This was, hands down, the best lodging experience I've ever had. The home was absolutely gorgeous - from the marble floors and stairs to the spacious and inviting terrace that offers breathtaking mountain views surrounding the beautiful, quaint comune of Collesano. The whole place was clean and comfortable, and we felt at home right away. The kitchen was stocked with coffee, breakfast pastries, cookies, and water; the dining area offered an impressive stack of information packets of interesting area destinations that Francesco had thoughtfully put together.
We'd arrived at 3am (much later than anticipated) but had no trouble finding the address. Francesco, aware that we were driving in a foreign country for the first time, stayed in touch with us to ensure we didn't get lost, and his father met us at the door within minutes of our arrival.
The house is only a few minutes from the town's piazza and there are at least half a dozen great places to eat or enjoy a delicious cup of espresso. There are several beautiful, historic churches throughout the town, but Collesano is best known for its car races. We had the pleasure of a personal tour by Francesco, followed by a classic car show where we got to see a 1934 Bugatti, among other cool cars.
I can't say enough good things about Francisco himself. He is honest and kind, and he really goes the extra mile to help you have a good experience. The night we got there we had not parked correctly and earned ourselves a ticket (€42). Because it was a weekend the office to pay was closed. When he learned this, Francesco offered to go in for us. We gave him the ticket and €50. Two days later, he contacted me to let me know that because we paid so quickly the fine was reduced to €10 and he wanted to refund the extra.
I can't wait to return to Collesano and spend more time there. I will definitely stay at Francesco's place again. I feel that I have made a friend in him and hope that one day I can show him the beautiful area that I live in, too.
Thank you, Francesco. Ciao - until we meet again!