Villa Solaria

The view from Villa Solaria is stunning, and the apartment had a comfortable bed, a well-equipped kitchen, and was very clean. There aren’t many frills, but that view is all you need. We made a few meals with ingredients from local markets and foccacierias, and ate them on the terrace. Try focaccia di formaggio while you’re there! Filippo and Michela were fantastic hosts. Filippo was quick to respond and helped us plan the train journey. Michela met us at the station, which made the short but steep walk up to the villa easy to find. Sori is a small station without ticket sales, so buy tickets in town, and sometimes you have to go north first to travel south. A few stops south, Camogli or Recco, you can catch ferries around the beautiful Portofino peninsula. We did that, and also took a 1.25 hour train ride south to Cinque Terre. It’s crowded there, while Sori has just as much charm without the international tourist crowds. It was our first time on the Riviera de Levante, and perhaps not our last. We enjoyed the authentic feel of this small coastal town, with a refreshing mix of rasta and family vibes, old-world charm, and lovely nature. The beaches seemed to draw people from nearby in Italy, and the town didn’t feel pretentious. Sori’s large beach has sand, round stones, and seaglass, and was bigger than some beaches we visited farther south. You can rent an umbrella and chairs on the public beach or at the neighboring beach club for 9 euro a day. Canoes and paddle boats are available for a small fee. The little beach bar has great vibes. The club just left of the public beach is good for lunch, beer, or gelato with an espresso shot. The restaurant at the end of the public pool was fantastic too. Its menu is in Italian and features seafood, and the hosts are happy to translate. We loved our choice of town and the beautiful villa view.

Fillipo greeted us in person and was very friendly, and “la mama” is a genuinely warmhearted Italian woman. We had a great stay overall, and on the third day the sun woke us up. Walking through the large garden full of fruit and vegetables, we wished we’d stayed a few more days. A few things brought this to four stars. Our ground-floor apartment, with a terrace and large garden facing town, had only the basics. The bathroom was very small, especially for a 2m man. With kids, the steep uphill walk of 300+ m is hard when you’re carrying all the family gear. It would be a different story for a single person or couple bringing only a bathing suit and credit card. The pool shown in the pictures exists but was covered and out of use because of the current weather, so that part of the description didn’t apply during our stay. The restaurants downtown serve very good food.

We had a wonderful weekend here in September. The apartment was clean, the owners were welcoming and helpful, and the location was excellent. The view was spectacular, and the terrace was comfortable. Highly recommend, and see you next time! 🤩

We had a heavenly week surrounded by lush greenery, with a sea view. The owners were incredibly attentive and welcomed us with exceptional kindness. The apartment was very well equipped, and the terrace was lovely. There was also a relaxing area with a swimming pool and tennis court. I highly recommend it. Thank you, Filippo and Michella.