Aldo Gallo's apartment is located on the central square of Panicale, a medieval hill top town in the heart of the Umbrian-Tuscan region. What used to be a wine cellar and a warehouse was restored blending the existing classical 17th century details with modern design. With its one bedroom and living room, it can sleep four adults, but is best suited for two adults and two children.

Aldo Gallo is the central figure of the community as he runs the local bar (guess why children adore him). For decades it has been the meeting point of this medieval Umbrian hill top village. He and his wife restored their combined wine cellar and warehouse in the mid 90’s. Gossips in the village went (As usual) out of hand. Seen that the warehouse was located on the central square in town, everybody believed that he was opening a pizzeria. Would he take up the competition for Panicle's 400 inhabitants’ pizza cravings with Attilio and his restaurant? Who would survive? Why could he do such a thing? Would he destroy the 12th century piazza with a neon sign? But alas, the people who started the rumours where as usual proven to be wrong. What the restoration resulted in was a two floor apartment, where modern details where blended into the classical 16th century architecture. All this was done through the help of local craftsmanship.

There are two entrances to the apartment, one through the central square, and one through Via Ceppari. Both lead to the large room on the bottom floor. This room has been kept open, and using the original structures, is naturally divided up into three different areas. It has a travertine floor, which blends well with the 16th century walls which where restored to their original state making the building stones visible.

The bearing walls screen off an area that was turned into the kitchen. It is complete of oven, gas stove, refrigerator, and all necessary cooking utensils (Including the mandatory espresso maker). Being at the far end of the apartment, distant from windows and glass doors, little natural light entered the area. The lighting problem was solved through a skylight. A large pyramid formed window of glass was put in place of the ceiling letting in all the necessary light. Right outside the kitchen there is the dining area with space for 6 people.


A beautiful red brick arch separates the dining area with the living room. There is a bed sofa that sleeps two, as well as couches. One of them can easily be transformed to a single bed. There is a small colour television should you feel like practising your Italian, but are too unsociable or tired to drop by the bar.

There are two toilets on this floor. One of them is equipped with a WC, basin and shower, while the second just has a WC and basin. There is a also washing machine in one corner, indispensable for longer stays.

From the living room area, there is an open wooden staircase that leads to the upper level. The upper floor has an open architecture, with its railing giving directly towards the stairs and a window on the main piazza. There is a dark brown hardwood floor, which fits well with the beams and red bricks on the ceiling. Up here, you will find a double bed, and a wardrobe. On the opposite end of the room, overlooking the stairs, is a working table and some chairs.

The walls of the structure are so thick that they guarantee a constant cool temperature during the summer months, and keep in the heat from the radiators during the winter ones. The only unfortunate part is that there is no outdoor area belonging to this apartment. This has however not stopped people in the past from putting a table outside on the main square, and enjoy the buzz in the Piazza.

Note that during July and August, there is a background noise from the Piazza should you plan an early night and want to keep the window open. It is not disturbing, as it mainly consists of children playing, people taking an evening stroll to buy their gelati, housewives gossiping, or it might be one of the weekly jazz concerts held in the summer months. If you are not planning on enjoying the social events the town has to offer or are a philosopher and need total silence to think, this might not be the right place. If, on the other hand, you want to have all the community activities at the step of your door, this is the place to be. Should you be planning the occasional early night due to a day trip the following morning, just close the wooden shutters and you will be fine.