Why guests love Villa Gioianna:
This is not your typical agriturismo-furnished rental house. This is a warm, inviting, charming and hospitable home decorated by a woman with impeccable taste (me!) where you can experience a gracious Italian lifestyle, delicious food and marvellous wine and relax in the company of your own friends and family. You can even have, if you wish, you own Italian grandmother to fuss over you and prepare fantastic meals and - even better -- do all the clean-up afterward. Virtually every guest who walks through the door remarks that the photos absolutely do not do justice to the beauty of the Villa and its surroundings. Even so, I refuse to add videos, holograms or Star Trek-esque techno doodads that only increase the cost of the site and ultimately your rent. That's today's gimmick (tomorrow there will be another) and won't convey any better the enduring magic of the Villa. Real, human references that you can write and talk to will be provided, upon request, if you need more reassurance.
Experience living like an Italian, w/o the hassle:
Many of our guests arrive travel-stunned and stressed on Saturday afternoon, and leave a week later relaxed and rejuvenated. Some actually cry upon departing, as they don't want to leave. (We keep a box of tissues by the front door in anticipation of this recurring event.) We offer you warm hospitality and treat you like you are a guest in my home. An English- and Italian-speaking manager lives nearby and is on call to help guests, be it a simple restaurant reservation, a technical problem, or more complicated requests. This does not mean that I am your travel agent to book and plan your whole trip for you! But it does mean that we will help you navigate the language and overcome the frustrations and difficulties of living in a foreign culture with patience and understanding. We'll share with you our 'secret' places nearby where you can enjoy great food and wine, experience local life and visit unique sites and events. You'll never find these places on websites or in guidebooks.
Weddings, Anniversaries and Birthdays:
We love hosting family reunions, birthdays and weddings and wedding anniversaries. If you have even the slightest bit of the romantic about you, then you will appreciate the notion that the Villa retains memories of laughter, love and friendship from past celebrations held within its walls and that this somehow radiates and enhances each new celebration that takes place here. The Villa is not a cold, sterile place with a commercial approach to celebrations, churning out event after event on an assembly line. We do not offer high-tech gadgets and cool minimalism. Celebrations here focus on the Italian triumvirate: food, family and wine. You bring the family; we help you with the rest. And, by the way, leave your Atkins diet and carbo-counting at home. For the time you are at the Villa, eat without guilt. The food in our area is not precious or fussy or, for that matter, eye-poppingly expensive, but impeccably fresh, delicious and local, made with love and presented with flair.
Golf:
There is a 9-hole course approximately 20 minutes from the Villa and several 18-hole courses within a hour's or so drive.
Other Activities:
wine tasting; art, history & nature sightseeing; jazz/classical/blues concerts; outdoor markets; thermal baths/spas; food festivals; folkdance festiva
