Testimonials

Back for more!  Our favourites this time were

• Lago di Fiastra - still one of the top places for Family Partington, two visits this time; lakeside, pedalos, swimming.  Recommend the Osteria close to the lake.
• Ai Pini in Sarnano.  Authentic, local restaurant, good pasta and grilled meat.  Very friendly.
• La Marchigiana - as good as ever, very welcoming to the kids even late in the evening.  Great antipasti, pasta and meat!
• Caves at Frasassi - really took our breath away.  Worth the hour+ drive away.
• Our very own version of water volleyball in the kids' pool in Sarnano.  Indoors, but memorable!
• Football, Italian style, at the top(ish) of Sassotetto - glorious sunshine, but the wind made it something of a lottery... (bitter Bristol Rovers fan)
• La Castellana restaurant - exceptional pasta and grilled meat
• and, of course, Da Marino - pizza, pizza, pizza, plus table football, relaxed style...

Harry, Maggie, Ewan, Robin & Hannah Partington, Bristol
22nd August 2008

Spent ten days exploring a real piece of Italy.  Many wonderful sights, old towns, the mountains, lakes, ways of life.  The lake at Fiastra had three visits from us.  Frank and Nicki have done a grand job at Villa Borghetti.  Must have been a lot of work?  All the restaurants we visited were super, good food and value for money.  Very hot while here at 35 degrees centigrade most days.  Visited the coast three times, at Porto San Giorgio, Civitanova Marche and San Benedetto, all clean and good for swimming.  The restaurant/pizzeria called Bar Sassotetto was very good.  Home-made pizza, by the supermarket on road to Sassotetto.  Il Colle at Gabella Nuova also very good.
Peter Blight & Family, Hordle, Lymington, Hampshire
7th August 2008

A stunning part of Italy - the locals are friendly and the food lovely.  Even Italian storms are more fun!
Lizzie Cox, Edington, Wiltshire
6th July 2008

We had a wonderful week in a charming house and a beautiful region of Italy.  Some of the things we enjoyed doing (all based on the information folder) were

• The cross-country walk to Sarnano (about 75 minutes) with great views of the old town.
• Sarnano - a real delight.  The old quarter is a real gem and service in shops/restaurants friendly and welcoming.
• The mountain drive and Lake Fiastra were both stunning with nerves tested on only a few occasions.
• Adriatic coast - visited Civitanova Marche and Porto San Giorgio but much preferred Cupra Marittima with its old fashioned quality.
• Hill top towns - our favourite was San Ginesio, a beautiful place.
• We ate at La Marchigiana (excellent), Il Colle (homely/friendly, good pasta), La Belle Epoque (also v. good pasta), La Castellana (great agnello).

Brian Wilkinson and Helena Pessi-Wilkinson, Winchester, Hampshire
5th June 2008

Sarnano is a lovely town and the setting is very peaceful.  Views excellent on a good day.  Despite the rain we did get out and about and can recommend Amandola as being both picturesque and manageable with a four year old in tow.
Elaine, Phil and Alex Carr, Cambridgeshire
22nd May 2008

Weather rather 'iffy' so have enjoyed quaffing the vino rosso and devouring the antipasti.  Going home to diet!  Spectacular scenery especially the snow-capped Sibillini mountains complete with autumn colour.  Evenings spent by a roaring fire at La Marchigiana restaurant.  Excellent food and good service.  We will be back to experience the sun!
Ken and Judi Gornall, Annette and Graham Williams, Kent
26th October 2007

This is our third visit to Le Marche at this time of year.  Once again weather has been great.  Peaceful surroundings of the house only interrupted by the local owl on his nightly patrol.  Sarnano is a lovely little town with plenty of little shops to explore.
Brenda and Edward Tallent, Hildenborough, Kent
24 September 2007

Really enjoyed our stay and the scenery around Sarnano.  We did sample the local bars but preferred just sitting on the deck, chatting and watching the fireflies... oh, and sipping the odd glass.  Lago Fiastra was a real spectacle.  We had two very pleasant evenings in Il Vicolo and got on very well with the owner that looked like Ilie Nastase.  We would very much like to go back some day.
Pete Townsend, Wiltshire
7th July 2007

It's really cool here!  Very pretty view in Borghetti and it's so sunny in the mornings.  I loved the food at all the restaurants we ate at, and it is very peaceful here.  Had so much fun with everyone.  We must do another jigsaw!  Definitely want to come back.
Josie Carter (age 15), Wiltshire
7th April 2007

The villa looks lovely and we very much enjoyed having the terrace to sit on and look over the garden.  We have looked round the National Park, which had wonderful views and very little traffic.  One of the highlights was the visit to the caves at Frasassi le Grotte, which had very impressive stalagmites and stalactites, and a huge main cavern.  Otherwise, we spent a lot of time pottering around.  We have seen lots of wildlife including two deer in the fields close to the villa.  We also saw a long black snake, basking in the road near Caldarola.  Otherwise, lots of lizards, crickets, grasshoppers and bats but just a few birds, largely jays.
The Taylors, Kent
31st August 2006

Ferragosto was an excellent time to be in Sarnano.  We've seen everything from impressive flag-throwing to role play to catwalks and stand-up!  Enjoyed the food at Il Vicolo so much that we had to go back for more delicious pasta under the vines and loved the view from the bar on the main piazza and the homemade ice cream at the little gelateria.  We also managed an action-packed day trip to Rome and an afternoon at the beach.  More than anything, though, we were grateful for the peace and tranquillity we found at Villa Borghetti.  Grazie mille!
Damian, Liam and Oliver Conway and Sarah, Battle, East Sussex
17th August 2006

A restful week at Wildlife Park Villa Borghetti.  A wonderful black squirrel in the mulberry tree, lots of lizards, a snake, many birds (including eagles in the mountains) most of which we can't name and at night the owl, bats and the fireflies (and a stoat, at 1815 on our last evening).  We were blessed with glorious weather - sun every day and temperatures up to 36C!  Sarnano is an enchanting town - we'd recommend the drive from Sarnano up past Sassotetto via Bolognola and on to Lake Fiastra and back round to Villa B.
Simon and Judith Hook, Chesham, Bucks
30th June 2006

It snowed hard over the mountains today - the tops are covered in snow - but last weekend it was 30C!  We've had a fantastic time and love the town and Villa Borghetti - we're looking forward to our next visit.
Rose and Graeme Pearce and Aunt Peg, Whitchurch on Thames, South Oxon.
1st June 2006

Scenery and views are amazing, the mountains are beautiful.
Theresa, Kevin and Andrew Nutman and Leanne McCauley, Southampton
7th February 2006

Had a wonderful holiday in a superb setting.  The weather wasn't brilliant, but the views on a clear day are magnificent!  Local restaurants wonderful, people very friendly, Sarnano very pretty.  Little hill-top towns - Monte San Martino, Penna San Giovanni, Gualdo - very picturesque.  Adriatic coastline - lovely!  Porto San Giorgio, Pedaso and Cupra Marittima especially pretty.
Barbara, Kathryn and Rita, Herts, London and Manchester
23rd September 2005

Back in Blighty and already pining for that morning view up to Sassotetto. We did have a good time at Villa Borghetti - very relaxed and slow moving, just what we wanted. Got used to popping into Sarnano for a mooch, bit of lunch or a late afternoon gelato. We loved the region and all your recommendations - restaurants, outdoor and indoor pools etc. were tried and approved. We shall certainly return, subject to availability of course!
Harry Partington, Bristol
3rd September 2005

We love Villa Borghetti! You really have done a great job. Robin, 5th birthday today, says it's the best house in the world and he wants to live here!
Harry Partington, Bristol
12th August 2005