Villanova - Nature & Wellness

Our family of five spent six nights at Agriturismo Villanova in Levanto in July. We were in the Taverna apartment, which was roomy, spotless, and nicely furnished. It was such a peaceful, charming place that we wished we could have stayed longer, and we'd love to return. Getting into Levanto was easy thanks to the convenient shuttle, so we didn't need a car all the time. The kids loved the pool and jacuzzi, and they gave all of us time to relax. Breakfast was a treat every morning, fresh and delicious, with plenty of local produce, including some from the garden. Highly recommended!

I left feeling very disappointed. This used to be one of my favourite hotels, and although staying here for even one night was difficult, the place itself still has something unique about it. There are real positives: the historic house has character in every tile, the garden and surroundings are lovely, the pool and jacuzzi are nice, and the hot chocolate was delicious. The biggest problem in summer was the lack of effective air conditioning. The only unit was in the kitchen where a radiator had been, and it was noisy and blew downward, cooling only the floor beneath it. A freestanding fan would be better if proper AC can't be installed. Though the villa is near town, having a car would make things much easier. The shuttle ran only twice daily, for a couple of hours in the morning and after 5 p.m. If you went out to dinner, getting back was your responsibility. There was no shuttle after 7 p.m., and the town had just one taxi. It cost €20 each way and needed to be booked at least an hour ahead, otherwise it was a 30-minute walk. Thanks to the woman driving the shuttle, who kindly took us to the station after her shift. Service was another letdown. When I asked for restaurant suggestions and whether we should reserve, I was told it wasn't needed. We then spent 40 minutes looking for any place with a free table, let alone one on a terrace. I also asked if checkout could be a little later because our train was at 13. They flatly said no and didn't even want to check when the next guests were arriving. They also rented out a room again after another guest cancelled, so they were paid twice while we were offered one. Basic things cost extra, including water and bathrobes. We requested bathrobes because the room instructions offered them, but never received any. The owner's son tried to tell us pool towels counted as bathrobes. Breakfast wasn't very varied, though it was in keeping with a typical Italian breakfast. Scrambled eggs would have made a big difference. What upset me most was the owner's response. I wasn't rude, I just described what happened, but they took it personally and replied with threats. There were two of us at the hotel, and we each have the right to express our own view.

We came back for a second visit and are already planning another stay next season. It's a lovely place for peace and quiet, with stylish, cool rooms that still feel elegant. The owners are friendly and fun, and the service is great. The historic building is cared for with real affection and attention to detail. Breakfast had plenty of variety, including fresh bread, croissants, fruit, and organic foods. They also run a free shuttle to the beach and back.

We spent two days here, a lovely, relaxing spot for exploring the area. It's in a peaceful setting outside Levanto's center, right at the entrance to Cinque Terre, and there's a free shuttle bus. The host was very friendly, breakfast was really good, and there was a nice little outdoor pool.