“TOTALLY
AWESOME!!!!”
Boston
Feb 14, 2007 | Trip type: Family
8/8 found this review helpful
Our family of 4 (Self, wife, son
aged 17 and son aged 2) toured Europe
for a month. We stayed 6 days in
Rome @ the Scandeluzza Castle. As
you can tell by other reviews, it
seems one either hates it or loves
it - WE LOVED IT! Often, travelers
from the West (espec. N. American
Continent) are "finicky"
or "fussy" about silly
little things. We wanted to experience
"true life" while traveling
and we were able to gain that by
staying at Scandeluzza Castle. Upon
our arrival (via pre-arranged car/driver
booked thru same agent that booked
us for castle), we discovered that
electricity service is not dependable
in Rome! LOL I felt bad for Xenia
as she seemed soooo embarrassed,
but we laughed it off and the power
was back on in 20 mins. We had originally
booked the Xenia suite, but the
Prince insisted that we instead
choose from that or any of the other
available rooms, so we instead chose
the Pelligrini Suite, allowing for
much more room for a family of 4
with two separate private areas.
The suite was LARGE, by any standards,
but especially so by European standards!
No sooner were we assisted with
our luggage up to the 3rd flr. (no
lift here, but worked fine for us
- just make a note of it if you
have trouble with stairs), we were
handed our key and reminded that
beds were made daily, but towels
and linens would be changed every
2 days (unless requested prior).
We unpacked a bit and as it was
2PM, the wife and I thought we'd
scoot into Rome and get some Euros
from ATM as we were running low.
The boys stayed behind and rested.
Prince Fillipo had provided our
2 yr. old several small, antique
cars/trucks, etc...to play with.
The very toys he played with himself
as a child, and his Mother, the
Princess, had a tear in her eye
watching our son play with them,
as she said he reminded her so much
of her own son years ago. It was
a touching moment. We were supplied,
free of charge, with tickets for
bus into town/subway (yes, it is
4 miles!!! So plan on transportation
time, if you know Rome, this can
be a long time). We caught the bus
to town, but on the wrong side of
the street! So, instead of going
into town, we went out of it and
around it and thru it and any other
way you can imagine......it was
2 hours well spent to see so much
of the Lazio countryside and outskirts
of Rome - and for free! Upon our
return 4-5 hours later, we were
all tired from travel from Paris
earlier in day and hungry for dinner.
At 7:30, we ventured over to the
small restaurant across the side
street from Scandeluzza, as highly
recommended by Ms. Xenia. It's called
"Papi Pizza" and is our
new favorite restaurant in the world!!
I fed a family of 4, each a 3 course
dinner, including wine, 2 cocktails
for me, AND deserts (not to mention
including the most awesome anti-pasta
bar ever!) - all for $50 U.S.!!!
Unheard of anywhere in Europe! For
the next 6 days while in Rome, we
ate at Papi Pizza at least 1x per
day, sometimes 2 if we happenned
to be around for lunch AND dinner
hours. To be honest, Scandeluzza
Castle and Papi Pizza are reason
enough to return to Rome in and
of themselves! On our 3rd day in
Rome, we foolishly divided up 2
of our credit cards, letting my
older son of 17 keep one in his
wallet which he kept in his front
pocket guarded at all times with
his hand on it. At all times that
is, except for when being shoved
aside in the subway during rush-hour,
of course it was promptly stolen.
After filing reports with police
& credit card cos., we returned
to Scandeluzza Castle feeling kind
of "down and out". The
day before, the Prince and Princess
themselves had invited us to a private
function for that evening - it was
to be a knighting ceremony! We decided
to dress appropriately and go as
planned instead of moping about
our earlier pick-pocket experience
on Subway. Upon our arrival into
the Great Hall (wife on my arm as
we slowly descended the stairs),
we felt (and were treated) like
royalty! We were just a bit "fashionably
late". There were well over
100 people seated. Gentlemen stood
to greet my wife and the typical
European "shmoozing" began,
as though WE WERE THE ROYALS in
the room! The Prince performed some
toasts of some sort in Italian and
we were seated by white gloved attendants.
I couldn't believe what happenned
next as his Mother, the Princess
herself, came to my side with a
FULL LEG OF LAMB! She explained
in very limited English that she
cooked it herself and then set it
in front of me and said "....eat,
eat - for you....I do for you!"
I only thought of how gluttonous
I must've looked! The food, the
knighting ceremony of a wealthy
businessman from town, the wine
from Prince Fillipo's private vineyard,
the music, etc... was all AWESOME
and made for an unforgettable evening!
My wife ended up dancing with Embassadors,
Lords, Dignitaries, etc.. for most
of the evening and we no doubt felt
very "Regal" - hehe. It
was a night to remember, one we'll
treasure forever! The next night
we had purchased food "to go"
from Papi Pizza next door, for our
sons, as we had made exclusive dinner
plans ahead of time alone at the
Scandeluzza Castle (they will provide
private dinner for 2 at 100 Euro).
It was veal with all the appropriate
side dishes and presented to us
by the Miss Xenia. Although it was
well prepared, presented and delicious,
I would've chosen Papi-Pizza instead,
but didn't want to be rude and cancel
reservation @ Scandeluzza Castle.
We had the run of the castle that
evening! Also, several times thru-out
our stay, the Prince would "entice"
us with a bit of his private stock
of wine or other Italian "beverages",
it made for a warm and welcoming
atmosphere. His mother, the Princess
Pelligrino, took my hand once as
we were on our way to tour Rome
one morning, and she guided me to
her husbands private burial chapel
on the grounds of Scandeluzza Castle.
Although she spoke little to no
English, and I the same of Italian,
we "spoke" for over an
hour and shared something special
that day. Several mornings we were
provided with a ride to the subway
free of charge. On one morning in
particular, the Prince and his mother
took us, but stopped on the way
at a large, local groceria and then
took us out for capuccinos and mid-morning
"treats". The Prince,
his family and staff all took fondly
to our sons and treated them with
kindness and affection. We will
DEFINITELY return to Scandeluzza
Castle and Papi Pizza again - unfortunately,
it just won't be soon enough! Mark
and Yvette Michaud, Boston, MA USA
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