Casa Guelfi 2

“ Top class!!! ”

Secluded, peaceful, great views. The owners, Wendy & Mario could not have been more helpful. Super villa with a private pool for a couple to 'get away from it all'.

The lane up to the property is quite narrow and twisty, but there's plenty of parking space at the top - easily managed in a LWB Transit.

There are two excellent restaurants within a 45 minute walk, The Garden and Ciccio, with views over the harbour and the Magra estuary. Highly recommended!!!

“ A perfect Oasis ”

We arrived earlier than expected, and in the midst of a heatwave, we called Wendy and she welcomed us and said of course we could come earlier as the property was ready. We were greeted by Wendy and her grandson and shown the property after a long stressful day travelling we were so pleased to see it.

The property is perfect for two people and well equipped. It has a gorgeous kitchen, large bathroom and beautiful bedroom with plenty of storage. There is a cosy lounge with sky tv - have no idea if it worked … as well once you see where you are who needs TV. We ate at both Wendy and Mario’s restaurants and would urge anyone to do the same.

It’s so convenient for Pisa, the Cinque Terre and many other places. As it was so hot we spent a lot of our time relaxing in the pool. The house was easy to find, but you have to negotiate a steep hill - they have a parking space in front of the house. We have so much we still need need to see In Liguria and Tuscany and I’m sure we’ll be back. We really cannot recommend this house enough and the lovely hosts Wendy and Mario.

“ Private luxury getaway ”

We had a wonderful week. We enjoyed casa Guelfi very much, and stayed at the house more than planned because of the beauty, swimming pool and charming little house. The host couple were very nice and helpful, and we are planning to come back. 😊

“ Relaxing trip ”

We arrived at Casa Guelfi having spent the previous ten days visiting various cities - London, Paris, Turin, Genoa, La Spezia - so we wanted to end our vacation with a calm and relaxing time at Casa Guelfi. We were not disappointed. We travelled by public transport (and finally a short taxi ride from Sarzana), thus we did not have a car. Nevertheless, Casa Guelfi is in a great location. A short walk uphill to the old town, where there is a nice little cafe and some small shops, and downhill to the newer part of Ameglia, where there is a very good supermarket and some cafes. We also took slightly longer walks to Bocca di Magra - some excellent restaurants.

The villa is very good for two people, comfortable and sufficiently well-equipped, and the pool is excellent. A very good range of outdoor furniture and sun loungers.

The owners, Mario and Wendy, were extremely welcoming and helpful. Also the booking process and follow-up with the agent, 'Invitation to Tuscany' was excellent.

“ Wonderful week at Casa Guelfi ”

There can be very few people who think that transatlantic air travel is relaxing! Casa Guelfi proved to be the perfect antidote. Inside it is very comfortable and equipped with everything you need. Outside is also wonderful, and gives you many choices of where to place yourself, whether you want sun or shade, a view of the mountains which provided marble for Michelangelo’s sculptures or of the ancient village of Ameglia clinging to the hillside. Then there is the pool. A dip in the pool, knowing that there is a glass of wine or a beer waiting for when you emerge provides a most suitable end to a day spent exploring the area, especially if it involves climbing the hundred steps up to the village.

We really enjoyed our week at Casa Guelfi. The owners were warm and welcoming, without being at all intrusive, and we had a truly excellent lunch in their restaurant in nearby Bocca di Magra.

“ Peace in the sunshine ”

We loved the little villa. It was simply perfect for us. Beautiful & simply decorated. A little piece of paradise. Thank you!

“ A great week in Tuscany ”

Our Villa was magical. It was in a great location and the views are amazing. The owner Wendy is lovely and was very welcoming. I would recommend a stay to experience the real Tuscany.

“ We could not have asked for a better place ”

Casa Guelfi was absolutely perfect we could not have asked for a better place. It was very clean and had all we needed, the pool was actually warm which was a surprise after our previous week in another cottage. Wendy the owner was very welcoming and had done nice little touches to welcome you. We would most definitely like to go back in fact it is our last night here and we really do not want to leave. I would also like to thank invitation to Tuscany for all the booking it was perfect.

“ Peaceful Italian heaven! ”

Everything about Casa Guelfi was perfect for us. We wanted a quiet getaway and finding a house for 2 with a pool, and as nice as this, is very rare. We took the ‘healthy’ walk up to Ameglia, and used the bus to visit Montemarcelo and Lerici, but really our trip was about having a relaxing time. Perfect !

“ An absolutely wonderful holiday home ”

This is an absolutely wonderful holiday home. The view of Amiglia is magical, the pool fantastic and the house close to perfect. Our hosts were lovely people, very welcoming but not intrusive. The House is fully equipped and very tranquil. The village above the house is so picturesque and mysterious with such intriguing architecture. We thoroughly enjoyed our week at Casa Guelfi.

“ Magnificent! ”

The moment you arrive you will feel transported to another time. The old village and surroundings provide a splendid backdrop for this charming villa. All the right touches are in place from the kitchen to the pool. You will find yourself relaxing and soaking up all that makes staying here so memorable. The local store is well-stocked and there are wonderful places to eat in Bocca di Magra. A dip in the sea and trips to Tuscan towns will complete your getaway. The owners live nearby and are gracious, helpful and readily available. A delightful place to experience Toscana!

“ Lovely relaxed villa ”

Lovely villa and great views. Hosts were very friendly and ideal base to explore the beautiful costal towns such as lerici.

“ Wow! Stunning views and a beautiful house and pool. ”

This is an absolutely wonderful holiday home. The view of Amiglia is magical, the pool fantastic and the house close to perfect. Our hosts were lovely people, very welcoming but not intrusive. The House is fully equipped and very tranquil. The village above the house is so picturesque and mysterious with such intriguing architecture. We thoroughly enjoyed our week at Casa Guelfi.

“ unique, charming cottage for two ”

Casa Guelfi is a unique, charming cottage for two located up a very steep narrow hill. It is definitely a good idea to hire a small car! Although this comfortable little property is only for two, it is set in a large plot so there is plenty of space to relax outside and enjoy the tranquility of the location. The beautiful pool is a real asset and it was very easy to pass the time just relaxing and enjoying the splendid views of Ameglia Alta and the Apuan mountains. There is a steep pathway up to the very pretty Ameglia Alta from behind the property and this is definitely worth a visit; the restaurant up there is very good but only open on certain days and booking is essential. Bocca di Magra is very attractive and just a short drive away; ideal for an evening passeggiata and drink watching the evening sun on the marble mountains

“ Just a wonderful place ”

Just a wonderful place. Peaceful with great views of the old village across an orchard and beyond that, the white (marble) mountains around Carrara. A great location allowing day trips out to Liguria and Tuscany. Welcoming discrete hosts live nearby. Their pizzeria - The Garden Hotel on the riverfront at Bocca de Magra - was low key but with superb pizzas and memorable views.

“ Fantastic hosts ”

Wendy and Mario are fantastic Hosts. The little house is beautiful and on a very quiet spot. Only the road to the house is very small. We enojed our Time in Liguria a lot. Thank you all! Daniel & Mélanie

“ The villa and surrounding area were perfect ”

We had a wonderful time. The villa and surrounding area were perfect. We mostly ate at the marina where there are lots of good restaurants, especially The Garden which is a reasonably priced pizzeria owned by Mario, the owner of the villa, and the slightly more expensive restaurant also owned by Mario, at the marina. One thing I would definitely recommend is a trip to the Carrara marble quarries at the other side of the estuary. Staggering! There is a lovely little town called Sarzana nearby that is worth a visit too. We shall definitely visit Casa Guelfi again.

“ ...off the tourist track, which made it really special ”

We have just returned from a week in Casa Guelfi in Ameglia. This perfect little villa is charm itself. So pretty with the most incredible view over beautiful countryside and the ancient hillside village of Ameglia. The little villa itself is extremely comfortable with everything you could possibly need. The welcome pack included wine, pasta, two jars of the owner's special passata and beef tomatoes. There was a welcome bottle of water. Luckily we had our own little milk pots as there wasn't any milk. The outside area is where you want to be though with numerous places to sit depending on whether you want sun or shade. The swimming pool is perfect for cooling off. There were 4 sunbeds and two sets of tables and chairs. If we could suggest anything it would be some cushions for the outdoor furniture. The bedroom is bright and sunny with a very comfortable bed and air conditioning, which was very much needed, Surrounded by beautiful countryside the hardest thing is actually leaving the villa to explore. There is a walk up to the ancient village behind the villa through the woods but then an incredibly long range of winding steps - not for anyone who isn't pretty fit and mobile especially not in July heat - I did survive but only just! At the top though there is a lovely little cafe where the locals congregate. The village is so picturesque and very interesting to walk round and take lots of photos. Bocca di Magra is a very short drive. It's a very quiet quite exclusive sort of place - lots of very posh yachts in the marina. There are a few restaurants- Ciccio the owner's restaurant looked beautiful but a bit out of our price range - seemed very popular though. The bar next to it with outside tables and still part of the restaurant was lovely for evening drinks overlooking the mountains and the estuary. We did eat at Mario's other restaurant at The Garden Hotel. Amazing pizza and pasta and good prices too. Beautiful view of the mountains. We visited the vineyard near Sarzana which was well worth a visit. Very friendly helpful staff and very cheap wine! The town of Sarzana is well worth a visit with its typical old Italian town area and pizza with lots of churches to look at and lovely cafes and Gelaterias. There was a massive market on the Thursday we went and filled the long narrow streets. We felt we were seeing the real Italy. The old village of Monte Marcello is well worth it and not far to go in the car. We had the most incredible lasagne in the piazza in the middle of the ancient town. We also went to Lerici but it was very busy and much more than the fishing village we were expecting, all depends what you want. We weren't keen on the crowded very regimented beaches. Lots of places to eat though. We preferred Telero for an interesting place to walk round. Stunning coastal buildings built on the cliff side. No beach but very quirky place. We would highly recommend this villa for a quiet retreat in the most stunning scenery. It is certainly a windy road to get to it but the directions are excellent and we had no trouble finding it. This area of Italy is very rural and off the tourist track, which made it really special.

“ ...our favourite holiday house ”

We had a fabulous time at Casa Guelfi and now regard it as our favourite holiday house. This is no disrespect to other places that we have stayed, but this one is very special.

The house was very well appointed and had a feeling of real quality, the surroundings and views of both countryside and mountains were ideal and overall the setting could not have been better. We were met by the owners' daughter, who lives in London and speak very good English, she was both charming and helpful and the following day we met Mario at The Garden Hotel where we ate a very good meal, Pat had fish and I decided on the mussels. When we shopped we found a Supermarket at San Stefano which had great meat and fish, fresh food and good offers on wine and beer. The local Village is approached from the house via an old footpath with exactly 100 steps bringing you out in the central main square, there is a café opposite, a grocers a few paces up the hill and a very good restaurant further down the square itself, we ate there on our first evening and the place was buzzing, excellent plain Italian food.

Coming back to the house the pool was always a great treat, not big but enough for a corner to corner swim, very deep at one end, and extremely inviting being a few paces from the house. For a romantic break, this place cannot be beaten, but the drive from the main road can be quite a challenge.

...thanks for a lovely holiday,

“ Mario the owner was brilliant.. ”

Casa Guelfi in Ameglia, Liguria, Italy was in a superb position, outside the village, on a hill and had spectacular views of the ancient village of Ameglia, perched on the hill opposite. Mario the owner was brilliant - friendly and nothing was too much trouble. We could pick any vegetables or fruit from the land surrounding the house, for our meals and we did! Such a lovely place, with a choice of places to sit around the house and pool. Mario would take fresh vegetables from the same land for his restaurants and hotel, in Bocca di Magra. On leaving, we were presented with two jars of homemade passata and a bottle of mint liqueur. We went several times to Bocca di Magra, on the river estuary and enjoyed delicious fish lunches. One day, we braved the heat and went for the day to Lucca, especially to visit the Puccini Museum. Highly recommend Casa Guelfi, but be prepared for negotiating narrow lanes - large 4 by 4s not required!

“ ...a beautiful location with spectacular views ”

We loved Casa Guelfi . It's in a beautiful location with spectacular views. The owners Mario and Wendy were very welcoming. If anyone is looking for a beautiful, peaceful hideaway this is it. The nearby seaside resort of Lerici is lovely, from here you can get a boat trip to see the Cinque Terre. This is well worth doing. We loved Monterosso one of the villages you can visit by boat. It is also worth visiting Montemarcello a short drive from Ameglia, a lovely place. This is a beautiful area and we would certainly return.

“ We had a PERFECT stay at Casa Guelfi in July. ”

We had a PERFECT stay at Casa Guelfi in July. The setting is fabulous and we were wowed every day. Our thanks to Mario for making us so welcome and looking after us throughout our stay. We have no hesitation in recommending the property and your great services as agent. We frequented both of Mario's restaurants in Bocca di Magra, where we had a very special evening at Ciccio on my wife's birthday. Can recommend the walk up to Ameglia from the back of the villa and on to Tellaro for lunch by the tiny harbour. Two busses get you home via Lido di Lerici, which makes a great gelato stop and promenade. Montemarcello is an easy local drive for great views and simple lunch in the square.

“ ...the place is very hard to leave to go sight-seeing! ”

Hi Dan and Laura. We've been back from our Italian trip for a few days now and I finally have time to write and tell you how much we loved Casa Guelfi. It was everything, and more, that we had hoped from your description and if there can possibly be a downside to that, it's only that the place is very hard to leave to go sight-seeing! We met Mario (and Myrtila the Lab) on arrival and he couldn't have been kinder and more helpful. What a charming man - and a hard-working one too, having experienced three of his eateries which were all delightful.

We managed to drag ourselves out eventually to visit Lucca (twice - including an evening's music at the Puccini Festival), Bocca di Magra for Mario's restaurants and Lerici. I was very unlucky in coming down with a fairly horrible cold at the start of the week which definitely slowed us down so we will just have to come back in the future to explore more of the Cinque Terre. I'll keep working on my Italian in readiness!

Thanks to you both for ensuring all the arrangements worked smoothly for us. We were very impressed with your service, care and documentation and will not hesitate to recommend ITT.

“ The home is a labor of love and well cared for... ”

The property is just as depicted and absolutely wonderful. The home is a labor of love and well cared for by the gracious hosts and owners. It is centrally located to explore the region and has all the amenities one could hope to have at a holiday rental. Despite earlier reports my very nice car travelled along the ancient Roman road w/o issue. Although you did need to drive to the harbor for restaurant, getting there was quite easy. The Guelfi family's restaurant was truly phenomenal and we also enjoyed their hospitality at that location every night. The swimming pool and outdoor space was a respite from the warm sunny days. The home's interior was comfortable and had everything you would need for your holiday. The gardens were well maintained and a beautiful surrounding. It was as picturesque a view as you could have ever hoped to see in the italian countryside. Do yourself a favor, do not hesitate and book this wonderful villa. You will be grateful that you did and have no regrets.

“ We had a lovely relaxing week at Casa Guelfi ”

This is quite a difficult review to write. We had a lovely relaxing week at Casa Guelfi. The property itself is set high on a hill overlooking the River Magra Valley and the Apuan Alps. The road up to the property is steep and narrow, but perfectly navigable for all but the most nervous of drivers. We came to Casa Guelfi after three days in the stunning opulence of Castella di Velona in Montalcino, so it had a tough act to follow. The property is well equipped and comfortable. The pool is lovely and the gardens surrounding the house are beautiful (especially Mario's fruit and vegetable gardens). The owners were very friendly and welcoming and we ate two meals at Mario's restaurant in Bocca di Magra, which were quite superb. They also gave us a couple of bottles of delicious limoncello. The only issues we had with our stay are really nothing to do with the property itself but with he surrounding area and wildlife (!). Firstly, the property is not such a rural idyll as you might perhaps be led to think. The Magra valley is a busy area. The Pisa-Genova autostrada is visible and audible (though not loudly) from the property. There is an airforce base in the valley from which helicopters take off and land. And the village bells ring very loudly throughout the night, so if you are not a sound sleeper you have to sleep with the windows closed or earplugs in! You never get the complete silence that you might have expected from reading other reviews. The surrounding area has a slightly neglected feel to it. There are lots of empty and abandoned buildings (factories, petrol stations) in the valley and the local supermarket has closed down. Bocca di Magra is very nice, but Ameglia itself is a bit tatty. We ended up taking days out to places like Lerici, Telaro, Lucca and the Cinque Terre so it was a good base for exploring and the boat trip from Bocca di Magra to Punta Curvo beach was great fun. We would also warn anyone that is susceptible to insect bites to come properly prepared. When the sun goes down the mosquitoes come out in force and they are very resilient to repellent which made eating outside in the evenings a very uncomfortable experience. This could be seasonal and is also likely to affect some more than others, but do be prepared. Overall, after the Castello di Velona it was a bit of a case of "after the Lord Mayor's Show" - we had a very nice time, but the property did not quite live up to our expectations, though that was probably more as a result of our setting our expectations unrealistically high than anything to do with the property itself.

“ We would certainly consider returning in the future. ”

Casa Guelfi is idealic, comfortable and perfect for a relaxing holiday. There are beautiful views from all angles and lots of places to visit both by the sea and inland. The owners are very welcoming and helpful without being imposing and couldn't do enough for us. Their local restaurant serves delicious fish dishes overlooking a lovely marina. The only downside was having to drive to restaurants but this was the price you have to pay for such a peaceful and delightful property setting. We would certainly consider returning in the future.

“ We loved the villa and its views ”

We loved the villa and its views. However we were very disappointed because it is classed as restaurants within walking distance. This was certainly not the case and this spoilt our holiday as we were looking forward to not using the car for this purpose which we had to. Also access to the villa up a narrow path was a minus. If you have a decent car don't come here! At certain parts on the track there was a steep drop. You were only protected by some flat tree trunks from going over the edge. At another part it was completely open. We have photographs of these. Also the jacuzzi bath wasn't working and despite the owner saying someone was coming to repair it no-one turned up. We specifically chose this villa as stated thinking we could walk to restaurants but your information was wrong.

Manager Response I'm sorry to hear you didn't walk to any restaurants - the village of Ameglia is around a third of a mile away - there is a path behind the house. And there are at least 2 restaurants in the village that we know of - there may well be more. -----------------------------a further update-----------------------------I went back to Ameglia and walked the path to the village - there has been a slide on it this winter, but they have bridged it, it was easy to walk. And I found a lovely bar and a lovely restaurant in the village - so I'm a little puzzled by this review.

“ A perfect escape ”

A perfect escape. Absolute tranquility. A high quality villa in sleepy Tuscan hillside.

“ The villa is an oasis of calm ”

The villa is an oasis of calm. A beautiful place to relax by the pool. There are 3 different terraces to sit on all with sun loungers and two outside eating areas, one of which is covered. The views are spectacular, the accommodation very comfortable with everything you need for a holiday.

“ This is a wonderfully located get-away place for two ”

This is a wonderfully located get-away place for two. It is close to Tuscany and the coast with the fascinating Cinque Terre National Park just a short ferry ride away. The house is charming, with its own pool and several sun decks along with 3 outside eating areas and comfortable furnishings. The owners are friendly and helpful without being intrusive. They own a fantastic local restaurant specialising in sea food, which we highly recommend. Following a very healthy crop of tomatoes, we were lucky enough to be invited to pick sun-warmed tomatoes right off the vine. The drive up to the house is interesting! We would suggest that you arrive in daylight as the final part of the drive to the house is very narrow and very steep. However, once we knew where we were going it was easy enough. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would highly recommend it.

“ Second visit to this well equipped house for two! ”

Second visit to this well equipped house for two! Sky TV and internet if you must! The pool overlooks the town and across to the Carrera Mountains. You can do lots or just sit by the pool. Walking up to the old town stretches the legs but is very pleasant! Catch a boat to the five pretty towns perched on cliff tops. The train from La Spezia will get you there sooner but most of it is in tunnels so not so pretty. La Spezia not an attractive city but good parking under the railway station. Sarzana has a huge Thursday market it is the nearest rail station to get to Florence (change at Pisa) but frankly you would probably be better sitting by the pool with a glass of wine! Luni is a large Roman ruin nearby well worth a visit! 2 Euro to get in and tour, don't argue about the fact it says its free to EU pensioners on the entrance board it isn't! Lucca an easy drive away. Pisa also quite close. Forte dei Marmi market on Wednesday amazing value cashmere linen and leather. Walk round the perimeter until you find the handbag stall loaded with leather bags at only 20 Euro amazing value! This house would be the perfect location for a honeymoon. But also suited two Pensioners who needed to chill out! The drive up to the house greatly improved by the newly built wall, though I would still recommend a car bigger that the Fiat 500 we had the first time. The house owners are there if needed, they own a restaurant (Ciccio) in the port Bocca where the food is AMAZING! Both the house and the area are LOVELY, LOVELY, LOVELY! don't hesitate to book!

Manager Response So delighted to hear you enjoyed it, and thanks for taking the time to write all the tips. Luni is a fantastic place to visit, amazing to think the sea used to surround it. And Ciccio's is a delicious restaurant, we've also had some fantastic meals there. Thanks again, Dan

“ ..we instantly knew we'd booked our perfect romantic retreat. ”

On arrival at Casa Guelfi we instantly knew we'd booked our perfect romantic retreat. It's beautiful. The house is clean, well equipped and comfortable, the outside dining area, the pool, the views... it's all wonderful! Just book it! Mario, the owner, is one of the nicest people you could hope to meet... he lives next door and has a fantastic range of salad & veg growing in raised beds in his garden for use in his restaurant, but we were delighted by the invitation to help ourselves, which we did quite often! And the restaurant?... excellent food, first class service and a beautiful location. CioCio in Bocca di Magri. Had a little trouble finding the house at first, even though the satnav took us within yards of it. When you get to the metal pole in the road (you'll know what I mean when you get there) take the unlikely looking track on the right... it's narrow but fine to drive up. The track bends to the left and then the parking space is on the left, by the gate to the house. Where the track bends left there is also a path to the right... this is the path that leads up to Ameglia where's there's a good local shop, just a short walk. There are lots of beautiful places to visit in the region, we particularly liked Porto Venere, but there are so many lovely coastal towns. If you are planning to drive, I strongly suggest familiarising yourself with the Italian traffic laws regarding 'limited traffic zones'... not a problem, but you need to be aware of them. We had week at Casa Guelfi and then headed off to Tuscany to do the tourist things visiting Florence, Sienna, the Chianti region... but most of the 2nd week was spent just missing our perfect romantic house... it was genuinely sad to leave it behind! Thanks Mario... we've never been anywhere twice, the world's a big place to see, but we'll make an exception and come see you again.

“ The villa exceeded our wildest expectations.. ”

We had a wonderful time at Casa Guelfi in beautiful southern Liguria. The villa exceeded our wildest expectations with its sublime views on all sides and lovely pool; if we could transport it all back to Sussex, we would!

“ Our gracious hosts made us feel so very welcome... ”

The view, the villa, the village! All are amazing! Our gracious hosts made us feel so very welcome and the villa itself is delightful. There are so many wonderful places to just sit back and enjoy the scenery. The kitchen is fully equipped and we ate outdoors every day. The bathroom is superb and the bedroom was a wonderful retreat with its wide windows and cooling, white walls. The living area was terrific but we spent most of our time outdoors! The pool was a lifesaver on hot days! The village is a 10 minute walk and you'll find a great grocery store, complete with meat and fish counters. Of course, wine is everywhere and so full of body and taste. We can't wait to go back next year!

“ Wendy and Mario were fantastic hosts.. ”

Wendy and Mario were fantastic hosts, the villa is in a great location (slightly difficult approach, but worth it)the villa is extremely well appointed, (small critism is that the pool area looses the sun at this time of the year at about 1500hrs due to high trees).

“ ...all we had hoped and much more than we expected ”

Everyone writes about the great views but what's equally beautiful is the wonderful sounds that surround the area. Between the ancient bells inside the tower of the city of ameglia and the bells from lower in the valley, it feels like you're listening to the beauty in 5.1 surround sound.

Casa Guelfi was all we had hoped and much more than we expected...so beautiful...the setting was almost surreal... with the lovely city of ameglia on the hillside and the view of the Marble Mountains. But the absolute best? Our hosts, the owners of Casa Guelfi, Wendy and Mario Guelfi. They met us, took us in and treated us like family...had us in their home for drinks, took us to both of their restaurants and Mario took us on a day trip into the Marble Mountains. When I say into the Marble Mountains I really mean inside of the Marble Mountains...Inside the mines where Michaelangelo got his marble for the David! So incredible and something we will never forget...We will definitely go back to Casa Guelfi and have already been invited back as Wendy and Mario's guests!

“ We enjoyed a fantastic two weeks at Casa Guelfi... ”

We enjoyed a fantastic two weeks at Casa Guelfi, and would not hesitate to return. It was very comfortable, well equipped and a superb outside area, with a lovely little pool to spend lazy days relaxing in the sunshine. The owners, Mario & Wendy are both very kind, helpful and hospitable. Their restaurant, Capannina Ciccio down in Bocca di Magra is an absolute must, simply devine! Superbly fresh seafood, excellent service, very friendly and of course the best view in Bocca di Magra out across the estuary & marina. Whilst some reviews have mentioned the challenging drive to the house, it only adds to the charm, and should not put anyone off. The location for local shops, bank, fuel etc is perfect, and for exploring further it's a perfect base for the Cinque Terre, Pisa the marble mountains and Portofino to name a few..There's a lovely feeling to the area as it's surrounded by authentic Italian life, remote enough for privacy, yet not in isolation. Mario's vegetable garden is a thing of wonder! We plan to return soon.

“ ..the welcome could not have been warmer ”

This well-equipped and comfortable little house provided the perfect spot for our 30th Wedding Anniversary. While the weather was changeable, the welcome could not have been warmer and the hospitality shown to us was just wonderful. We enjoyed the sun by the pool but also the log fire in the cooler evenings. The little lane up to the house was narrow but easy to drive and visits to the supermarket, the gelateria and the pizza restaurant took just a few minutes. Ameglia is a stunning spot and a good centre for visits to Portovenere, Lucca, Pisa and beyond. We had hoped this holiday would be special and memorable and, thanks to Wendy and Mario, it was.

Casa Guelfi is a unique property crafted with care and skill out of the ruins of an ancient tower. It is appointed well including a jacuzzi bath, swimming pool, a couple of different outside seating/dining options, a well equipped kitchen and even a wood burning stove. The location is close to the coast and the views over the local hills to the mountains provide daily fascination. Casa Guelfi is situated in the luscious and productive gardens of the hosts, Mario and Wendy whose hospitality is second to none. For a special occasion we reserved a table at Mario's restaurant, Capaninna Ciccio, in nearby Bocca di Magra and had a meal fitting of the 30 year anniversary we were celebrating. At then end of holiday it was a great wrench leaving. Note: we had hired a Fiat 500 which I suggest is the perfect size for the access lane to the property parking area.

“ ..from start to finish the holiday was fantastic ”

Really what can I say, from start to finish the holiday was fantastic, Casa Guelfi is a gem and is perfect for a romantic break for two. The house is well fitted with a good sized kitchen, lounge area and even wifi .The pool was just the right size for a cooling swim but the best is the outside seating areas, absolutely perfect for sitting and staring at the truly stunning view of both ancient Ameglia and the valley below and the distant Cararra mountains whilst sipping owner Marios homemade Limoncello. Both he and Wendy were perfect hosts and their garden is a thing of wonder, and do try their restaurant in Bocca di Magra, highly recommended as is Sarzana, just a 15 minute drive away. The house is approached by a rather narrow and steep track so do not hire a large car, we had a Fiat Punto, which was just about right, and once you driven it a few times, you’re ok. We plan to return.

“ FABULOUS!!!!!! What a fantastic place! ”

FABULOUS!!!!!! What a fantastic place! It is useful to throw some dishwasher tablets and tea bags in your luggage. Also you will need barbecue fuel and matches when you shop. Anyone hiring a car needs to know that a Fiat 500 with two adults, far too much luggage and a weeks food shopping will REALLY struggle up the last bit of unmade road at the end of the journey! What they need is a small car (the road is VERY narrow with a substantial drop to one side) but with a decent sized engine. As far as the house is concerned a mirror in the bedroom would be good. Otherwise you couldn't fault it. Wendy, Poppy and Mario were lovely. There if you needed them but not in any way intrusive! We did struggle a bit with the rubbish, plastics being collected on Tuesday is fine if you leave on a Tuesday but otherwise there will always be a surfeit.(Same with the rest really, you can never get ahead!) In the end we took the (sorted) rubbish as we left. The dump is open on a Saturday morning so it was easy. I think that would be better for your guests. The market at Forte del ? is absolutely worth the drive, lots of linen, cashmere and leather, all very inexpensive. We plan to visit again but for two weeks next time. Thank you, we had a really lovely holiday!

“ ...want to keep it a secret! ”

We really loved Casa Guelfi and extremely reluctant to tell any of our friends about it - want to keep it a secret! The cottage was lovely and the only downside was the weather, which of course out of anyones control! As we didn't sunbathe we got out and about quite a lot.

We drove to Pisa one day (full journey incl parking was about 1 hour) which was very easy and parked in the underground car park in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, near to a tourist information office and next to Corso Italia. The leaning tower was fantastic and would thoroughly recommend to anyone to buy a timed ticket when they arrive and climb to the top.

I found an informative blog called 'A Path to Lunch' which was useful for local walks. We walked from Ameglia to Tellaro and then along the coast and up to Monte Marcello, quite challenging but worth it The Cinque Terre coastal path only open between Monterosso Al Mare - Vernazza but otherwise closed due to landslides I think. We had a lovely meal in Miky in Monterosso but otherwise found the Cinque Terre extremely busy and touristy despite being early in the season. We drove to La Spezia and parked in the car park beneath the railway station and caught the train to Monterosso which was straightforward but now guests will be able to get a ferry from Bocca di Magra - Portovenere and then another ferry along the Cinque Terre if they wish. Portovenere is worth a visit and recommend a restaurant called Ristorante Le Bocche next to the church at the end of the 'pier'. We went to Mario & Wendy's restaurant a couple of time which was lovely.

All in all a lovely holiday and we'd love to return next year

“ We had a most enjoyable time ”

We had a most enjoyable time. The property is very well appointed and enjoyable to spend time in, both inside and outside, with its spectacular proximity to the very picturesque Ameglia. It is very close to beautiful sites along the coast (the Golfo dei Poeti, La Spezia, the Cinque Terre and Portofino) and inland (Sarzana, Luni, Castelnuovo Magra and the marble quarries of Carrara; great views of the latter two from the poolside). Genoa too is remarkably accessible and well worth the effort (we went twice). We had a couple of excellent meals, at the Trattoria dai Pironcelli in Montemarcello and Trattoria Armanda in Castelnuovo Magra. The house had some good local guidebooks but we found the Bradt Guide to Liguria by Rosie Whitehouse (Second Edition March 2016) very useful.

“ Casa Guelfi is just amazing ”

Casa Guelfi is just amazing. A beautiful and private cottage with pool and everything you need. Wendy and Mario are wonderful and always at hand if needed. The location is idealic overlooking the Carrara mountains and beside the old Ameglia alta town. Mario's restaurant Ciccio at Bocca Di Magna has wonderful seafood and the service is classic and helpful. His Marina di Carrara restaurant is also excellent and you should try his new Pizza Restaurant at the Garden Hotel in Bocca Di Magna. We visited Montemarcello and Lerici, two small towns overlooking the sea and the Cinque Terre. Also the Carrara mining towns in the hills, Ometteto's Ristorante in Buseletto, and Usama al Nassar's marble studio and workshop nearby to the quarries used by Le Cave di Michelangelo at Torrano. Towns such as Luca, Pisa, Seravezza, Stazzema, and Sarzanna are close by and worth visiting. A very useful note is that the Carrefour supermarket at Ameglia is open every day from 7.30am to 10.00pm.