Il Filo Di Arianna

The view, kitchen, and rooms are superb, and the place is beautiful and quiet. It takes about 40 minutes to get here from La Spezia by car and two buses, so it’s not close. But for that price, it’s a no-brainer.

They overcharged us. The website showed the amount as “with taxes,” but more taxes were added when we arrived. The people were absolutely arrogant. Their “parking” is on a steep slope, and the only two normal spaces were taken, so I was confused and drove up to the house to unload our bags. After an hour driving in the dark, the first thing I heard from the terrace above was someone yelling, “Don’t park here!” instead of hello. They didn’t seem to care about guests. We were tired and I just wanted to rest, but check-in dragged on for about 10 minutes while he copied details from our passports. When I pointed out the extra charge and showed him the booking confirmation, he yelled at me to “go out and look to another hotel.” It was around 10:30 p.m., basically the middle of the night, so I didn’t really have a choice. I was shocked by how they treated customers. The name is misleading. It has nothing to do with Cinque Terre. It’s outside the national park, about an hour’s drive from any of the villages on narrow mountain roads. The location is in the middle of nowhere, and even the nearest shop is about a 10-minute drive away. The rooms don’t feel set up for guests, more like a big owner’s warehouse. We got the last room that night, which seemed to be the biggest. It had a double bed, a baby bed, a chimney covered with large ugly papers saying “do not use, decoration only,” a very old TV, and a big storage space filled with hundreds of plates and dishes. It was awkward. The kitchen was also hard to get into because they’d put an extra double bed in it, seemingly as storage, not for us. The other rooms downstairs are tiny and have no windows, though ours did have a window and terrace. Worst experience I’ve had in a long time.

The owner is helpful, and the morning buffet is good. The atmosphere is laid-back and it’s good value for money. Getting here from La Spezia by car isn’t too bad.

A very cozy place in the mountains above la Spezia, with a stunning view. The hosts are very welcoming. Great place.