Villa San Raffaello - Sarnano, Provincia di Macerata

Alfa I.

Molto bello ma in restauro post terremoto

fausthaus

Our family reunion at Villa San Raffaello was the highlight of our three weeks in Italy. With its picturesque location in Le Marche, Damien and his family have created a retreat for the senses and the soul. The four unique and charming apartments (in the former farmhouse and barn), have been thoughtfully outfitted to serve as a real home away from home. The interior spaces are designed beautifully to accommodate groups so that our extended family of ten could comfortably gather together in any one apartment. The full kitchens are equipped with everything you could possibly need to cook gourmet meals, and the gorgeous outdoor eating spaces made every meal memorable. Damien has used reclaimed wood to make rustic tables and pergolas, and even tea lights and hanging lanterns have been provided to make those warm evenings all the more magical. The beautiful landscaping gives the grounds an informal atmosphere so that you feel at home hanging out and relaxing there. We spent many hours at the pool with its splendid views of the nearby medieval hilltop village of Sarnano, the organic vegetable garden (which guests are welcome to harvest for their own meals), and suspended from the many hammocks hung in all the best spots to laze away a sunny afternoon. There are amazing views of the mountains from most of the property, and close access to hiking trails and bike routes, while lakes and seaside are only a short drive away. Damien is a warm and affable host and is at the heart of what makes a holiday at Villa San Raffaello such a magnificent experience. A source of infinite suggestions on what to do and where to go, he went out of his way to arrange bicycle rentals for the avid cyclists in our group and had them waiting for us at the villa when we arrived. We had an unbelievable twelve course dinner sourced with all local foods at a hidden-away restaurant we never would have come across on our own, and went to a magnificent opera festival nearby at Damien’s suggestion as well. Damien clearly cares about creating an unforgettable experience for his guests. And he does; we came away from our week at Villa San Raffaello relaxed and rejuvenated, and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Danella W.

We had a fantastic holiday at Villa San Raffaello, staying with our 2 children aged 12 and 14 in one of the two-bedroom apartments. Our friends were staying in the apartment upstairs, so we had the best of both worlds as we could join them for coffee in the morning on their balcony with a fantastic view.

We spent a lot of time at the pool which is a good size and the same depth from one end to the other (ie. stand-up-able-in), enabling some highly competitive games of water polo and pool volleyball. One of the best things about the pool is the incredible views of the mountains – we never tired of it!

The town of Sarnano is lovely – lots of history and medieval buildings along with plenty of shops where you can buy pretty much all you need. However, for a slightly more economical shop, there is a supermarket called Euro Spin just outside the town. There are several good bars and restaurants – the wine is excellent and incredibly cheap! We were lucky enough to have two nights at bars with live music and the locals are very welcoming. One evening we were even treated to some rather interesting outdoor opera with acrobatic performances included – never a dull evening!

The Villa is in a fabulously peaceful location, despite being so close to the town (you definitely need a car!). We would love to return one day and explore more. Damian and his wife Sharon have put their heart and soul into renovating the property and the result is amazing. It’s heart breaking that they cannot now use the larger property due to earthquake damage (something that has afflicted many houses in the area). We hope that the repairs happen soon so that more people can go and enjoy everything this gorgeous place has to offer.

Sean H.

Fantastic five days spent at Villa San Reffaello, La Marche in Italy. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. The villa is in a perfect setting, surrounded by unspoilt Italian countryside and a fantastic view of the hilltop medieval town of Sarnano only a mile or so away, the whole scene is dominated by the stunning backdrop from the Apennine mountains in the distance. The villa itself, once a delapidated farmhouse, has been restored to the highest degree but retains all the characteristics of rustic Italian architecture, complete with Romanesque brickwork arches and a charming stone tiled enclosed courtyard. Modern, spacious and well equipped, the apartments also include original brick archways and overhead wooden ceiling beams along with the stylish up to date kitchens and bathrooms and all the mod-cons of wi-fi, tv, dishwasher and laundry facilities.
The pool is large and child friendly with a breathtaking view of the mountain range above the villa's vineyard as you float in the cooling water or lie on the poolside sunbeds. There are several area's of outdoor eating places within the grounds to suit all needs including a b-b-q pit, all surrounded by idyllic gardens with beautiful planting and shady trees. Kids can play freely without worry, while privacy can be had as there are plenty of places to get away from it all and relax without being disturbed.
There are loads of great places to eat and drink with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere in the picturesque town of Sarnano along with some cute little shops and a range of locally produced food sold in the butchers, bakers and deli's set within the cobbled streets of the historic town.
A short drive away is the amazing lake at Fiestra where we spent a wonderful day swimming in the glacial water and enjoying the views as we walked along the lakeside. I recommend the value for money, authentic pizza sold in the restaurant near the car park. There are loads of good days out to be had in the area which we unfortunately didn't have time to experience in the short time we were there but will be sure to take up when we go there again in the future as we were so impressed with the place and the accommodation on offer at villa San Raffaello. The English, Italian speaking owners, Damian and Sharon were on hand to offer advice and support whenever needed and have a wealth of knowledge about the area and the range of things you can do there.
All in all, it was a fantastic holiday, staying in an amazing place allowing us to experience a country we will never forget and long to go back to. Highly recommended!

Sera C.

If you have never tried a self-catering accommodation before, Villa San Raffaello is the place to go. We had an incredible week of swinging in hammocks in the vineyard, cooking in the rustic kitchen, swimming in the pool, hiking in the mountains, touring the nearby medieval town, and relaxing in a quiet countryside villa. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants a unique and authentic Italian holiday.

carl C.

Great place. A wonderful place to stay.The setting of Villa San Rafaello is simply stunning. We loved having breakfast each morning on our balcony overlooking the beautiful town of Sarnano and the view from the pool to the majestic Sibillini mountains was breathtaking. There is lots of space and a choice of areas to eat al fresco, a fire pit for bar-b-ques and even hammocks strung from the trees in a shaded area. The apartment we stayed in was upstairs over a pretty courtyard. It was well laid out, attractive and was well equipped with everything we needed for a family of 4. The nearby town of Sarnano is well worth exploring and there are lots of good places to eat. The area itself is definitely one I will return to - there is so much to do from walking in the foothills of the mountains (don't miss the natural plunge pool from glacier melt water!) to exploring mountain swimming lakes, nearby towns and villages and even the coast is only about an hour away.

Chaz M.

Having flown into Ancona on very reasonably priced tickets from London, my wife and I and the 2 children picked up the hire car at the airport and in just over an hour we reached our holiday destination.
Wow! what a venue – we were immediately taken back by the beautiful rustic surroundings – breath-taking views of the Sibilini mountains and the picturesque town of Sarnano less than a mile away.
Villa San Raffaello catered for all of our needs - evenings by the fire BBQ’ing taking in the sights and sounds of rural Le Marche. Lunchtimes under the shade of the grape vines in the garden, siestas in a hammock in the afternoon.
Cooling off in the large pool and then relaxing in the shaded areas around the pool overlooking the beautiful scenery while the children played in the water.
Inside the apartments – you are met with a stylish kitchen with all the appliances you need to make your holiday a pleasant experience with music system and wifi to suit - exposed stonework and wooden beams are bonus countrified features evident in most of the rooms. Clean simple bathrooms, comfortable bedrooms with shuttered windows to keep out the heat!
Pizza oven gave us an another option for alfresco dining in the traditionally paved courtyard for those extended mealtime chats and drinking.
Sarnano is a bustling friendly historical town, offering a full range of traditional restaurants and bars to suit, local musicians and performers entertained us on most nights we went out.
There are many options for day trips to other historical places of interest although in our week we had we didn’t feel the need to venture too far out and visit them.
We did venture out to nearby natural waterfalls to cool off on one afternoon and the nearby bright blue water of Lake Fiastra is another great alternative to the pool for a rustic swim and within spitting distance of Villa San Raffaello.
Would I recommend this Villa? – absolutely! (5 stars from us) – we’ll be returning without question!
Thank you Damien and Sharon who were fantastic hosts, fluent in Italian and able to help us and advise us as required.

Andy C.

If you're looking to explore central Italy and you're bored with the usual resorts, I highly recommend a stay at Villa San Raffaello, just outside the town of Sarnano and on the doorstep of the Sibillini National Park in Le Marche.

This is definitely a 'hidden gem'. The English owner Damien has loving converted a typical italian farmhouse into a 4-apartment villa, complete with swimming pool.

The surprise here is the beauty of the villa's location. From the main courtyard there are stunning views of the medieval town of Sarnano with a backdrop of the Sibillini mountains. I certainly didn't expect this as Le Marche is not especially renowned as a tourist area.

If you're into hiking it's got everything - plenty of trails through the forests or into the mountains, plus stunning locations such as Lago Fiastra. If you just want to relax, then you can't beat lying in a hammock amidst the villa's vines, taking in the lovely scenery.

Our host, Damien couldn't have been more amenable during our short stay. The apartment (Grazia) was great and the swimming pool just what we needed after a day's hiking!!

Well recommended.

Oh and by the way, the town of Sarnano has some interesting bars and restaurants, especially a tiny bar called Memphis Belle, located in the Centro Storico - check out the 'wall art'.