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Back to Casa Levanto
Dear II,
Well, after all is said and done, we had a great time! We travelled to Italy for 10 days total, starting and ending in Rome, with Florence and Cinque Terre in between. Our biggest problem was we rented a car out of Florence to the Cinque Terre, specifically to go to Levanto. We followed the directions sent to us to get to the Casa Levanto. We missed an exit off the A11 to go north on the A12 (the Livorno-Genoa highway) and we ended up in Pisa. We found our way out of Pisa and made it to Levanto. The directions to the Casa Levanto were pretty much right on, but there was one phrase that stated 'Take the unpaved road to the Casa Levanto'. After the private gate to the property, there was a nice paved road and an unpaved road. Well, we took the wrong one and bottomed out our Mercedes rental a few times on this steep, rocky hill. Luckily, we were able to turn the car around. We loved the B&B Casa Levanto! We had the largest room and bathroom in all of our travels to Italy! There were breathtaking views and fresh air. You definitely need a car to stay here, but it only takes 5 minutes to drive to the town and beach. We parked our car at the train station and either took the train to the Cinque Terre or took a boat. The breakfast at the Casa Levanto was lovely each morning. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again, or recommend it to anyone!
Thanks so much!
S&G
Dear In Italy,
Our trip to Italy was wonderful. Casa Levanto was a real gem...warm, friendly and beautiful accommodations. I would not hesitate to recommend this B&B to anyone. We also found getting to the villages of Cinque Terre was extremely easy from Levanto. We parked in the lot next to the railway station and paid 8 Euros for all day parking. That was a real bargain! The railway charge was 8 Euros as well and gave us a one-day all day travel ticket on the rail and bus in one of the villages. Again, a real bargain.
Thank you,
Natalie M.
Dear In Italy,
We loved Casa Levanto. The road up is steep, however, but exciting! (two hairpin turns that go straight up--then the excitement is nearly over--until you park at the farmhouse and try to turn around). We experienced a severe thunderstorm there, badly needed rain. It was a beautiful setting and we received incredibly good care from our hosts. We liked the square near the casino and all the food everywhere! No specific tips--don't tell anyone about it so we can go again and actually get reservations!
Chrstine G.
Hi Jessica,
Our trip to Italy was fantastic and our stay at Casa Levanto was definitely a highlight. By chance it happened that we reached the Levanto area a day before our reservations. I called Giancarlo and he was able to accommodate us for one additional night. The first night was not in the jr suite we had reserved and we would move to our reserved room the next day. He was very knowledgeable and accommodating and recommended a number of restaurants for us to try. If was really fun to experience both main buildings on the property. We ate our breakfasts outside and had outstanding views of the surrounding hillside and lemon and olives trees. Flowers were starting to bloom and all was beautiful. It was a cozy retreat from the sightseeing and bustle of the larger towns. We didn't explore Levanto itself since we were there to explore the Cinque Terre towns and Portovenere. It was easy to park the car at the Levanto train station for the day and take the local train to the towns. Casa Levanto is only a 5 minute drive to the train station. One day we also explored Portofino which was about a 45 minute drive. I definitely recommend taking the boat from Monterosso to Portovenere to see all the towns from the water. If we are ever in this area again we would highly recommend Casa Levanto. As a matter of fact we heard about the property from friends. Thank you so much for your assistance.
Beth E.
Hello Julie,
Casa Levanto was wonderful. Giancarlo was most accomodating and the Levanto village was lovely.
Giancarlo suggested a few restaurants in town, two of which we tried. The first, called Rino, was WONDERFUL. The environment and food were simple, but the service was friendly and the food was exquisite! The second restaurant, called Maresco, was VERY disappointing. The food was horrible and over priced. Our Caprese salad had unripe, flavorless tomatoes that looked as if a 5 year old hacked at them with a dull knife and tossed them on the plate (in a dish that has only 2 ingredients - mozzerella and tomatoes - you would think they could get them both right!). Next we had a lobster pasta, which had to be ordered for 2. There was less than 2 bites of extremely overcooked lobster between both of our plates, the sauce was unimpressive at best, and the dish was 30 Euro a piece. After that we had rabbit, which was so dry and flavorless we sent it back. The house wine tasted like it was lousy to start with and then mixed 50/50 with water. To top it all off, I was sick for 2 days from the meal. Please warn your patrons about this restaurant (Maresco). No one should have to undure such dreadful food and have to pay so much for it. Nor should they risk ruining even a minute of their vacation from food poisoning!
On a bright note, we discovered a wonderful foccaceria in town, and for only a few Euro, we enjoyed one of the best meals of our trip! Unbelievably good. It was the only foccaceria in Levanto, and the sign just read Foccaceria, so I don't have a name to provide. Also, fantastic gelato is to be had at Il Penguino, which Giancarlo recommended. The gelato was homemade on site and superb!
A absolute must was the boat tour of the Cinque Terra, which can be boarded in Levanto. It stops at several of the towns, as well as Portovenere, where we had a beautiful lunch with a view of the marina and the Golf of Poets. I highly recommend the boat tour at 15 Euro per person. A gorgeous way to spend several hours in the Cinque Terra. If you have a whole day to enjoy the little villages, all the better.
Hope this helps your readers.
Paula M.
Dear Kristin,
We used our time wisely while here to visit Cinque Terre - wonderful and one of the most enjoyable days for us as we hiked between the small towns there and then enjoyed a day trip to Portofino by train. The views are breathtaking and this is an area we would visit again.
I had mixed feelings about the accommodations. The room itself was rustic and clean however arriving to be taken to the "other building" up from the main villa posted on the website, was anything but inviting. I thought I was headed to an old shed! The breakfast area, however, was pretty and the food was good. We never saw anything of the host unless we went down to the main area. After staying there, I looked back at the website to see if I missed something that might have indicated that I wouldn't be staying at the place I was looking at and there was information about the steep drive and the "other" house up the hill. Therefore, I think the information was there...just not very clear. The walls were paper thin and we heard every conversation of every guest and knew every time someone used any of the facilities. We would not stay here again.
Tumelin was definitely a great restaurant recommendation! Very good.
Cathy & Spud A.
Hi!!!
My husband and were pleasantly happy and surprised at the accommodations at the Villa. It was a great room and owners were very friendly and willingly to make our visit pleasant. The room was large, clean, a very italian. The breakfast was also very good. What we found is that we prefer to stay in places like this one, as opposed to hotels. You meet great people, and it is very restful. It was very easy to take the train to Cinque Terre. We would stay there again in a heartbeat.
Ronald R.
Dear In Italy,
We really enjoyed our stay! What a beautiful part of the world you are in as well as the gorgeous property you own! Everything was wonderful and exceeded our expectations. We even enjoyed the moment of darkness in the thunderstorm when the electricity went out. Had forgotten how wonderfully dark the world can be without ambient lighting! What fun! Thank you again for your kind hospitality and I will recommend your property to all who travel in your direction. They should.
Best regards,
Lynne W. and John A.
Dear In Italy,
Our trip to Italy was absolutely wonderful. I am so glad I used initaly to book our accommodations. We were thrilled with them all. There were no unpleasant surprises. The directions were good.
The road to Casa Levanto was, as expected, quite scary but well worth the drive. We and the other couple we travelled with were given our own separate cottage further up the road......very quaint, very clean, nice rooms with adjoining bathrooms, and breathtaking views. Our breakfast was prepared fresh each morning and served on our patio outside the front door. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Cinque Terre which was, as promised, a short train ride away.
I will definitely return to Italy many more times and will certainly use initaly again. Once again, thank you for making my dream trip to Italy fantastic!
Irene D.
Dear In Italy,
This country house is in Levanto, a train ride away from Cinque Terre. We bunked in the farm house (new) which is perched above the property and surrounded by lovely summer furniture, flowers and nature. The Casa Levanto property is owned by Giancarlo and his mother. They inherited the 38 acre fruit and olive property from Giancarlo's father. The land is leased and the property is only open in the summer. The mother and son live in Genoa in the winter. I only mention this as this property is not run by professional hotel folks. You can only arrive between certain hours and you can only find hosts during certain hours. Having said that the guests meet and exchange stories and the breakfast is wonderful. The room was small, and not air-conditioned! We would visit again, but would probably stay in one of the apartments instead of guest rooms. They have mountain bikes and Levanto is worthy of a visit.
Too many treasures in Cinque Terre to mention.
Kathleen V.
Dear In Italy,
Casa Levanto was my favorite place of all. I told the owner that it was here that I felt so much at home. It was "A Little Patch Of Heaven". The view from our room at the top of the hill was something to behold. They did not have a swimming pool. But they did have an ocean for us to swim in just 5 minutes away. By the way...we had a wonderful dinner at a place called "Centro". The waiter spoke very good English. Oh yes, I almost forgot to tell you another reason why our visit to Casa Levanto was so special. Last summer, Marge and I were visiting a friends' vacation home at Discovery Bay on the Delta. I was reading the May 2000 issue of Bon Appetit magazine. On the very last page, there was an interview with Andrea Bocelli. One of the last questions that the interviewer asked Mr. Bocelli was, "We can't let you get away without talking about romance. Where in Tuscany would you take your wife for an intimate little dinner?" His response was, "To a beautiful restaurant called La Barca, on the beach in Forte dei Marmi". Just by chance, La Barca was only 35 to 40 minutes away. I asked the owner to see if they could make a reservation for us the following night. That night, there was a message that we had reservation at La Barca at 8:30 the following night. It was everything I had hoped it would be. The food was excellent and the setting on the beach was beautiful. Casa Levanto is a must for those who visit northern Tuscany.
R.L.R.
We really enjoyed the beautiful surrounds of Casa Levanto. the outdoor area was very relaxing and nicely presented. we would recommend this place to all our friends. the only thing that we found that was negative was the lack of noiseproofing between rooms. From our room we were kept awake by other guests showering and using the hairdryer during the early hours of the morning.
Sharryn H.
Sorry to be so long responding. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Casa Levanto. All your information was accurate, and it was everything we expected and more. It's impossible to overstate how serene and lovely the setting is. At the end of a day in the towns of the Cinqueterre, it was refreshing and relaxing. Looking out into the surrounding hills at night, the lights of the small towns are beautiful. And eating breakfast on the sunny terrace, with the bees buzzing among the flowers is the best therapy.
When we returned, everyone asked me what the best meal was we had on our trip. I honestly had to reply that my favorite meal was a picnic dinner we ate at a table in the garden outside our room. We had brought back cheese, focaccia, salami and wine from Monterosso, and enjoyed it while the sun set and the village lights in the hills began to twinkle. It was heaven.
The only thing that could have improved it was a time machine, to stretch the days. Thanks so much for putting us on to this delightful place. One small thing you might include as a bit of advice to future guests - it is not appreciated if you arrive at lunchtime, which we did. I guess the owner was the only one about, and we interrupted his lunch.
I'll be rechecking your site first thing next time we plan a trip to Italy, and I pray it will be soon.
Thanks again!
Ciao, ciao, ciao....bye-bye.
Pat P.
Our stay at the Casa Levanto was a pleasure. The staff were particularly warm, supportive and helpful. "Giro," their mascot, is a large puppy who likes to hug thighs and helps visitors learn the Italian word for "enough" (basta). The accommodations were splendid and breakfasts on the patio delightful.
Two suggestions:
When we return to Levanto, we won't hesitate to request a room at the Casa Levanto. Thank you for arranging it.
Susie & Walt M.
Dear Julie,
We had a wonderful time in Italy. After staying for over a week in bigger cities (Budapest, Salzburg and Florence) I was charmed when we drove up to Casa Levanto in it's country setting. When I got out of the car, the first thing I saw was an old man up on a ladder picking cherries. He motioned to me and said something in Italian. As I cupped my hands he dropped fresh-picked cherries into my hands. I felt like I was in an Italian movie. Our host, Monica met us and showed us to the stone cottage a little further up the hill. It was great! Freshly painted blue ragged walls and dark wooden beamed ceilings in the common area. Our room was also newly painted a golden color and out our window was a view of more cherry trees. There were nice areas to walk and explore, although we didn't have much time for that. The patio and setting was so picturesque we opted to go to the local grocery store and got wine, bread, meats, cheese and some great tomatoes and pesto to make a simple meal to eat on the patio. We stayed outside long into the evening. The place seemed very private, even though the other four rooms in the cottage were occupied. We woke to birds singing, church bells and the call of real cuckoo birds. The breakfasts were good. I liked the fresh cherry preserves. Each day, along with sliced meats, cheese, bread, yogurt and cereal there was something a little different, like a pastry or mixed fresh berries. The patio/garden setting was the best part. Contrary to the impression I got from other guest comments, it wasn't far from the town of Levanto (we had a car). Perhaps a drive of about 5 minutes. We easily could have walked to town, or the train station, in 30-40 minutes. That day we did the Cinque Terre, taking the train to Monterosso. We poked around the convent (Van Dyke painting in the church) and cemetery, noting whole families that died in a World War II bombing in the area. Then we hiked the trail from Monterosso to Vernazza. Pretty rugged, not for the casual walker. Things got exciting when we were stopped on the trail because of a rescue helicopter attempting several times to rescue an injured hiker just a few yards ahead of us. All hikers seemed a little subdued and more cautious after that! After 2 or more hours (longer because of the delay) when we got to Vernazza we were ready for lunch and decided not to hike the rest of the towns. We took the train to one more town, then back to Levanto. One observation about Levanto--I thought it was lovely. If I had more time I would have enjoyed the beach area and would have liked to walk more around the town. In travel books I've read, Levanto got little recognition, sort of like the ugly step-sister of the Cinque Terra. But we appreciated this less touristy town.
Thanks. My "countryside" part of my vacation was fantastic and beautiful!
Kim F.
Dear In Italy,
We loved the Casa Levanto. It was the most beautiful place we stayed in italy, and the lady who served our breakfast in the morning was delightful. We couldn't have asked for anything more.
The only thing I had not known about was the fee to walk the trails in the cinque terre. It was only about 3 euros. And, we hadn't realized how difficult/exhausting some of the trails would be. But that is the only thing to ad.
We look forward to someday returning to Casa Levanto.
Thanks,
Julie M.
Hi Jessica,
We had lovely time in Italy and really enjoyed our stay at Casa Levanto. The rooms are brand new and the beds are very comfortable. The only problem we faced is that our reservation with you said we had breakfast included, which was not the case when we arrived, so that was disappointing. The ample free parking at the train station is not exactly true, on weekends it was ok, but during the week we had a hard time finding a space, as the station is the cheapest parking in Levanto, I can only imagine during high season it might be tougher, it can cost upwards of $10 a day if you don't park at the station. Other than that, it's a perfect location to access the Cinque Terre and the hiking was great (even with a 10 months old!) I would gladly submit some pictures for your web-site, as it was very easy to travel with our baby, and Italians love babies!
Casa Levanto is a great place to bring your children as there were lots of them there when we arrived.
Regards,
Heather M.
Dear Cynthia,
We loved our vacation in Italy and thank everyone at InItaly.com for assisting us with our itinerary.
Casa Levanto was so charming and the perfect way to begin our vacation. The host was very polite and gracious. The room was wonderful--very comfortable. The breakfast was such a treat, too! Dinner our first night was quite special, we ate at The Central (I believe that is the name of the restaurant), which our host recommended. The food and service was wonderful. We spent quite a bit of time in Cinque Terre and the other coastal towns.
Rhonda W.
Dear Julie,
We did indeed have a great time in Italy. Casa Levanto was pretty much what I expected. The road up was a little scary the first time, but then my husband got the hang of it. Thank goodness for stickshifts! The room was very clean and very comfortable. Giancarlo,the owner was very nice.
Levanto turned out to be an excellent base for traveling around the Cinque Terre. At first, Levanto seemed a little seedy, but as the days went by we experienced some great food and lively evenings. Unlike some other towns, Levanto did'nt roll up the sidewalks at 9 PM. This is not a big tourist town(at least not for Americans, which suited us just fine).The week we were there, there was a religious procession of elaborately decorated crucifixes about 15 ft high. Another night there was live music and a street fair. The town was packed! Also,alot of the stores were opened till 11 PM. We would park our car at the Levanto train station and go to the different towns. The trains ran very well and were also very clean. They're easy to use and everyone was helpful.
We enjoyed ourselves tremendously.
Thanks,
Lori M.
Dear In Italy,
Casa Levanto was wonderful...the room was spacious...the breakfast excellent and the views spectacular...the drive to get to the house very curvy...easier in a small car ...the best beach in the area for kids without rocks would be the little beach in Vernazza...the cinque Terre is a must by boat and by train.
Gerard B.
Hi Julie,
Thanks for the email! Casa Levanto was wonderful...we wished we could have stayed longer. It had such picturesque views and comfortable accommodations. Breakfast was wonderful. The setting was beautiful, and the woman serving us breakfast was great! We really enjoyed it.
If we ever get a chance to go back to the Cinque Terre, we are going to in a second! It was truly one of the most incredible experiences of our lives! We simply can't believe how beautiful everything was along the paths and in the five towns. I would recommend that people visiting the Cinque Terre for more than one day do what we did. One the first day we took the boat tour of the Cinque Terre. We got a lot of spectacular pictures from the boat of the 5 towns. Also, we did not realize that our boat was taking us to Porto Venere...what a treat! It was awesome! We got dropped off there for a couple of hours and really loved it! The next day, we caught the train in Levanto and got off at Monterosso. We walked the trails from there. I would recommend that people start in Monterosso, instead of at the other end in Riomaggiore, as it's best to get the two toughest legs of the walk out of the way first. Also, I believe that the views of Vernazza are SPECTACULAR from that direction...one of the most beautiful sights these eyes have ever seen! We walked the toughest leg (Monterosso to Vernazza) in the morning and then had lunch on a terrace in Vernazza...unbelievably beautiful! Then, we walked the second leg to Corniglia, and luckily found Guvano Beach. This was something we will not forget for the rest of our lives! We found the trip to Guvano Beach sooooooooo cool, and the beach itself was spectacular. All this helped us cool down after the two toughest legs of the walk. From there, we just enjoyed the trip to Manarola and Riomaggiore (where we relaxed and ate dinner, and then took the train back to Levanto).
We took so many pictures, and I'm glad we did because it was one of the most incredible places we've ever seen! Thanks for everything!
Best Regards,
John G.
Dear In Italy,
Casa Levanto is charming, and well-situated for visiting the Cinque Terre. It's a short drive from the Levanto train station, and we found Levanto to be an interesting, charming town as well. The restaurant, Moresco, that Giancarlo sent us to was exceptionally good, but be warned that the food is more than plentiful. For four people, we asked for two orders of the frutti de mare antipasti, and received at least 12 small platters of fresh, perfectly-prepared seafood and vegetables - and we still had a first and second course coming! The quantity of food really detracted from our enjoyment of it.
Another exceptional restaurant in the Cinque Terre region is Ciak in Monterossa al Mare. A delightful meal.
Lorrie M.
Dear In Italy,
Casa Levanto was excellent. It is quiet, private, in the hills above Levanto and in close proximity to the train station which takes you to Cinque Terra. Their breakfasts were the best on our trip and we really liked their room.
Curt G.
Dear In Italy,
Thank you for the follow up email. Casa Levanto was great. My girlfriend and I enjoyed our stay there very much. The property was very charming and Giancarlo was very helpful with tips about local restaurants and things to do.
Our overall trip was very nice. We started in Paris and then drove South through France and into Italy, leaving from Milan after seeing Cinque Terre, Florence, Tuscany, Venice and Lake Como. Your site was very helpful, not only booking the room at Casa Levanto, but for general info and suggestions as well. We enjoyed Italy more than France, though both were nice in their own ways. Hopefully we will be able to go back sometime in the near future. Thanks again for your help.
Matthew H.
Cynthia,
Our trip to Italy was just great. But I must say that our time at Levanto was the very best of all. Casa Levanto is the most peaceful and relaxing place to stay and, believe me, true peace and quiet are in very short supply while touring the best sights of Italy! We should have stayed there longer. The surroundings were charming; the people were friendly; the food was wonderful; and Levanto is a great little town perfectly positioned for day trips to Cinque Terre.
Donald M.
Dear In Italy,
Casa Levanto and Giancarlo were exceptional. He and his mom have done a superb job of welcoming and making guests feel warm. Finding it was hard for us but not for others, so I would assume it was mostly our challenge. His property is exceptionally well groomed, the views and relaxation were super and his restaurant recommendations were far above average.
Frank H.
Dear Ghia,
Italy was wonderful and I would suggest to anyone that is thinking of going to do it. Casa Levanto was a wonderful place to stay and worked out perfect for us. It was very quiet and relaxing and yet close enough to Cinque Terre that we were able to either walk or train over with no problem.
For those that like to hike the hike to Cinque Terre is about 2:30 to 3 hours and though I would not suggest it to those who are looking for a relaxing stroll, the views are absolutely wonderful as the entire hike is overlooking the steep cliffs into the water. Casa Levanto itself has wonderful views, and the room we had was great. It was so well taken care of and you can tell that the owners really went out of there way to do it right. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to stay in the area.
Thanks for the help in finding it!
Dan O.
Hello Ghia,
We had a wonderful stay at Casa Levanto. Thank you for your excellent service in connecting us to this place. It fit our needs perfectly.
The room was beautiful. Giancarlo obviously enjoys tinkering and adding ammenities, such as the motion sensing lights that make coming up his very steep drive alot easier at night. The setting is quiet and scenic. It's a 45 min walk into town, or a very quick 3 km drive. This place IS a challenge to find. Giancarlo's directions are accurate, but it's hard to interpret them while you are there. Definitely plan to arrive in daylight hours. It would be nearly impossible to find in the dark. It takes almost exactly 2 hours to drive to Levanto from Florence.
This isn't a place for those who enjoy the hustle-bustle of a tourist-filled town. Levanto is a simple and sleepy place, less overrun with the tourist crowd than Vernazza. As such, it seems to have fewer ammenties and polish than a town more on the beaten track, but it definitely has some big advantages! Lack of crowds and noise. A relaxed and friendly pace where the local people have time to smile and enjoy visitors to their town. Easy parking both at the train station and in the big public lot right next to the beach. While we were there in low season, parking was free. We would definitely recommend Osteria Tumelin, Via D. Grillo 32 in Levanto. Ask to see the fresh fish of the day. They will bring a big plate out for you to select from, and grill or bake it at your request. Heavenly!
There's a Wednesday market in Levanto that's fun to walk through. Vegetables of all kinds. Roasted chicken and porchetta to munch on. I bought some unique vegetable seeds to try in my garden this fall.
Giancarlo is a friendly host. He is always working around the place, making improvements and caring for his crops. Those expecting the services of a high-priced hotel or will be disappointed. Giancarlo has a farm to run as well as the agriturismo guests, so don't expect a high level of personal service from your stay at Casa Levanto. But, if you are a relatively independent traveller in search of a beautiful place to stay off the beaten track, Casa Levanto will serve you well.
Cheers,
Helen C.
Dear Ghia,
Regarding Casa Levanto...at first I wasn't too impressed, especially after driving by all this commercial stuff that wasn't very picturesque. And the room was pretty small but very quaintly decorated. But after staying the first night I realized what a little gem this place really is. Giancarlo was a great host and did everything he could to make our stay enjoyable. And I decided that it was really nice to be up in the hills and away from everything in town. I would definitely stay there again and recommend it to others. There was very little soundproofing between rooms but we found if we kept the fan on in the bathroom that it blocked out a lot of the noise.
Thanks for setting things up for us....our trip was great!!
Linda G.
Dear In Italy,
We had a great time in Casa Levanto. The accomodations were a pleasant surprise--all the conveniences we would want including satellite TV which gave us an opportunity to briefly connect with the world. We didn't overdo it and rapidly got back to our wonderfully isolated existance. The breakfast on the patio outside was delightful.
The only caution I would give travelers is to be prepared for an "exciting" drive up to the along a one-lane road with sharp turns and steep drop-offs. But once you arrive, the tranquility and view is well worth the short journey. All in all, a great experience.
Carl and Sandy S.
Ghia:
The accommodations and the host at Casa Levanto were great. We were quite comfortable, the breakfasts were super and the road in was most fun. Levanto was much more than we expected with some really good restaurants. We were lucky enough to discover Ristorante Meri in Costa Di Framura just to the north, in our wanderings and we recommend it highly.
Thanks for a most professionally handled experience.
Kathleen and Tom R.
Dear Julie,
Thanks for the welcome home message. Yes we had a wonderful few days in the Cinque Terre. Casa Levanto was excellent - we could not fault it. Giancarlo and his family were most hospitable and we particularly appreciated his opening for us before the season officially started. We found the Cinque Terre fascinating. It is an area little known in UK.
However visitors should be warned that although the local tourist office says ALL the coastal paths are closed following heavy winter rain and land slips, it is possible to walk some of them with care. We walked from Manorola to Corniglia, and Vernazza to Monterosso, without too much difficulty.
The Cinque Terre deserves more support from UNESCO to enable the terraces to be maintained effectively.
I would encourage everyone touring with a car to stay at Casa Levanto. Those without can have a very easy holiday using the excellent trains that connect the 5 villages - but would probably do better to stay in one of them.
Thanks for everything.
Peter H.
Cynthia,
We had a great trip to Italy and Casa Levanto was fine. Only observations are that some higher wattage bulbs suitable for reading would be useful. We were in the small bedroom adjacent to the owner's living room which was ok (not great) but reading in his living room was virtually impossible unless you sat at his desk, which seemed a little pushy. Also, would strongly recommend a guard rail on stoop to main door---somebody is eventually going to break their neck.
Look forward to further travel in italy.
Best wishes for 2001,
Bill & Sarah E.
Dear In Italy,
Thank you for your welcome home, and for arranging for us to stay at Casa Levanto. It was VERY nice to be up on the hillside--very quiet and peaceful--and the rooms and breakfast were great. Giancarlo helped us make dinner reservations in Levanto and Vernazza, and answered all the questions we had. Your instructions on how to locate Casa Levanto were fine. Rain, along with our schedule, prevented us from sitting out in the yard and just plain relaxing, so another day or two would have been great. We only had one slight negative, and that was only on one night--we could hear termites chewing, and they were surprisingly loud! In any case, we would go back should we visit the Cinque Terre again.
Thanks!
Marianne W.
Dear In Italy,
We had a magical time and Giancarlo our host was wonderful. When we arrived in Levanto and took the winding road to Casa Levanto we were a little leary of what was at the end of the road. Let me tell you--- it was everything I had dreamed of and more!! I had been reading the book Under the Tuscan Sun upon our arrival and I was just amazed at how accurate the description of the country side this book was. It was a simple beautiful setting with lovely charm. Our host was incredibly gracious and gave us great recommedations to nearby restaurants. We took the train to nearby Monterosso in Cinque Terre and hiked to the villages along the coast. Casa Levanto was a perfect place to come back to after a full day of hiking and sunning at the beach. We are already planning a family reunion at the next summer!!
Nancy M.
Dear In Italy,
I have just returned from a three week holiday in which I visited England, France and of course, Italy. It had been 12 years since my last visit to this wonderful country, but as soon as my feet were on Italian soil, I remembered why I love it so much.
Casa Levanto is WONDERFUL. Giancarlo has done an amazing job of renovating a once vacant farmhouse on family property high in the hills above the town. The fact that Casa Levanto is located out from town is very attractive and makes for quiet nights. Casa Levanto is well worth the time and extra effort up the hill. I will definitely be going back again in the near future.
Ciao and thank you again,
Shannon A.
Hi,
I am still busy recovering as I got home at 3 am yesterday morning! We loved Italy and had a great time with very few problems. Casa Levanto is a jewel. Giancarlo is nice; his mother is a good cook; the place is fine and has a beautiful view of two little mountain villages as you sit out by the table. It is quiet and peaceful and away from the American revelers in the cinque terre. My one suggestion is that his three downstairs rooms need ceiling fans. If it is hot (which it was - mid-90's), there is no way to get enough air circulated in those rooms. This is not a complaint, just a suggestion - we loved the place.
I loved your services, and if I do get to go back - I hope in a few years - I would definitely not do the Alitalia package tour, but would just book the flight and find your places.
Thanks for inquiring,
Cristine G.
Dear Cynthia:
Our trip to Italy was wonderful, and we are especially appreciative of three things In Italy helped us with.
First and foremost, Casa Levanto. It proved ideal for our purposes, a family reunion for the weekend in Cinque Terre. We booked four of the rooms, and thus had the place more or less to ourselves. Yes, it was a little tricky finding the entrance, and yes, the narrow winding driveway up is a bit hairy, but once you are there it is worth it: a beautiful site, nicely landscaped, with great views and privacy. The rooms are comfortable and tastefully decorated, the breakfasts (served on the back patio) more than ample. Levanto offers several restaurants, and ample parking at its train station for "doing the CT" by rail and trail. One of your earlier clients noted that it would be helpful to include in the driving directions that you should continue up past the first group of buildings on the drive. We agree. Also, a reminder of the early checkout time of 10 am.
Douglas C.
Dear In Italy,
Thank you for writing! I was going to write you anyway to give you some feedback, but you beat me to it. We stayed in five places in Italy, four booked through you and your excellent website, and one we found ourselves that you might want to include. Except for one incident, the trip was fabulous!!!
Our first stop was Casa Levanto. A wonderful place, isolated up its own narrow, steep drive with view over most of the valley. We also loved Levanto, which had a nice charm, great restaurants, a good beach, and mostly Italian tourists. I also got a great haircut there.
We much preferred it to the Cinque Terre, which we expected to be still active fishing villages but is instead purely a pretty place for loads of tourists. Levanto had no such pretensions.
Thanks for helping us have a wonderful trip! We couldn't have done it without you and your website!
Sincerely,
Rick H.
Dear In Italy,
We were very impressed with your reservation service and would not hesitate to use it again. As far as Casa Levanto, we thought the accomodations were wonderful. It was in an isolated, serene setting with beautiful views. Our room had a surprisingly modern bathroom, deluxe actually, with such great extras as towel warmers and a big , comfy, down comforter to snuggle under when it turned chilly. The morning brought us such goodies as a homemade apricot tart, fruit and toast along with our tea and coffee. This was all prepared and served by a warm and friendly young woman. We were greeted by and conducted all our business with a young man who spoke English very well and who directed us to a nice restaurant for dinner. The unfortunate part of the trip was the weather , which was unending cold rain. We did leave early as it was raining too hard to walk the Cinque Terra. We will return and would stay at Casa Levanto again.
Pat and Walt G.
Dear In Italy,
We recently returned from a week in Italy, where we stayed at two places you reserved for us. Casa Levanto was charming. It was well located for our adventures in the Cinqueterre and several excellent but names not remembered restaurants in Levanto. The breakfast there, served on the terrace overlooking the beautiful hillside, began each day on a high note.
Naomi and Robert S.
Dear In Italy,
We greatly enjoyed Casa Levanto. Giancarlo is a good person, and breakfasts were very good - not necessarily the usual case in Italy. Just let people know when first looking for the that they have to continue up the steep drive, and go past the agrotourist buildings.
Casa Levanto is well situated either for enjoying Levanto, or for driving over the mountain and hiking through the Cinque Terre trails.
Tom T.
Dear Cynthia,
Casa Levanto would have been a lovely place had the weather been nice but it rained the whole time we were there. The farm and farmhouse and the room were very attractive but because of the weather we were unable to enjoy the setting. The downside was the steep winding road from the highway and the muddy parking area. Both were treacherous when wet and in the rain. I would warn future guests to have small front wheel drive cars and to be ready, for it is not straight up as we were advised. With this exception I would highly recommend it.
Sincerely,
Jules R.
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