for your Umbrian vacation. If you can, make time to enjoy a half day cooking class with Letizia- it was the highlight of our trip!