Villa Aurea

I spent a fortnight at Villa Aurea and really liked the location. The swimming pool is amazing, and there's also a tennis court to play on. Breakfast was pretty good, though I would've liked a bit more attention during service. My room was bright and comfortable, but the bathroom could use some updating, and the bed and pillows weren't as comfortable as they could've been.

The atmosphere is beautiful and peaceful. Architect Francesco Caruso is the best Italian host I've ever met. Highly recommended.

We booked for four, my wife, our two small children, and me. The owner supposedly had prepared a four-bed room. The villa looked lovely from outside, but then we were led to an annex outside the building, not a room in the villa. There was a moat beside the entrance that seemed extremely dangerous and surely not up to code. He asked us to leave the stroller and follow him, and we found what felt like a dump: a bed barely better than a camp bed, cramped space, very old furniture, and moldy fixtures. It was literally in a ditch, and seemed more like a gardener's room being sold as a four-bed room. I took my wife and kids and left. The owner, who acted like a true gentleman, didn't refund our deposit. He also hadn't even registered us at check-in. Shame on you.

It's a lovely location, and the place is very welcoming, with friendly staff and plenty of amenities, including a swimming pool. The new Siamese cats are lovely too.