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HOUSE BOOK !1
Welcome. To ensure that your stay is comfortable and secure, please have several members of your party read these important notes. 
 
 Thank you! Karen Smith & Paul De Marco
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Important Contact Information .........................5 EMERGENCY, MANAGER & OWNER PHONE NUMBERS ..........................................5 ROCCA DI BENANO MAILING ADDRESS: ....................................................................5 MEDICAL EMERGENCIES .............................................................................................6
Your Safety ...........................................................7 FIRST AID KIT .................................................................................................................7 FIRE EXTINGUISHER .................................................................................................... 7 LOCKS AND KEYS............................................................................................................ 7 STEPS AND TAPE ............................................................................................................ 8
About the House ..................................................9 ELECTRICAL OUTAGES AND SURGES .........................................................................9 ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES ..........................................................................................10 WI-FI ...............................................................................................................................10 WINDOWS ......................................................................................................................11 WINDOW SCREENS ....................................................................................................... 11 SPECIAL REQUEST FOR USERS OF POWER STRIPS ...............................................12 APPLIANCES 
 (Oven, Dishwasher, Washer, Dryer, Air Conditioner) ...................................................13 HAPPY HOUR .................................................................................................................13 OTHER PROVISIONS .................................................................................................... 14
Housekeeping.....................................................15 YOUR OBLIGATIONS ON CHECK-OUT DAY ..............................................................15 DURING THE WEEK / HELP WITH HOUSEWORK ................................................... 15 BEACH TOWELS ............................................................................................................15 GARBAGE AND RECYCLING ........................................................................................16 RECYCLABLES, COMPOSTABLES, AND GARBAGE ...................................................17
Conserving Electricity .......................................19 AIR CONDITIONERS .....................................................................................................19 CLOTHES DRYER ..........................................................................................................19 WASHING MACHINE .................................................................................................... 19
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DISHWASHING..............................................................................................................19
Nice to Know (Floor-by-floor) ..........................20 MAIN FLOOR.................................................................................................................20 GROUND FLOOR ..........................................................................................................23 SECOND FLOOR ............................................................................................................ 25 TOP FLOOR ....................................................................................................................25
Out and About ...................................................26 Shopping .............................................................................26 TRUCKS JUST OUTSIDE BENANO’S GATE ..............................................................26 LOCAL MARKETS.......................................................................................................... 26 GROCERIES (CASTEL VISCARDO) ..............................................................................27 MEAT ............................................................................................................................27 AGRITURISMO PULICARO .........................................................................................28 AZIENDA AGRICLA MARCEDDU FRANCESCO .........................................................29 SUPERMARKETS .........................................................................................................30 SHOPPING BAGS ..........................................................................................................30
Castel Viscardo: Your Go-to Village ..................................31 Parking in Orvieto .............................................................33 Take a Walk (or Jog or Run) ..............................................35
Day Trips ...........................................................37 Virtual Suggestion Box ......................................37 Appliances in the House....................................38 How to use the Air Conditioners ........................................38 How to use the Oven ...........................................................39 How to use the Dishwasher ................................................40 How to use the Washing Machine ......................................41 How to Use the Dryer .........................................................42
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Important Contact Information EMERGENCY, MANAGER & OWNER PHONE NUMBERS From the House Phone Ambulance, medical
118
Fire
115
Police (Carabinieri)
112
Orvieto Hospital (switchboard telephone)
From your North American Cell Phone
0763 3071
0039 0763 3071
Emergency Room (pronto soccorso)
0763 307366
0039 0763 307366
Alex (manager), cell
333 418 2128
0039 333 418 2128
Alex & Olga, home
0763 71 6240
0039 0763 71 6240
Olga email
olgasemionovworld@gmail.com
Karen & Paul, home
001 (513) 321-9599
(513) 321-9599
Karen, cell
001 (513) 470-0371
(513) 470-0371
Karen email
karen@italianrentalvilla.com
ROCCA DI BENANO MAILING ADDRESS: Località Benano, 6 05018 Orvieto (TR), Italy
To say our address and phone number in Italian:
Localitá Benano Numero 6 (Phonetically, that’s “Numero SAY”)
(0763) 36 00 64 (Phonetically, that’s “SERo - SETtay - SAY - TRAY,
TRAY - SAY - SERo - SERo - SAY - QWATtro”)
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MEDICAL EMERGENCIES Either take yourself (use the GPS) or call an ambulance (ambulanza).
If you need urgent medical treatment outside normal doctor oďŹƒce hours and cannot get to the emergency room, call the local duty doctor service (guardia medica -similar to an urgent care center). This service is usually available from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays and from 2 p.m. on Saturdays until 8 a.m. on the Monday. The Orvieto Guardia Medica can be reached at (0763) 301 884.  
If there is a medical emergency, the closest emergency room is at the Orvieto Hospital (ospedale): Orvieto Hospital
via Sette Martiri, 7
05019 Ciconia (Orvieto)
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Your Safety FIRST AID KIT The First Aid Kit is in the cabinet in the dining room.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER There are two fire extinguishers: one is under the kitchen window and the other is in the laundry room near the sink. If the weather is chilly enough that you might use the fireplace, Alex will bring the downstairs fire extinguisher to the living room and leave it near the front door.
The outside doors only close one way: LOCKED. Your key is your doorknob from the outside. Have it in your hand.
LOCKS AND KEYS The outside doors only close one way: LOCKED. Your key is your doorknob from the outside. Have your key in your hand.
Don’t ever pull the door closed without being certain that you are not locking yourself out. If you overlook this good advice, there are doorbells at each door. And there’s a hidden key on the back porch, too. (See page 10.) If you use the hidden key, be sure to replace it. Simona and her assistant Caterina preparing a Welcome Dinner for hungry guests. !7
These are the steps from the kitchen to the ground floor. Note the blue painters tape and the bright florescent tape on top. Read on!
STEPS AND TAPE Like other old buildings in Italy, Rocca di Benano is rife with steps. We have installed handrails wherever possible, but some of the steps are in unexpected places and may take some getting used to. Many of our guests accept our invitation to mark any worrisome steps with tape.
If the steps in the house cause any concern, find the rolls of tape and
scissors in the cabinet in the dining room. Lay enough blue (painters’) tape on the offending step(s), then put the florescent (duct) tape on top of it.
Please don’t forget to lay that all-important base layer of blue tape. Our floors (and we) will thank you.
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Rocca di Benano’s front door is at the top of the stairs on the left. The village church is the building on the right.
About the House ELECTRICAL OUTAGES AND SURGES The Italian electric system is less reliable than what you’re probably used to, and the electricity in the house may go off. It should reset itself immediately, but there is a lantern in each bedroom in case it doesn’t.
You can manage the risk of tripping an electrical circuit by being careful not to use the most energydraining appliances (i.e., the oven, hair dryers, toaster, iron, dishwasher) at the same time.
ELECTRICAL STORMS
If you lose electricity and it doesn’t come right back on, call Alex. He’ll take care of it.
If you experience lightning, please unplug the telephone and modem (behind the desk on the ground floor) and TV/DVD. !9
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES Especially hair dryers, flat irons, and curling irons Many appliances, including laptop computers, will automatically adjust to Italy’s 220 volt electrical current. Some, however, do not. Hair dryers and curling irons do not convert, can burn out, and could cause a fire.
For that reason, we implore you to use our hair beautification appliances. There are hair dryers in each bathroom. Look around the bathrooms and you will also find one curling iron and one flat iron.
WI-FI
WLAN-AP, the main modem, is on the ground floor near the phone. You should not need a password. If you do, though, it’s taped to the modem.
DLINK-BF68 is the extender for the upper floors. It’s plugged in near the coat tree in the living room. If you’re using that, you’ll need the password: villaguest.
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WINDOWS Most windows in the house have three settings: with the handle straight down, the window will be locked closed.
Set horizontally, the window can be swung open. With the handle pointed up, the window is ready to be tilted out at the top.
WINDOW SCREENS These can be tricky, but they’re worth figuring out.
scooping motion, if that helps you get the feel for it. Go play with it and you’ll get it.
If they’re up and you want them down, slide them all the way down until they click into place at the bottom.
The screen on the terrace door is different, but easier. It’s magnetized, so it just takes a gentle pull to open it. But it’s not quite that simple. It really takes both hands. If you’re inside, put your fingers as far in toward the door jamb as they go and use your fingers to guide it open. There’s a small handle on the outside.
If they’re down and you want them up, put your fingers in the lip at the bottom and release the locking mechanism. Here’s the trick: nudge it just a bit lower and then scoop it gently toward you or away from you to release. It’s sort of a !11
SPECIAL REQUEST FOR USERS OF POWER STRIPS ON THE TERRACE This may seem like a strange one, but we wouldn’t mention it if it hadn’t happened — twice. I can’t make this stuff up.
If you take the power strip out to the terrace to, say, charge your laptop, please don’t leave the power strip outside.
The electrical outage caused by water getting into the system via the exposed power strip is a tricky one to resolve quickly.
Especially if it rains.
So please don’t leave the power strip out in the rain. !12
APPLIANCES (OVEN, DISHWASHER, WASHER, DRYER, AIR CONDITIONER) Instructions for the appliances are posted near each appliance, and at the end of this booklet (pages 38 - 42).
The instruction sheet for the Air Conditioners is also in the kitchen. See also the “Conserving Electricity” section on page 19.
HAPPY HOUR
The unlabeled bottles in the cantina (wine cellar) hold our house wine. We buy wine in bulk and bottle it ourselves. Help yourself, but please don’t discard or recycle these bottles. Leave them in the kitchen on the floor under the window. Alex and Olga will wash
and re-use them the next time they bottle wine.
There is usually a supply of liquor in the big chest in the dining room. This is a “replace what you drink” system. Help yourself, and if something runs low, please replenish the supply. !13
OTHER PROVISIONS There is a plastic bottle of body wash in each shower.
addition, we will provide an initial supply of bottled water, olive oil, coffee, paper towels and napkins.
We provide enough soap (hand, body, laundry, dish), toilet paper, basic spices, and wine in the house to last your entire stay. In
Never worry, though: Alex and Olga will restock your toilet paper as needed!
THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP OF ALL “C” is for hot (Caldo)
“F” is for cold (Freddo)
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Housekeeping YOUR OBLIGATIONS ON CHECK-OUT DAY On check-out day, you are responsible for removing all garbage and putting it in the dumpster or recycling bins (see following pages).
Please rinse and place dirty dishes in the dishwasher. You may leave your sheets and towels in the bedrooms and bathrooms.
DURING THE WEEK / HELP WITH HOUSEWORK Washing dishes and emptying the garbage is your responsibility. Olga may be able to provide extra help with kitchen clean up or daily housekeeping at a rate of â‚Ź15/hour. Please arrange this service with Alex or Olga upon your arrival or as soon as possible.
Alex and Olga will come into the house on Tuesday to give everything a quick check, change the towels, and water the flowers. If you are staying for more than one week, they will be in to change all the linens on Friday.
BEACH TOWELS
ground floor. Please don’t take the white bathroom towels out of the house. Directions to the pool are on page 31.
There are beach towels and pool tickets in the top of the square cabinet in the area between the bedroom and bathroom on the
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GARBAGE AND RECYCLING
Fun fact: the fenced-off area behind the garbage and recycling bins is an overgrown bocce court. Imagine our neighbors tossing the balls out there not so very long ago …
There is a row of recycling and garbage receptacles on the main road across from the parking area
and a corresponding set of receptacles in the kitchen — four under the window and one under the sink.
Please sort your recyclables, composting, and garbage according to the guide on the following page, then dispose of them in the appropriate bins outside.
The catch—and this is a big one— is that you will need a key for the outside bins. (I know: who locks their garbage?)
The key you need is on the key ring with your house keys. It’s the small one. !16
RECYCLABLES, COMPOSTABLES, AND GARBAGE
YELLOW — Plastics and Metal (Plastica e metalli) Yes (plastic): Detergent bottles, yogurt cups, plastic plates and disposable cups (no food residue), grocery bags, boxes for fruit and vegetables, food films, trays and materials from polystyrene packing.
Yes (metal): Metal cans, lids of cans and yogurt cups, screw-on caps, spray cans, trays and aluminum foil.
No: other objects from plastic and metal containers
Deposit material directly into the yellow bin. Do not use a plastic bag.
BLUE — Paper, Cardboard and Paperboard (Carta, cartone e cartoncino) Yes: Packaging paper, cardboard, books, newspapers, magazines, papers, notebooks, brochures, leaflets, advertising, beverage containers such as Tetra Pak.
No: Soiled, waxed, plasticized or otherwise coated paper or cardboard; receipts or fax paper.
Deposit paper directly into the blue bin without a plastic bag.
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GREEN — Glass (Vetro) Yes: Bottles, cans, jars, and glass containers.
No: Ceramics, porcelain, light bulbs of any kind.
Deposit glass directly into the green bin without using a plastic bag.
BROWN (Under the sink) — Compostables (Organico)
Yes: Food waste and food scraps, fruit and vegetables, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, bread, leaves, cut flowers, plants, potting soil, paper soiled with food, paper napkins, towels and handkerchiefs, corks, and wood ash.
No: anything that is not of animal or plant origin.
You can use a bag for this one!! But use only the compostable / biodegradable bags you’ll find in the pantry. Do not use regular plastic bags.
GREY (Outside, this is the black bin) — Everything Else (Residuo indifferenziato)
Yes: toys, plastic disposable cutlery, diapers and sanitary napkins, CDs, DVDs, VHS cassettes, pens and markers, vacuum cleaner bags, toothbrushes, tights, plastic razors, latex and rubber gloves.
No: any recyclable materials
Put directly into the black bin without using a plastic bag.
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Conserving Electricity Electricity costs more than three times as much in Italy as it does in the US. We appreciate your help managing this expense.
AIR CONDITIONERS First, consider using the clothes line outside the dining room windows or the drying rack you’ll find in the laundry room.
Instructions for the dryer are posted on the wall above it, and there’s a label pointing out the reservoir, which needs to emptied before each load.
CLOTHES DRYER Except during a heat wave, open windows and a fan or two will usually keep the house very comfortable. There is a fan in each bedroom, and all the windows are screened. (See page 11.) If it is still
too hot, feel free to use the air conditioners. Instructions are in the back of this booklet (page 38) and in the kitchen.
Please turn the air conditioners off when you leave the house.
WASHING MACHINE We recommend using the Rapido setting. This is the shortest washing cycle (30 minutes) and uses cold water. You can also adjust the Centrifuga (spin cycle) to remove
more moisture before drying. Instructions for the washer are posted on the wall above it and in the back of this booklet (page 41).
DISHWASHING If you have just a few things and want to wash them by hand in the kitchen sink, there is dish soap on the counter.
When using the dishwasher, we recommend using the Auto or Eco settings. Also, please consider
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using the Delayed Start function, as energy costs in Italy are much less expensive between midnight and 7 am. Instructions are on a laminated sheet on the countertop above the dishwasher and on page 40 of this booklet.
Nice to Know (Floor-by-floor) MAIN FLOOR
Living Room On the table near the door, there is a wooden box that contains:
Keys and a GPS, pre-programmed with some of our favorite attractions, restaurants, etc.
On the bookshelves in the living room, you will find:
Electrical adapters in these drawers
s er rg ha s r c ne ca ho ne ll p ho ce ,p o rs -g la ou cu -y no as Bi ayp Black binder with day trip suggestions
White folder with directions to parking in Orvieto
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Dining room
Want placemats for the dinner table? Why, thank you! Glad I didn’t have to nag. Very kind of you. They are in kitchen table drawer. (There are tablecloths there, too.)
Also, if you’re with a large group, note that the side table, in the corner from which this photo was taken, will extend the dinner table from an 8seater to a 10seater. You can bring in a chair from the bathroom off the living room and another from the ground floor.
The big cabinet at the rear of this picture contains: •First Aid Kit (see “Your Safety, ” page 7)
• Liquor (see “Happy Hour,” page 13)
• Tape for floors (see “Your Safety,” page 8)
• Bubble wrap (unless a previous guest has used it all up) that might come in handy when you have to pack up all the goodies you bought to take home.
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Kitchen
Oven
Dishwasher
There’s a laminated “How to Use the Oven” sheet behind the wine rack and microwave. It’s also on page 39 of this booklet. And there’s a Celsius-to-Farenheit conversion chart inside the cupboard door above the sink.
There’s a laminated “How to Use the Dishwasher” sheet behind the wine rack and microwave and on page 40 of this booklet. If you would prefer to wash by hand, remember the dish drainer above the sink.
A Favor
If you’re using the knives, and wouldn’t mind sharpening them, would you please be so kind? There’s a steel in the block and knife sharpener a drawer. Thank you.
Fun fact: there is a drying rack in the cabinet above the sink, which is a brilliant design that works beautifully IF you’re at least medium-tall and don’t mind having the rinse water dripping down your arms.
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GROUND FLOOR Family Room Telephone: Long distance phone calls to North American land lines are free. Please use your own phone when calling a North American cell phone.
Charger: There is also a universal charger in the desk drawer that you’re welcome to use.
Entertainment (Games and DVDs): Help yourself to anything you find in either cabinet on the ground floor between the bedroom and bathroom.
Wi-Fi Password: The password for the wireless internet connection is taped to the modem, which is on the desk near the phone.
Laundry Room There is a drying rack for inside use between the dryer and the wall.
Instructions for using the washer and dryer are tacked the the wall over the appliances and are on pages 41 and 42 of this booklet.
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Terrace safe mounted to the wall by the door. The combination is 7102 -the year in reverse. You can remember that, right?
Locks — You’ve been warned (page 7). Don’t lock yourself out on the terrace. If you do, there’s a doorbell on the wall, and maybe your friends inside will figure out why someone is ringing the doorbell. There’s also a key in the
Better yet -- remember to take the key out with you.
Everybody is happy when Alex does the work!
Barbeque: Please take all necessary fire safety precautions when using the barbecue. We are especially attentive to this risk in the summer when the fields are dry. You will find a hose inside the cabinet on the terrace, and
remember that there are two fire extinguishers in the house. The key to the cabinet is on the ring - see following page. Feel free to ask Alex for assistance with fire prevention before you use the barbecue if you would prefer. !24
Gate and Security Door: It isn’t necessary to lock the gate at the top of the stairs. You can also leave the security door wide open and unlocked if the door to the house is closed and locked. If, however, you want to leave the door open with just the screen closed, please use the security door. The key to the security door is on a leather key chain that’s in the desk caddy next to the phone. (One of the other keys on that ring works the gate lock. The third is for the cabinet.)
Seating: There are two lawn chairs to the left of the shed under the dining room windows. (In case you’re wondering, 100 kg is 220 pounds.)
Lights: Even though the terrace lights operate with motion sensors, try to remember to turn the lights off-off when you come in for the night. The switch plate inside the door is marked with the “off” position.
SECOND FLOOR
Fun fact: There’s a switch in the second floor bedroom that looks like a light switch. It’s actually a doorbell. Go figure.
TOP FLOOR Watch your head going into the bedroom on the right. The tassel is there to warn you of this low bridge.
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Out and About Shopping TRUCKS JUST OUTSIDE BENANO’S GATE The most convenient stores are the ones that pull right up to Benano’s main gate. Shopping with the neighbors gives you a glimpse into village life, and the other shoppers will appreciate that you are supporting these very local merchants.
➡Fish: 7:45 or 8:00 on Tuesday (this is said to be the best fish available in the entire area)
➡Fruit and vegetables: 11:00 or 12:00, sometimes as late as 12:30 on Thursday
➡General goods (a little bit of everything -cleaning products, some produce): 11:00 or 12:00 on Friday
LOCAL MARKETS Another interesting way to shop is to go to the local markets. They usually operate from about 8:00 until noon or shortly after.
➡Castel Viscardo - Friday
➡Orvieto - Thursday and Saturday
➡Castel Giorgio - 1st Saturday of the month
➡Acquapendente - Friday
➡Bolsena - Tuesday (they say this one is the best of all the markets)
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GROCERIES (CASTEL VISCARDO) The closest and most authentic place to buy groceries is at the alimentari (small grocery store) in Castel Viscardo. Let the very friendly and patient clerks (Marta and Serena) know that you’re from Benano. They don’t speak any English, but they are wonderfully communicative and you’ll have fun bridging the language gap with them.
Find the store on your right as you go into Castel Viscardo. The store is about a block beyond the ATM (which is under the Parking sign on the left side of the road). Unless you’re directly across the street from it, you might miss the sign (pictured at right). If you’re standing at the doorway, you will see their doormat (also pictured). In warm weather, there are soft beads in the doorway that cover the front door.
Mind the time, as they close for lunch. On the other hand, and very unusual for this area, they’re open on Sunday mornings. They carry fresh bread and, on Saturdays for as long as it lasts, fresh pasta.
MEAT I’m a recovering vegetarian, so don’t trust me on this. But trust our neighbors. Here are their recommendations: The excellent butcher shop in Torre Alfina has the best sausages around. On the other hand, the friendly butcher in Castel Viscardo sells the best, and very local, lamb. And the best beef in the area can be found at Poder Riccio in Acquapendente. The Tbone, carpaccio, and barbeque come highly recommended. Finally, as you’ll see below, Agriturismo Pulicaro is your best source for organic meats, including poultry.
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AGRITURISMO PULICARO Marco and Chiara, two of our favorite neighbors, run a beautiful organic farm about 10 minutes from Benano, and they will sell their products to our guests. They offer fruits and vegetables (selection varies with the season), olive oil, honey, jams, sauces for pasta/bruschette, vegetable preserves, and eggs, all grown and/or produced on their farm. Talk to them about the turkey, chicken, and rabbit they raise and sell.
Alfina. About 1/4 mile after you pass the Torre Alfina turnoff, look for the olive orchard on your right and slow down. The entrance is marked by a sign that says “Agriturismo Pulicaro,” a big tree, and a mailbox. Call to see what can be arranged: a farm visit? brunch? shop for produce (perhaps pick-your-own)? classes (check their website)? Their phone number is 0763 716757, and Chiara’s cell is 329 9512418. If you call from the phone in Benano, Chiara will recognize the number and know who you are.
Agriturismo Pulicaro is on the right not far past the turnoff for Torre
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AZIENDA AGRICLA MARCEDDU FRANCESCO Another way to eat local is to buy your cheese, yogurt, lentils, ceci beans, and eggs from the tiny cheese shop between Benano and Castel Viscardo.
hill on the switchback, you will eventually go through their farm.
Francesco and Alessandra raise their sheep and the ceci beans on their farm on the plain above Benano. If you go up the
To get to their small shop, though, take the main road out of town and go toward Castel Viscardo. On the straight(ish) stretch between the big turn at the top of the hill and the traďŹƒc circle near Castel Viscardo, look for their sign on the left. On the opposite side of the street is a stone wall in front of a house.
Their hours are limited: Thursday evenings (5:00 - 8:00) and Fridays and Saturdays (9:00 - 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 - 8:00).
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SUPERMARKETS COOP is a supermarket chain, and you will see COOPs practically wherever you travel. The two closest COOPs are in Acquapendente and Orvieto. Directions to the COOPs below: Orvieto
Acquapendente
Go to the big traffic circle in Orvieto Scalo and follow the green signs to the freeway (A-1 toward Firenze / Roma). You will come to another roundabout with a shopping mall, “Porta D’Orvieto,” on your left. Enter the roundabout and take the second exit (as if you were turning left from where you entered).
Go towards Acquapendente and when you reach the Cassia (the old Roman road that links Rome and Siena), turn left (toward Rome). The Coop is behind a fence on your left, so look for a driveway going down a slight hill that leads to the large gate in the fence.
Another supermarket, SuperConti, may be the least interesting place to shop, but it’s very convenient to the train station because is is on the way in/out of the parking lot behind the station. To find it, go to the big roundabout in Orvieto, take the exit after the exit for the A-1, and turn left just before the underpass. SuperConti will be on your left. Or, if you’re leaving the free parking lot behind the station, it will be on your right just after leaving the lot.
A third uninspiring but efficient choice is a market near the ERG gas station between here and Orvieto called Simply SMA. To find it from Benano, drive toward Orvieto and instead of continuing toward the right after the ERG gas station, make a hard left turn (almost a U-turn). Take the second driveway on the right to find the supermarket. Or, if you’re coming from Orvieto, veer right at the ERG gas station instead of left, as you would go to get to Benano.
SHOPPING BAGS Supermarkets charge for shopping bags. We usually have a couple in the kitchen that you are welcome to use. Look for them on the floor of the pantry. !30
Castel Viscardo: Your Go-to Village Castel Viscardo is about 3 miles from Benano. To get there, drive out of Benano in the direction of Viceno. When you get to the stop sign, go straight up the hill and away from Viceno. You will soon come to a small roundabout. The first two exits will take you to Castel Viscardo. Take the second one.
follow the signs. There’s a tight turn, but unless you’re driving an American-sized SUV you will make it. If you want to wimp out, though, drive until you find a place to turn around and approach it from the other direction. (It’s considerably easier coming that way.) Park in the lot and walk up the driveway into the restaurant or hotel to “check in.” This is an informal process -- the owner is Luigi and if you give him or anyone else there your filled-in ticket and tell them you’re from Benano, you’ll be checked in.
ATM The closest ATM is in Castel Viscardo. As you drive into town from the roundabout, look for the blue parking sign (a white P against a blue background). The ATM is under that sign.
POOL (SUMMER ONLY) You are invited to use the pool at La Pergoletta, the small hotel in Castel Viscardo. Take your towels with you, but not the white bath towels, please. Beach towels in the square cabinet on the ground floor between the bedroom and bathroom. You will also need to take a pool ticket. There is a supply of pool tickets in the same cabinet as the beach towels.
The pool is through the grove of trees and the changing room is on the far side of the pool, downstairs. Again, towels are not provided at the pool. Take beach/pool towels and tickets from the square cabinet on the ground floor between the bedroom and the bathroom.
To get to La Pergoletta, drive all the way through the village of Castel Viscardo until you see an arch across the road. Turn right just before the arch (there is a sign pointing you to La Pergoletta) and
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ALIMENTARI (SMALL GROCERY STORE)
PIZZA-BY-THE-SLICE AND DINNER TO GO
There’s an alimentari in Castel Viscardo that has all the basics. As you approach from Benano, it’s on the right (the opposite side of the street from the gas station and ATM) a block or so past the ATM. See the “Shopping” section in this booklet for specific directions, inspiration, and an introduction to the owners. (See page 27.)
Fantasy Pizza & Food is a small shop that sells very good pizza by the slice and baked pasta dishes, chicken, etc. It’s on Via Cesare Battisti, a small side street just off the main road through town. It’s the second right turn in town and comes just before the ATM.
BAR There are several bars in Castel Viscardo. For what it’s worth, the one pictured below is my favorite. If you would like, you can drive past it, take a couple of lefts, park in the lot behind the bar and even go in the back door.
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Parking in Orvieto Orvieto is a beautiful town well worth a good visit or two … or more. Don’t miss it, but plan your parking before you go. Rick Steves explains why this is important:
Italy is gung-ho for restricted traffic zones in its city centers. This is great for pedestrians, but not for drivers who are finding $100 fines in their mail when they arrive home. If you drive in … Orvieto …— in restricted areas marked by a Zona Traffico Limitato sign — your car's license plate will be photographed and you can be fined without ever being stopped by a cop. Pay attention to signs, get parking advice from your hotelier, and park outside restricted areas.
You really don’t want to find yourself on a street like this in a car. It’s so much more enjoyable on foot.
Fortunately, it's easy to park outside restricted areas, and it's either easy or fun to get from both the lots I recommend to the historic center of Orvieto. There is a white folder in the bookcase in the living room that has maps and directions to two of my favorite parking lots. !33
Large, Convenient Underground Lot Find directions to the lot called Campo della Fiera in the white folder in the bookcase in the living room or here: https://goo.gl/ bq5YPa
sidewalks up the hill from the parking lot. There's also an elevator. Either way, if you choose to walk directly to the duomo, it’s easy to get lost. Don't sweat it. It's a gorgeous place to be lost. If you really must know where you're going, make your way over to Piazza della Repubblica and work your way down from there.
Take your parking ticket with you when you leave the car because you'll pay on the way back to your car. There is a pretty impressive set of escalators and moving
Free Lot Behind Train Station / Funicular Parking behind the train station is fun because you'll take the funicular up to the city center. Look in the white folder in the bookcase in the living room for directions. You can also find them here: https://goo.gl/B2QJjP
walk out the front door and you'll see the funicular stop in the building directly across the parking lot / plaza. Enjoy the short funicular ride and when you get to the top, either stroll up Corso Cavour ("the Corso" -- the main shopping/eating street) or take the small city bus that will be waiting at the curb directly outside the funicular stop. That bus will go straight to the Piazza del Duomo. The funicular ticket works on city busses too, and is good for 70 minutes after validation (which will happen as you use your ticket to get through the gate to get to the funicular). In other words, you won't have to worry about a bus ticket if you go directly from the funicular to the bus.
After parking your car, walk toward the station and up the stairs. Instead of going straight out the door at the top and across to the funicular station, turn right at the top of the stairs and go into the bar (remember Italian bars are much like coffee shops / snack bars). Go to the cashier and buy a bigletto for the funicular. ("Un biglietto per il funicolare, per favore" or, if you're the designated buyer, "Due (or however many) bigletti per il funicolare, per favore.") Then !34
Take a Walk (or Jog or Run) Need to walk, jog, or sprint off some of that good food you’ve been eating? Just step out the front door. All of these are out-and-back routes, so you can find your way home just by paying attention to where you’ve been.
left and peters out at the old church). Go up the hill until you hit the plateau, and go to your heart’s content. You will see the castle in Torre Alfina off to the right and the village of Castel Giorgio off to your left. You will eventually come to the paved road, at which point you can head home.
Easy Stroll (about 3 mostly flat miles) -- The easiest route starts straight up the hill with the switchback road. If you’re standing with the village gate at your back, go up the road that is directly in front of you (as opposed to that the one that goes off to your right or the small lane that goes off the the
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A little oomph -- If you want more, start the same way and instead of walking all the way to the paved road, turn onto the only road that intersects with this road. It’s on your left as you walk away from Benano and is marked by a black and white striped pole.
actually paved and you will always be going downhill), but there’s one place where you may wonder if you should take the right fork or the left fork.
Turn left and follow that road. It will eventually turn to the right and then the left, and then go downhill. When you get to the laundry basin, you might want to rethink your frustration with Italy’s small washing machines, their confounding controls, and the hassle of hanging the clothes on the line. This laundry basin really was used by the women of Benano.
Don’t take that lane. Instead, veer to your left to stay on the main road.
Fortunately, the WRONG choice (the right fork) is clearly marked with a sign (“Road Without Exit”).
Eventually you’ll come to the road at the bottom of the valley you can see from the parking area. At some points along the way, if you look WAY up, you’ll see Benano. By the way, this road continues to wind around, crosses a creek, and eventually comes out on the main road that goes to Orvieto.
You can continue to walk downhill on the road, remembering at all times that you will eventually have to walk back up. It’s fairly easy to identify the road (parts of it are
A big oops -- It’s interesting, if disconcerting, to go around the other side of the village to see the result of the 2012 landslide. This isn’t a long walk, but it’s steep. Walk away from Benano and toward Viceno, and take the very first right turn. At the bottom of the hill you’ll turn right and keep Want more? Go to the old church at the end of the road leading down the hill to the left of the parking area. Keep walking downhill. You can go into the woods at the path on the right just before the water treatment plant. Or keep going around the plant and you’ll be in olive groves. !36
Day Trips A former guest donated a set of very useful selfguided tours for day trips from Benano. They are in a black binder on the bottom shelf of the bookcase in the living room. You’ll also find lots of maps on that shelf, and travel books on the shelves above.
Virtual Suggestion Box If you have any ideas for enriching our guests’ vacations at Rocca di Benano, please send us an email at karen@italianrentalvilla.com or call Karen at (513) 321-9599 (home) or (513) 470-0371 (cell). If it is something we can address during your stay, we will try to do so. And if you have an idea or crazy thought about Rocca di Benano, we want to hear it.
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Appliances in the House How to use the Air Conditioners The villa is furnished with an energy-efficient split air conditioning unit in each bedroom and in the dining area. These units are pre-programmed to maintain a constant temperature of 21 degrees Celsius / 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature can be adjusted to meet individual tastes. (See NOTES.)
There is a remote control in each room that has an air conditioner.
When the air conditioning is not needed, or when windows are open, please be sure to turn all air conditioning units to the “OFF” position.
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To turn the air conditioner on or off, press the orange ON/OFF button on the remote control. Allow two minutes for the air conditioner to begin working.
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To lower the temperature, press the button marked “too warm.” (See NOTES.)
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To increase the room temperature, press the button marked “too cool.”
NOTE: Even in hot weather, evenings and nights are usually quite comfortable in Benano. With the exception of the upper floor(s), it is likely that you will not need the air conditioner at night. Please try the fans (there is one in each bedroom) and/or open windows (that’s why we have screens) before resorting to the air conditioner.
NOTE: Air conditioning to 21 degrees Celsius / 70 degrees Fahrenheit is included in the cost of the rental. Guests who prefer a lower air conditioning setting are asked to pay an energy surcharge of €100 per week.
Reminder: Electricity costs at least three times as much as in Italy as it does in the states. Please turn off the air conditioning whenever it isn’t needed.
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How to use the Oven Oven Settings (right dial) The right-hand dial on the oven allows you to set the specific type of heating you desire. The settings are as follows: First click to left - the basic oven setting (heated from top and bottom) Next click to left - heat only from the bottom of the oven Next click to left - convection setting Next click to left - broil (low) Next click to left - broil (high) Next click to left - thaw
Celsius vs. Fahrenheit (left dial) The dial on the left controls temperature, marked in Celsius. As a rule of thumb, Celsius is roughly half the Fahrenheit temperature. There is a Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion chart taped inside the cupboard door over the sink, and here is a summary chart: Degrees Fahrenheit
Degrees Celsius
Description
225 - 300
110 - 150
Very slow - slow
325 - 400
160 - 200
Moderate - moderately hot
425 - 475
220 - 240
Hot
The center dial is a timer.
Electrical limitations The oven is electric. As with all electric appliances in Italy, its performance will depend on what other electrical appliances you have operating at the same time. If too many high-wattage appliances (ie. A/C, washer, dryer, dishwasher or iron) are operating or start operating while you are using the oven, an electrical circuit may trip. The system should reset itself immediately.
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How to use the Dishwasher 1. Pre-rinse dishes: Rinse any leftover food from dishes before placing in the dishwasher. 2. Dishwasher soap: We provide dishwasher soap. These tablets can be found under the sink. Each load requires only one tablet. Place the tablet in the soap container on the inside of the dishwasher door. Close the door until you here the ‘click.’ 3. Power ON: Press the left-most button labeled ‘ACCESO/SPENTO’ 4. Select PROGRAM: Select the program most appropriate for the task: Intensivo 70 (Intensive):
Use only with very dirty dishes (pot and pans with baked on food, etc.)
Auto 45-65 (Normal setting):
This is the normal setting. Use this for normal, large and mixed loads
Eco 50 (Ecological):
For normal loads
Delicato (Delicate):
Best for use with plastic dishes, sensitive glasses, etc.
Rapido (Rapid):
Short cycle, use with small, pre-rinsed loads
5. Additional options Prelavaggio (Pre-wash):
This can be added to any cycle
½ (half-load):
For small loads. Saves water, energy and time
6. Start the cycle (“GO”) Immediate start: To start the wash immediately, press the “Start” button at the rightmost side of the control panel. Delayed start (energy saving): To delay the wash cycle for several hours (ie bed-time hours), select the plus (+) button under “AVVIO FRA ORE” to pick the number of hours to delay the start. The press “Start.” Energy costs in Italy are much cheaper between midnight and 7am. 7. Power OFF: Once the load is finished, press the left-most button labeled ‘ACCESO/SPENTO’ to turn off.
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How to use the Washing Machine Note: The time it takes for a regular wash cycle is much longer than you may be accustomed to, so we suggest using “Rapido 30” (30 minutes) for the fastest cycle. 1. Add detergent. We keep single-load pods under the sink. Put one in with your clothes and close the door. 2. Power ON: Push the button on the far right to turn on the washer. 3. Select PROGRAM most appropriate for the task (we recommend RAPIDO): Speciale bambini (Baby clothes) Intensivo 95 (Heavy duty- high temperature) Lavaggio frequenti (Wash and wear) Lavaggio a mano /wool (Hand wash - ecological) Delicati (Delicates) Cotone (Cotton) Cotone rapido (Cotton rapid) Sintentici (synthetics) Grossi volume (Extra large loads, eg blankets) Piumoni (pillows and comforters - low temperature)
Rapido (Rapid, low temperature)
Risciacquo+Centrifuga (Rinse and spin only) 4. Additional options Risciacquo anti-allergico (Anti-allergy rinse) Prelavaggio (Pre-wash) Intensivo (Heavy duty) Anti piega (Wrinkle free) 5. Centrifuga (spin cycle) 1400 rpm (maximum dry) 800 rpm 400 rpm (delicates) No centrifuga (no spin) 6. Select temperature (in Centigrade) 95 degrees (very hot) 60 degrees 40 degrees 30 degrees Freddo (cold water) 7. Start the cycle To start the wash, press the “Start” button (right-pointing triangle and two lines). The washer will go through a start-up process, so don’t panic if the water doesn’t start running right away.
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How to Use the Dryer First, please consider drying your clothes on the line outside the dining room windows. European appliances are much more energy efficient than their American counterparts, so the dryer takes forever to dry a load. And with Italian electricity costing over three times US electric rates, it hardly seems worth the aggravation, expense, or environmental impact. But if you opt for the dryer, follow these steps. 1. Empty the reservoir 2. Wipe off any visible lint on the filter at the bottom of the opened door 3. Turn the dial straight up (O), then choose the setting 4. Start the dryer by pressing “Avvio / Pausa” (right-pointing arrow and two vertical lines) “Forte” will work for most loads. The buttons on the right under the screen are all preset. There is no need to adjust these settings. If you get an error message, the mostly likely problem is that the door is not completely closed.
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