The Refugio is high above the entrance to Real at the end of a hard climb to the top of a dusty street. The views are magnificent ,both from the roof and the gardens, and in some cases from the rooms. On a moonlit night it is magical. As is the case in many towns like Real, I find that accommodation is expensive relative to larger cities and value for money is not the first conclusion that comes to mind here. That said, accommodations here are simple, bright, comfortable and clean and the rooms are large. There is lots of hot water.

Much of the pleasure or disappointment attached to staying at such a small place depends on the hosts and their approach to the role. For the most part, I don't really mind someone's physical space,but as pleasant as the location is and enjoyable as the hosts might be, there are times when sharing their emotional landscape can be less than restful. That said, there is no doubt that the hosts make a wonderful effort to be welcoming and accommodating. But there were sufficient loud discussions to leave me feeling uncomfortable about being there ,and that contributed to my overall enjoyment of the stay.

Upon arriving at Refugio Romano, we met the owners Lucio & Mayra. They are great people, and Refugio Romano is a grest plsce to stay! We chose the " habitacion gris", and it was perfect for a couple. Very comfortable king size bed, great shower.
The views from the terraces are magnificient. It's very quiet and peaceful at all times.
I would also recommend having Lucio prepare a dinner for you. He's from Italy, and he's one fine cook. Mayra speaks English very well and can give you directions and info on the area if you need/want it.
We only stayed one night, but will return when possible. For some gringos it might be a bit unusual to have to go to Bancomer and deposit money for your stay in their account, but we had no problem with that premise. It's worth effort.
I've included a few pictures taken on their property....take a look.
Scott Mason

This is a great Hotel, it may not seem like it from the outside but it's very confortable, the rooms are very clean and spacious, and the view from the hotel is amaizing.

The owner cooks like a true chef, you must try the italian food.

If you are thinking of going to Real de Catorce, "Refugio Romano" is the place to go to.

Refugio Romano would be classified as a bed-and-breakfast if breakfasts were included in the room rate. (Meals are available for purchase.) This small and attractive property has only three guest rooms, the orange, grey, and blue rooms. The rest of the property consists of appealing common areas, a kitchen/dining room, and the owners' residence. Traveling with my trophy wife and brilliant son, we chose to stay in the blue room because of its three beds.

Refugio Romano is located on the northeast corner of Real, two steep blocks above the main drag, on a lofty perch overlooking the town. It is owned and operated by Mexican-native Mayra and Italian-born Lucio, a former pro basketball player in Italy. They are charming and genuinely nice people. Refugio Romano is a labor of love twenty years in the making; Lucio cut and laid the beautiful stone walls himself. When we visited in early March of 2011, Lucio was only two weeks from finally completing his decades-long construction project.

With a little advance notice, the owners are happy to offer guests home-cooked meals. Lucio made us a tasty Italian dinner on the night of our arrival, and he prepared a wonderful breakfast on our morning of departure.

The Guia Roji Mexican Road Atlas says Real de Catorce is "a place of some interest for certain kind of tourists." The town is small, many of the buildings are in ruins, the north-south streets are nearly vertical, and there isn't much to do in town after you have visited the surprisingly interesting church, the mint (now an elegant museum and gallery space), and the shops and stalls along Lanzagorta street. If staying more than one night, consider getting out of town on a horse, a vintage Willys Jeep, or on foot.

Real has undeniable rustic charm. With teenagers riding horses around the central square, and the braying of donkeys during the night, It feels like a throwback to an earlier time. Locals refer to the presence of a spiritual energy here, perhaps concentrated in the spiral rings that mark a mountain-top ceremonial site of the Huichol Indians.

Refugio Romano, like the town, has its quirks, which might include a balky door latch or a misplaced hot water faucet or perhaps furniture that rumbles on the roof terrace during a strong wind. But, as with the town, the charm of the place overwhelms any quibbling defects.

A word to the wise...be careful if using a Garmin GPS navigator to find Real de Catorce. Our Garmin directed us to the dangerous "back door" route into the town (through Estacion Catorce) that can only be negotiated with a high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle. Three people died on this road a few days before we tried it and found we had to turn back. Use instead the cobblestone road that begins 11 km west of Cedral and ends at the long, one-way tunnel where you'll have to wait your turn before driving through.

We hope to return to Real and Refugio Romano one day. Guess we're just a certain kind of tourist.