Il Maniero

Il Maniero is a beautifully restored estate nestled under the limestone monolith of Montecassino. We arrived late in the afternoon after visiting the abbey to find a christening party winding down under a few heavily laden olive trees in the front garden. After some confusion, we were eventually directed by the caterer to a pavilion above the garden to meet the owner and check in. Unfortunately – and as is perhaps typical for a bed and breakfast – Il Maniero’s hospitality appeared to be reserved for the following day’s breakfast. That meant either resigning ourselves to a long evening in a viewless bedroom or heading back into town to enjoy some nightlife. Happily, Cassino’s centre is only a short drive away. The town’s main boulevard is lined with bars, shops and restaurants where we enjoyed some aperitivi watching the locals parade up and down the street. Upon returning to Il Maniero, our bedroom offered a quiet night’s sleep on a comfortable bed with a spacious ensuite. The real pleasure of Il Maniero, however, revealed itself in the morning when we encountered the owner’s delightful son-in-law preparing breakfast in the pavilion. Giuseppe is the archetypal hostelier. Recalled to the estate from America following his mother-in-law’s death, Giuseppe is instantly likeable and hospitable. He produced a delicious breakfast of freshly-baked pastries and stove-top Italian coffee. Our meal was made all the more enjoyable by his description of Il Maniero’s recent resurrection from rubble and the workings of its small olive grove. If there was one reason to return to Il Maniero, Giuseppe would be it. He epitomises Italian hospitality in a family environment and transformed our brief visit to Cassino from the mundane to the memorable.

This was our second visit to Il Maniero. The location is amazing and so quiet. The house is set in beautiful grounds with a well kept garden. The family is lovely, friendly and very helpful. The rooms are all spacious. Breakfast was delicious. There is a kitchen area and a dining room which guests can use which is very useful. This time we made use of the outside pool. It was great to be back there.