| Date | Rating | Comment
[Guest Comments: 17 positive, 0 negative]
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| 10/30/09 |
Positive
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| We stayed at Cassiopea from 17 Oct 2009 - 24 Oct 2009 and loved it. Anna Rita and Piero greeted us as family and, of course, we enjoyed the ricotte tart and wine. The apartment was spacious, quiet, clean, and very comfortable. It was easy to take the bus or walk into the center of Bologna, a great Italian university city. Thanks again Anna Rita and Piero for helping to make our stay so memorable. |
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Anonymous |
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| 10/26/09 |
Positive
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| We stayed from 9/12-9/26/2009-- Bologna (ended up as our favorite place in Italy)- due in a large part to Anna Rita and Piero-- they welcomed us-- with yes , her ricotte tart and wine!-- The kitchen was well stocked with the essentials and more! Loved eating on the patio overlooking the tile roofs- Everything was available-- would be helpful if an Italian -English dictionary was available and an English channel on the TV- but we were too exhausted most nights to use them anyway--The Tavo Caldo at the bus stop was very convenient and good- public transportation (trains and buses) very easy to use- while in Bologna we took day trips to Venice, Ferra, Verona, and Ravenna-- but one of our favorite places was Dozza- just a bus ride outside of Bologna- We did not have a car- so having the bus stop close was great- however it was just a 20 minute walk to the historic center- so we usually walked to town and then rode the bus home- getting to the train station was easy!Spent time wandering the university area- the archeology museum and the Anatomy theater are wonderful- We took the orientation tour from the Plaza- well worth it- make sure you visit the seven churches and the Cemetery!! I could go on-& on about the food! Meloncello is a 13-15 walk from the apartment and serves great Bolognese dishes! Please e-mail me if you have any questions-- it was a great place to start our Italy vacation-- and I would most definitely refer anyone to the apartment! In fact I already have! |
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Jackie Ayers, Holland, Ohio
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| 05/29/09 |
Positive
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| We stayed at Cassiopea for two weeks this May (2009). We were actually sad to leave as it had become our home; stairs and all! The apartment was just as described and very comfortable. Wonderful location for anything in Bologna. Quiet street. Super easy bus access. We got to know some of the people at various neighborhood businesses which made us "Bolognese" for just a bit. Sitting on the small veranda sipping wine,eating parmesiana and prosciutto; molto bellisimo! Anna Rita is very attentive to her guest's needs and will do whatever is necessary to make them comfortable. Her torte is molto bene! For Americans remember, this is Italy with European hand-held type showers but if that bothers you, stay home! It is nice to see Anna Rita taking credit cards. We were not able to do this and arranging bank transfers is a real pain! Everything considered, if you really want to "live" Italy, and particularly Bologna, Cassiopea is a fantastic place to do it. |
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Karen Towner, Ventura. California |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you so much, Karen. I truly look forward to having you here again. For what a credit card payment is concerned - I know, is a real pain for us too, but unfortunately in this country individual businesses like vacation rentals have no access to the credit card POS stream system. We do accept credit cards for payments through PayPal, though.
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| 12/11/08 |
Positive
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Gene and I spent the month of Sept. at Cassiopea and it was truly a vacation we will never forget. Anna Rita and Piero are
simply wonderful!!! Their friendship was the highlight of our trip.
We chose Bologna because of the great train service throughout Italy. We were on the go everyday and found travel very easy. From the apartment we walked half a block, turned the corner, caught the bus, went to the train station and took the train to wherever. The apartment had everything we needed nearby, grocery store,internet cafe and restaurants. Everything in Bologna is within walking distance of the apartment. The apartment itself was stocked with everything you can imagine and if anything needed attention, it was taken care of immediately.
Of all the choices of apartments in Bologna we are so glad we chose Cassiopea and would certainly go back there again. |
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Sandy and Gene, Green Valley, AZ USA
1-520-399-9176 |
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Homeowner Response:
Thank you so much, Sandy & Gene. It was a true pleasure meeting you. Piero and I look forward to having you over again soon. Ciao!
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| 10/25/08 |
Positive
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Jeff's and my three weeks in Bologna and the Emilia Romagna were greatly enhanced by staying in Cassiopea. Doing historical research all day, we were able to "come home" every afternoon to relax in a lovely and comfortable setting. I enjoyed cooking in the well-equipped kitchen. Having other amenities of home, such as a washing machine and dishwasher, made everything easy.
The hospitality and generosity of owners Anna Rita and Piero was well beyond gracious. It was an "Italian experience" in itself -- one we will always remember and cherish. Like everyone else, I am determined to figure out how to make Anna Rita's ricotta cake -- it was so delicious.
We'll be back and give this property the highest of recommendations. Even the four floor walk-up was good for us!
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Diane Pettus, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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| 07/26/08 |
Positive
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Hello Anna Rita and Pier Francesco,
David and I wanted to say thank you for your lovely accommodation. We really enjoyed coming home to Cassiopea after exploring Bologna and the surrounding area.
Many thanks to you both as well for the quick response to the defective washing machine. We were very impressed to have a new machine the same day! The longer drainage hose in the bathtub works much better.
We travel a lot and have stayed at many places around the world. Cassiopea is one of our favourites, as it's very comfortable, the kitchen has everything you could need, the balcony and views are lovely, it's quiet and yet very close to the city by bus. We also appreciated internet access as we were able to keep in touch with family and our business in Canada. As well, the kitchen and bath supplies, the bathrobes and slippers, bus ticket, lovely bottle of wine and the delicious ricotta cake, were all very welcome. I would love the recipe for the ricotta cake to share with friends and family! We have told friends and family about Cassiopea. If we return to Bologna, we would love to stay here again.
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Leslie and David Warnock, Victoria BC Canada |
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| 06/30/08 |
Positive
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Highly recommended! We enjoyed a week at Cassiopea and didn't have a single restaurant meal, since the well-equipped kitchen allowed us to prepare gourmet meals from the wonderful produce in the markets or take out items from the fabulous delis.
Great location in a quiet neighborhood with convenient bus connections downtown and to the train station. Local shops mean you can settle in and feel right at home, or do day trips to all the interesting places nearby in Emilia-Romagna.
We will definitely plan to stay at Cassiopea again on our next visit to Bologna. |
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Tom Sheeran, Honolulu, Hawaii |
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| 06/04/08 |
Positive
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The apartment was absolutely wonderful! Very clean, cozy and very close to everything. We had an exceptional time and loved the apartment's convenience and amenities. The owner took great care in welcoming us and made our stay all the more wonderful. I would certainly rent this again.
Have fun.
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Tammy Rose, Chicago, IL
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| 05/26/08 |
Positive
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We very much enjoyed our stay in "Cassiopea" last month. It was very cheerful, convenient, and well-equipped (including the delicious ricotta cake!), and made an excellent base for our stay in Italy.
We will never forget an amazing act of hospitality from Anna Rita: On the day we arrived in Bologna I left an important item in the taxi, and Anna Rita managed to find the taxi driver, and personally retrieved my item!
Some restaurants we enjoyed in Bologna were al Tavolaccio (Via Andrea Costa, left from Via Zannoni), Da Ercole (on Piazza Minghetti, in the city center), and La Scalinatella (on small side street running north from Piazza Maggiore, Via Caduti di Cefalonia 5). These are all very moderately priced and have excellent food. |
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Anonymous, Atlanta, GA, USA |
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| 05/19/08 |
Positive
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| Living in the Cassiopea apartment while staying for ten days in Bologna could not have been better. Anna Rita's welcome, which included her now world famous ricotta tart, immediately made me feel at home. I echo all of the above positive comments and hope to come again for a longer visit. Thank you Anna Rita and Piero! |
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Cathie Dahlstrom, Tiburon, California
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| 05/12/08 |
Positive
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| We recently spent a week in Anna Rita's lovely apartment and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's so close to downtown (5-10 mins by bus) but in its own little neighbourhood with shops, restaurants, etc only a block away. The apartment itself is clear, well equipped and ideally suited to the traveller. Anna Rita and her husband are wonderful hosts. Highly recommended. |
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Bob Tyrrell, Victoria, BC |
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| 11/18/07 |
Positive
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We are just finishing a two-week stay in Anna Rita's apartment. Everything was delightful and exactly as described. Anna Rita is also, flexible, effervescent, and left us a delicious ricotta cake to help welcome us.
One of the nice features of the apartment is that there are a lot of items in it that would normally require a start-up trip to the market. Most, I suppose left by other guests. Things like shampoos, olive oil, detergent, etc. Hot water and heat are delivered by a heater in the kitchen and are more than adequate. There are separate air conditioners in the living room and the kitchen, though in November we didn't need them.
The views from the windows are city views of the tile rooftops that are typical of Bologna. The windows are big and the ceilings are about 12 feet.
The bus around the corner takes you to the center of town in about 15 minutes, and the walk is not much longer. Bus service is about every six minutes at peak times, stretching to about 15 minutes at off times.
The neighborhood is very friendly and safe. There are lots of small merchants, good restaurants (particularly Cannone) and a take-out place (Rosticeria) across the street.
Anna Rita also provides superb information in the house about where to go, what to do, and how to do it. The broadband is terrific. BTW, I used Skype to talk to the US. GSM cell phones work here as well.
To sum up, the apartment was great, like home. I heartily recommend it. |
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Arthur Iger, New York, NY
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| 10/12/07 |
Positive
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| Thank you so much Anna Rita for your kind hospitality and the wonderful apartment. We had a great time in Bologna, and it was nice to have such a comfortable 'home away from home' to come back to each evening. We appreciate your helpful tips and advice while staying in Bologna and seeing your beautiful country! |
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Debi & Del, Salem OR |
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| 10/04/07 |
Positive
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I have to confess I was a bit skeptical when reading so many glowing reviews; it is hard to please everyone. However, we were delighted to find that the apartment and our experience were as lovely as described.
It was hard to leave the cosy comfortable life in this Bologna apt.! I particularly recommend the nearby cooking school, Vecchia Escola, for an afternoon of eating and learning how to make the specialties of Bologna. |
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Rhonda Farrar, San Diego, California
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| 09/14/07 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
"This is a charmingly comfortable apartment which my husband and I look forward to renting again. The owner is one of the cheeriest persons on the planet who greets guests with her own freshly baked (and delicious!) ricotta torte. For those who like to cook, the kitchen is well planned and generously stocked with all the basics and then some (we've rented apartments in the past where there wasn't even salt). The bathroom is also well-stocked--right down to ear swabs and bandaides--and the big bathtub is a bubblebath lover's dream. "Home away from home" is no exaggeration when summing up the experience of staying in this very special apartment."
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Anne C.
USA
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| 07/28/07 |
Positive
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| The apartment was fantastic--even better than promised--quiet and clean and Anna Rita was the most amazing host ever--even baking her incredible cheese torte and stocking the apartment with fruit. When the internet access didn't function, she even switched carriers for us! It was like staying with the most wonderful cousin you could ever have! Thank you, Anna Rita! |
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kathy rosenberg-wohl, san francisco california |
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| 07/28/07 |
Positive
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Hello Anna Rita,
As my vacation is coming to an end, I thought to drop you a "Thank You" line. I found your apartment very pleasant and comfortable, perfectly situated on a quiet street, yet easy to get to the centre of the city. I made it my "residence" in Northern Italy and I took day trips to Firenze, Rimini, Ferrara - there are more to be seen - maybe next time...
Bologna is everything I anticipated, the only disappointment is the graffiti defacing the centuries old portici - I felt like complaining to the city council. (Seriously!!!).
I will be leaving tomorrow around 7:00 - I will drop the key into the mail box.
By the way, the ricotta cake you baked was so good, please send me the recipe - if it is not a secret.
Hopefully I will return to Bologna some day...
Yours truly,
Irina
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Anonymous |
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| 07/01/07 |
Positive
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| This is a charmingly comfortable apartment which my husband and I look forward to renting again. The owner is one of the cheeriest persons on the planet who greets guests with her own freshly baked (and delicious!) ricotta torte. For those who like to cook, the kitchen is well planned and generously stocked with all the basics and then some (we've rented apartments in the past where there wasn't even salt). The bathroom is also well-stocked--right down to ear swabs and bandaides--and the big bathtub is a bubblebath lover's dream. "Home away from home" is no exaggeration when summing up the experience of staying in this very special apartment. |
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Anne Conlon, USA |
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| 02/26/07 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
Very quiet, beautiful and decorated apartment. Located at in a very typical Bolognese neighborhood where you can find everything you may need for confortable stay. But above all, Rita the owner, what a delightful person. I recommend this place to all.
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Hans D. Handke
Germany
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| 02/20/07 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
The flat itself is quite small but perfectly suitable as a base for a stay in Bologna. Anna Rita and her husband couldn't have been more helpful and welcoming. The flat is beautifully clean, the beds comfortable and very quiet at night. Access to the centre of Bologna is very easy - we walked in as recommended by Anna Rita, though it's obviously easy to get in by bus.
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Mart H.
Melbourne, Australia
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| 02/13/07 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
Very quiet and peaceful--it felt like an oasis in the hustle and bustle of the big city. The neighborhood was nice and we felt totally safe, even at night. We were able to walk to the center in five minutes and taking public transport to the center was equally easy. Anna Rita was friendly and easy to work with. Overall, we had a very good experience.
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W. Ricardo
USA
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| 02/03/07 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
Absolutely perfect accommodation; very clean; very nice area; lovely views from apartment at top of house; easy access by bus into centre of Bologna, which is walking distance anyhow. Owner provided much more than we could ever have expected - 100%; so very helpful with information and extremely kind and friendly.
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Nick Holmstead
USA
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| 01/20/07 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
Nous avons été accueillis chaleureusement par Anna Rita qui nous a fourni une foule de renseignements utiles pour notre visite de Bologna. Tel que convenu, elle nous a acheté à l'avance nos billets de autobus pour sauver du temps. L'appartement est bien situé et le stationnement est sécuritaire. Le transport en commun facilite l'accès au centre ville. Anna Rita est une hôte sympatique qui nous a offert à notre arrivée un gâteau maison et une liqueur de citron fort appréciés. L'appartement, très propre, convient bien à quatre personnes, bien que la "salle à manger" soit petite.
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Francine B.
Toulouse
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| 01/10/07 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
Un très bel appartement, situé au calme, la description tout à fait conforme aux indications données. Très propre avec belle vue sur Bologne. Mme Annarita nous a très bien accueilli : disponibilité, gentillesse, aide, conseils et renseignements pour le séjour. Un vrai plaisir ...
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Marie-Ange Lecoeur
France
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| 01/07/07 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
Anna Rita's apartment was great, everything was fine, clean and well set in the overall! She was very hospitable and she arranged more than we expected. The house is quiet and safe and the furniture was chosen with excellent taste. There was room enough for the 4 of us to cook our meals during the week and enjoy ourselves indoor during the rainy days. The house is warm at wintertime. One of our best accommodations ever."
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Bert Schnitzler
Austria
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