Villa di Leonardo

It’s a nice villa in a good location, but there are some serious drawbacks. The price felt too high, around twice what we’ve paid for comparable villas. The infrastructure also needs attention: be careful with the sunbeds and sockets, and don’t count on the Wi-Fi working or the knives being sharp. Privacy was another issue for us. The owners might turn up without warning at any time, even right outside your bedroom when you get up.

My son’s wedding here was the most beautiful experience. Twenty family members stayed at the villa, with plenty of room for everyone, and there were 28 people at the wedding. The owners stayed close by and coordinated everything. I’d absolutely recommend it for a destination wedding or a big family holiday.

Our week at Villa Leonardo was enjoyable, and the villa itself is beautiful, but the costs and the way we were treated took a lot away from it. The price had already been agreed in earlier messages, so being told on arrival to pay about €3,000 more, described as roughly €60 per guest per day for extra service, came as a shock. When we questioned it, Maria came out and shouted that the house was hers, we had no right to complain, and we could leave if we wouldn't pay. Our original villa had been cancelled the day before, and with 25 of us already in Italy, we felt cornered. We had explained our situation hoping for some understanding, but the choice we were given was pay or leave. Air conditioning was another extra: €30 per person, €750 total. After the other charge, we couldn't afford it and tried to manage in 38-degree heat. The house is lovely, and the man of the house, whose name I don't remember, was a nice guy with lots of interesting stories about its history. Cooking for a large group was difficult in the small kitchen, which seemed suited to a home for four or five. We were told not to use the cutlery or most of the glasses, and the second kitchen upstairs was off limits. The bathrooms were mediocre. In our room, the shower's rain head and handheld hose were both stuck on at once, so neither worked properly. The solar hot water meant morning showers were cold, though the heat made that less of a problem. The bidets were a pleasant surprise for us, since we don't use them at home. Some fittings also needed attention: the outdoor shower head was loose, the shower doors were awkward, and the toilet kept running unless you waited a minute or two after flushing and pressed the button again. One evening around 23:00, while we were singing and dancing, an owner suddenly showed up saying he needed photos of our IDs right away. It interrupted the fun and felt like a strange time to ask. We made him a cocktail and rolled him a cigarette, listened to his story, then asked him to leave; he did so graciously, and he seemed like a nice guy. Still, the visit was odd. The extra prices felt unclear, and the hospitality and service fell short.

Maria made the vacation feel special. She was exactly the kind of host you hope to have. We had an amazing experience, and I'm grateful to her for it.