“A true discovery of perfect peace and beauty”

We were attracted to Il Chiostro by the photographs of the house, but the reality far exceeded our expectations: the guest house itself is beautiful, furnished with exquisite taste, and very comfortable. The living area is airy and cool, with a beautiful stone floor and excellent lighting, and the bathrooms are both gorgeous, with excellent showers. Outside the house is the most beautiful little patio garden, with a miniature shaded colonnade and formally laid out flower beds planted with a riot of interesting plants. Every time I walked out of the front door my heart lifted at the sight of it. And the panoramic views surrounding the house have to be seen to be appreciated - falling away from the courtyard fence the terraced garden of Roberto and Ester, and, beyond, an undulating quilt of green meadows rising and falling, patched with copses and studded with little hilltop villages. It is breath-taking. The peace and quiet of the place are striking. In the mornings you hear nothing but the birds, and at night you can feel the silence as a physical presence. If it is tranquillity and escape that you are looking for, this is the ideal. And then there is Camagna itself. As I told Roberto, our charming host, I was reluctant to tell anybody about it, for fear that it would get 'discovered'. Camagna is a throw-back to an older Italy of 30, even 50 years ago, off the tourist trail and with a stealthy charm that takes hold of you. The bar is a wonderful place to go for breakfast or an aperitif; the filled croissants are delicious, and the lady who runs is is a delight. There is also a fantastic restaurant in Camagna: Roca del Carmagna, and if you go, you must try it. We spent our days driving around exploring the little towns and villages round about and visiting Casale, the nearest town. Roberto and Ester were endlessly helpful and charming hosts, and, to my partner's great delight, even gave us a goose egg from one of their geese! We left with great...