Eravamo un gruppo di 8 persone, 6 adulti e 2 bambini che cercava una sistemazione per una breve vacanza agli inizi di settembre. Dopo aver effettuato una ricerca siamo stati attratti da questa struttura vistosi che poteva offrire tutto ció che cercavamo: Servizio alberghiero, ristorazione, piscina, spazio giochi per i bambini e splendida vista sul mare. Devo dire che la realtá corrispose assolutamente a ció che era raffigurato nelle presentazioni. Se aggiungiamo poi che la disponibilitá e la gentilezza mostrataci, da parte di Guglielmo e dei suoi collaboratori,é stata veramente la piú cordiale non possiamo far altro che altamente raccomandare il Casale Villarena. Anche la cucina merita un suo particolare riguardo in quanto é accurata,, gustosa e rispecchia le tradizioni locali. Il fatto che poi sia pure biologica la rende ancora piú apprezzabile. Niente di negativo allora? Sí, un particolare. La posizione sotta la montagna rende impossibile la comunicazione telefonica.....Lo zio che era con noi dovette ogni giorno andare su in piazza col telefonino per poter leggere i suoi messaggi e per poter effettuare le sue importanti telefonate. Se venisse risolto questo problema penso che sarebbe difficile a trovare in questa zona una struttura offerente un rapporto qualitá/prezzo pari a quello del Casale Villarena. Bartolomeo Kovac Ristoranti Pappa Grappa-Svezia

We recently stayed at the Casale Villarena in the villa Garofanella. It was our second visit to the casale - we stayed in the apartment La Vetara 3 years ago and loved it so much we couldn't wait to return. It was great to see the improvements made to the Casale.The gardens are more beautiful than we remembered and they now have a fabulous restaurant. We ate there twice and both meals were wonderful - in particular, the vast selection of antipasta was delicious. Gugliemo and Mario are wonderful hosts. They are both very helpful and nothing was too much trouble for them. They are hugely knowledgeable about the area and are willing to suggest lovely excursions. The Casale is well positioned to be able to explore all the interesting things to do along the Amalfi coast. A car is useful but not essential as there are buses into Sorrento and boats to Capri, Sorrento, Positano, etc. Thank you so much for a fantastic holiday and we hope to be able to return soon.

my fiancee and i booked the whole villa for our parents, siblings, and a few friends (including 3 babies) for our wedding. we were nervous at first about planning all of that online without ever visiting. but the entire week - and especially the wedding - turned out PERFECTLY. the place: the villa itself is absolutely gorgeous. the pictures don't do it the justice of standing in the lemon groves, looking up at the old stone arches, wandering through the twists and corners, and always having a glorious view of the sea from basically anywhere you stand. the rooms were huge (bigger than my apartment in cambridge!), more like grand suites than just a room. they found a fantastic balance between old world rustic charm (so you feel like you're still in another time) while having all of the modern accommodations and conveniences that we've come to expect in the 21st century (clean bathrooms, cable tv, a/c, newer kitchens). the grounds are lovely to stroll through, swim in, and especially just to sit, sip some coffee or limoncello, and enjoy the fresh air and views. the staff: incredible! i felt like everyone that worked there bent over backwards to make us happy and fulfill every little whim. they weren't stuffy or formal at all - just wanted us to enjoy ourselves. the restaurant is called "the joy of doing nothing", and while they make guests feel that doing nothing is great, they are all running around all the time to ensure that everyone is happy and content. Guglielmo (who runs the place) has some great stories; Massimo makes sure that you get what you need, and Mario takes care of all the little things for you. By the time we left, we felt like they were part of the family! the food: i am a bit of a foodie, and am always going through boston to find the best chefs and the best places to eat. and while scampo is a great italian meal, it still an't come close to what they cook at the villa. the food is so simple, but every bite is delectable. if you ask where the food comes from, they point down the road! and it keeps coming and coming and coming and coming. walk a lot if you're eating here; you'll need to burn off all the calories! we originally thought we'd have a few meals there and eat out others, but we ended up having dinner there every night because it was so fantastic. the location: stretch in the morning! it is a lovely walk down the hill to get to the beach (where you get a discount if you mention the villa on chairs). you can drive, but as mentioned above, you need the walk to work off all the food! people took lots of day trips around the area; so many drives, hikes and boat trips are so very close to home. the wedding: words can't describe. Massimo and Guglielmo planned everything, all we did was show up! The location they found was on a point overlooking Capri, and they surprised us with flowers and a lovely setup. they got bouquets, mandoline players, a wonderful justice of the peace, champagne for toasting, a guest book to sign, and all the little extras that made the wedding complete. i have shown pix to friends far and wide, all met with "that looks better than my wedding!!!". i seriously could not posisbly imagine a wedding more perfect than the one they gave us. we even got to go off in a "just married" classic fiat 500. the ONLY reason i would tell anybody not to stay here is because i don't want it to be all booked up for when i go back for my anniversary!

Here in Villarena you can find what you most could get close to Plato's concept of "Idea". Idea of either body and spiritual life. We must admit that everything co-worked in building up our three days of pure-above planet Earth concept. First hint, that is to be said, was the between-the-lines suggestion forwarded by a little image on a wall panel in the resort office, well-known famous image from a greek crater, black&white pattern-style, a real hymn to perfect love, perfect complete love. And there we were from the very start. And the lemon trees, from which we could pick out one1 fat fruit, peel its skin out and prepare in our "Brigante" apartment an old '70s refreshment, the Tropical. Ok, the rest is up to you, tourists-to-come; do not leave behind to have your dinner in their DolceFarNiente at least once; directly from relaxing shower to relaxing table in front of LiGalli and inside a tendering air stream from the sea.

I think we had the best...

I think we had the best appartement on top of the building with a wonderful view to the Gulf of Salerno. The appartement is large and has nice old furnitures. We felt very well and will come back.

Secret Place On The Sorrento Peninsula

Just coming back from our trip to Italy we are very impressed of the excellent service, the delicious meals and the overwhelming kindness, especially to our little daughter at the age of 12 month. The Casale Villarena is a hidden, little residence, located at the far end of the Sorrento Peninsula, surrounded by a nice lemon garden. Our apartment offered everything, we expected and more. We can recommend the Casale without hesitating. Thanks to Amalia and Mario for their immediate help and service, thanks to Guglielmo, who is a fantastic host and cook. We´ll come back. Mariska, Hans and Marieke

The road's end on the Sorrento peninsula

Reflecting on our four weeks in Italy this May, Casale Villarena stands out as the highlight. We booked online and flew Vancouver, Toronto, Rome and then drove a rental Nissan Note direct to Casale Villarena, about a 4 hour trip. Our Garmin Nuvi GPS did very well but for the last couple of kms when the switchback roads sort of overcame its abilities. I had driven in Italy before and had a pretty fair idea of the traffic but nothing can really prepare you for the Naples scene. Having travelled for 23 hours, we arrived. Our host Guglielmo greeted us and since we hadn't eaten suggested dinner in an hour or so at 7:00. We installed ourselves in our suite (10 stairs 5 stairs 12 stairs up) freshened up and walked down to the patio area. Guglielmo, on his own prepared and served a fabulous 4 course meal. That evening set the tone for our week. The road on the Sorrento peninsula ends at Marina de Cantone about 1.5 km past Nerano. (Google Earth can show you the topography). Our suite, three rooms in the Casale had 15 ft domed ceilings, a useful kitchen and a private deck that overlooked the village and the harbour. Each morning over coffee and cereal, we watched the village come to life as commuters (at least 5 people) left for work and the local bus (Sita) bugled its way through the swichbacks TA Dah at each blind turn, the church bell tolled the hours and the halfs and the lemon orchard grew lemons. It is so beautiful it can move one to tears! When we didn't dine at the Casale, Charlot, Massimo's place just up the road was our favourite. We went back three times. Our meals ran to about $100 Canadian for the two of us but in true italian style we have learned to linger over each course and each delicious mouthful dining from 6:30 to 9:30 enjoying choosing and discussing the food and being entertained by the view, ending with a Lemoncello that tastes so apropos in an area loaded with lemon groves. While our evenings were quiet and occupied with dining and conversation, we did day trips to Pompei, Positano and Capri, retreating to the Casale after our forays. We took two hikes, one to the headland above the village and one out to the tip of the peninsula. Getting up on top is very rewarding as both Capri, the whole island, and Vesuvius, the crater, are clearly visible. The Bays of Salerno and Napoli curve across the horizon on their respective sides. We took part in a cooking class one day, Diane cooking and I eating. How nice to do things together! The lesson was really fun and even my Italian Canadian wife learned some new cullinary lore. So - If you are walking fit and seeking a slightly deeper understanding of Italy than the Best Western chain offers - the Casale Villarena offers an unforgetable experience. Travel to the area is slightly challenging (compared to say Cinque Terre which is served by train and shuttle bus) so either take the boat or bus or be prepared to dart and dice along one lane winding roads. I can see it all now in my minds eye, 5 weeks later - it brings a smile.

This was our first visit to the Sorrento Peninsula. Casale Villarena was an excellent choice for us and our three year old son. The villa is in a quiet and scenic location. Our apartment, La Vetara, was well equipped, clean and had terrific sea views from our balcony. It was like being on the film set from Mamma Mia! The evening meals made by Rosa were an absolute bonus. The food was absolutely fantastic - home cooked anti pasta, ravioli, lasagne, all made fresh to order each day with food from Guligimio's farm and washed down with local wine and Limoncello. It was great to return home from our excursions to Capri, Herculaneum, Sorrento, Amalfi etc, and look forward to top class (but very well priced) evening meals in the relaxed atmosphere of the villa.

Estas vacaciones han sido sin lugar a dudas una de las mejores que hemos podido compartir. Nosotros viajamos de Barcelona a Italia con ferry para poder llevar nuestro coche, puesto que habíamos leido que la mejor manera de visitar la costa amalfitana era con vehículo. Al llegar Casale Villarena nos sorprendimos de la gran tranquilidad que había. Es normal, puesto que Nerano es un pueblo de pescadores perchado en la montaña. Cuando nos recibió Guillermo y Giuliano quedamos sorprendidos de la amabilidad y entusiasmo que hechan para que sus huéspedes esten comodos. Finalmente quedamos boquiabertos al ver el apartamento en el que nos ibamos a alojar. Estaba recientemente reformado y la verdad que la decoración era muy bonita. Recomendamos cenar el dia que hagan fish soup en el Casale, ya que es sin lugar a dudas una comida buenísima y el trato recibido es exquisito y muy familiar. La mayoria de los pueblos de la costa amalfitana són preciosos, pero sin lugar a dudas uno de los que más nos gusto fue la Isla de Capri, eso si tendreis que caminar mucho porquè alli no hay vehículos ni transporte público. Buenas Vacaciones! Recuerdos y gracias a Guillermo Sin lugar a dudas volveremos!!! Nora y Hugo

“Saved the Best For Last”

We arrived in Italy 5 weeks ago, this included 14 days on a 5 star ship cruising Italy and France. We didn.t know what to expect on the last leg of our journey and could not believe our good fortune when we arrived at Casale Villarena. The view of the Gulf of Salerno was awe inspiring. Our hosts Guglielmo, Mario and Guiliano could not do enough to make our stay memorable. Rosa and Guglielmo are fantastic cooks and made delicious food for us in the evening under the stars. Mario, quite the entrepeneur his favourite saying is "why not" gave us a special tour of the olive groves where we were able to really experience what it feels like to live and work in the hills of Italy. We were able to tour a processing factory for olive oil and met many of the workers who were so happy to show us their work. All in all it was a wonderful experience, probably one of the best experiences that we had. Mario is an excellent guide and a very generous spirit. We would greatly recommend Casale Villarena to everyone. Diane and Don McKendrick Maple Bay Vancouver Island, British Columbia Canada.