Villanova - Nature & Wellness

Guests praise the varied, high-quality breakfast and spacious, well-appointed rooms. They appreciate the friendly staff and convenient amenities, while enjoying the serene, nature-filled location.

After comprehensive research about the available accommodations in the vicinity of Cinque Terre, I found the Villanova agriturismo in Levanto, Italy. Once I read about it and saw the pictures on the Villanova website, there was no going back. I booked it for our family of five and we stayed there in May 2025 for eight nights. It could not have been more perfect for our needs. Everything about the Villanova is A1. There is culture, history, gastronomy and scenery. How to adequately describe the scenery from every window at the hotel? Coming from Toronto, a huge and modern megalopolis of some five to six million people, arriving at the Villanova felt like being transported into a magical fairytale village in the mountains. I wasn’t expecting the lush vegetation of the property and its surroundings, all perfectly manicured. And the fragrance of the olive trees, the star jasmine, the mock orange and all the various pines was heavenly. As for the nuts and bolts of the accommodation, it was perfect. The rooms were attractively appointed with antiques, the beds and bedding were lovely, the bathrooms were well equipped and there was plenty of hot water for showers. As for the organic breakfast offered daily, it was so over-the-top wonderful that it bears special mention. A bounteous, delicious repast that we looked forward to every day. And a shout-out to the staff, particularly our delightful and gracious shuttle driver, Giovanna, who took us back and forth from the hotel to town and back. Also, the breakfast staff were efficient, pleasant, quick to deliver everyone’s coffee orders, and completely lovely. I have only one note of caution for North American travellers. In the U.S. and Canada, when there is a hot tub on the premises for the guests’ use, it is generally hot. It was a bit disappointing to have the spa tub merely tepid, especially after a long day walking up the hundreds of stairs of the Cinque Terre towns, and doing 12,000 steps or more. But some of my family members braved the cool water temperatures to get into both pools, and were glad to do so anyway. There was, after all, the scenery to gaze at while there. Thank you to the proprietor, Giancarlo Massola, for his unfailing attention to every detail at the Villanova and for ensuring our family’s stay was perfect. His family’s property is a very special place I hope we can return to one day. MLB, Toronto