| Date | Rating | Comment
[Guest Comments: 59 positive, 0 negative]
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| 07/19/08 |
Positive
|
| What a WONDERFUL place to stay!! Warm and welcoming hosts and grounds. Lovely apartments. Alvaro and Rosalba are fun and helpful with any need you have, as are Andrea and Cheryl, who handle the arrangements in the States. I stayed the first week of June with my 5 children - my husband had to return to the states for work. The train to and from Roma is an easy walk. The gardens are full of flowers and fruit. It's lovely. I chose this spot so that when the kids got tired of history and art we could go to the beach. It worked perfectly. I very highly recommend Villa Rosalba for anyone who would prefer to see more than just the sights of Roma. |
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Jim and Cathy Addison, Kemp, TX
9034984940 |
|
| 06/27/08 |
Positive
|
We, a family of four, stayed a week in Villa Rosalba in June. I can't find a single complaint.
The apartment was clean, well-equipped and spacious. Rosalba and Alvaro were nice and helpful. Alvaro drove us to the tennis club and restaurants in his mini van. Thanks once more!
Situated in a quiet residential area, but very close to the railway station, Villa Rosalba is an outstanding base to visit Rome and Lazio. We went to Rome, Civitavecchia and Tarquinia by train. Convenient and cheap.
There's not much to do in Santa Marinella. It's only a few minutes' walk to the the beach (with surprisingly clean water), though. A supermarket with no siesta (open 8am to 8pm)is a major plus.
The restaurants are reasonably good, but do take a dictionary with you when going out for a dinner.
We can warmly recommend Villa Rosalba. |
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Janne Rantanen, Rauma, Finland |
|
| 05/23/08 |
Positive
|
We just got back from spending 2 weeks in Italy, 1 week on the Amalfi Coast which was absolutely breathtaking and the 2nd week May 3rd-11th at Villa Rosalba. We took our 2 children and their spouses and our grandaughter to show them there roots. Right from the start Cheryl and Andre where great in helping us set up our reservations, answering questions and making sure we had grib and high chair available for the baby.
What a great place to spend a vacation, the train station is 5 minutes away and makes travelling in and out of Rome very easy so no need to drive. They have a food store just around the corner that has everything you need. We highly recommend the fresh bread.
We rented both units, the kids and spouses and Sophia had the downstairs, and Ed and I the top unit.The villa is very spacious, clean and well equiped. They thought of everything. The pictures really don't do it justice. Upon our arrival Rosalba had fresh bread homemade lasagna and fruit tart ready for us. After a long drive it was great not to have to cook. Rosalba spoiled us throught the week with her homemade tiramisu, cookies and other goodies along with fresh fruit picked from their trees. I recommend her homemade marmalade, delicious. We shared dinner and stories one night and they treated us to some homemade lemoncello and orangecello made from fruit from their trees 'excellent'.
Ed and I took the night tour to Rome they offered. Alvaro is so knowlegeable about Italy and the places they took us to see. You could tell he loved telling us about it. We took many very beautiful night shots which we will be sharing with them.
I can't say enough about Villa Rosalba, from the beautiful gardens which they take great pride in, to Alvaro and Rosalba who welcome you like family into there home. You can tell they really love what they do.
Thank you for helping to make our stay memorable. We all had a great time, and hope to get back some day.
Ed and Pam Frattaroli, Jenna and Ed, Stephen, Natali and Baby Sophia |
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Ed and Pam Frattaroli, Allison, Ontario, Canada
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|
| 05/19/08 |
Positive
|
To Rosalba, Alvaro and Benjie.
During the month of May 2008 we stayed at Villa Rosalba with our 6 month old daughter Sophia along with my parents and sister and her husband. Upon our arrival we received a fantastic home-cooked meal (which was very well received after a very long drive). The home was spacious, clean and very comfortable. It allowed us the opportunity to cook our own meals, and the train station nearby allowed us easy access to Rome (only a 40 min. trip to S.Pietro). The town of Santa Marinella is well situated on the coast and it is very easy to navigate to many of the local attractions in Tuscany or to even take a trip to Siena or Florence.
Above all else, the hospitality on display by Rosalba and Alvaro was second to none. Many days we were treated to home cooked desserts, and I know my parents enjoyed the tour of Rome by night. I will recommend your wonderful home to everyone I can because you really added to our vacation and left us with some great memories.
Thank you again for your cooking and friendship!
Steve, Natali, & Sophia. |
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Steve Frattaroli, Toronto Ontario
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|
| 05/02/08 |
Positive
|
Dear Rosalba and Alvaro and Benjie-
Thank you and Grazie for a wonderful week at Villa Rosalba. We were three generations of women who felt safe, secure and well fed! The girls had a wonderful experience to see what it is really like to live in Italy, and are looking to come back to do a semester abroad! We loved the special dinner you cooked for us including the Artichokes Judea and the lovely wine. Our private tour to Pompeii was a highlight of our trip, as well as our last night send-off Gelatto in Civitavecchia. We recommend you to anyone who is traveling to Italy for the first or 10th time - such a pleasure and you are a wonderful family.
We hope to be back again with more of the family soon!
Karen, Sandra, Taylor and Kayla |
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Karen, Groton MA USA
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|
| 03/26/08 |
Positive
|
My wife and I went to Italy with two other couples
hoping for a wonderful vacation. Not only did we
have a wonderful vacation, we had one of the best
vacations of our lifetime. The reason our trip was so
special, was the hospitality and kindness of Rosalba
and Alvaro. From the moment that Alvaro and
Rosalba met us at the airport, we knew we were in
for a very special experience. We arrived at the villa
to a wonderful home cooked meal. After a long day
of travel, it was nice to get our first taste of the
wonderful Italian cuisine. After a Limoncello
nightcap, we retired to our villa for some much
needed sleep. The next evening, we went on the
Roma by Night tour that Alvaro and Rosalba
offered. Do not miss this tour, as Rome is very
beautiful at night. The stories and history that
Alvaro provided and the easy pace (piano piano)
were just perfect. As we watched tour bus after tour
bus hurriedly passing by the sites we enjoyed each
and every site at our own pace. Well worth every
cent we spent.
Villa Rosalba was a wonderful location for visiting
Rome. We were only a short 5-minute walk and a
cappuccino away from the train station that took us
to downtown Rome. We were also only a 10-minute
walk from the beach and shopping. The villa was
wonderful and such a relaxing place to come back
to every evening. For one week, it was our home.
On our second day, we took a cooking class from
Rosalba. Rosalba took us to the market and to local
farmers to get fresh produce. She taught us about
the local cuisine, customs and traditions. We then
made a meal that gave us a true taste of Italian
food. Benissimo!
We also took the Civita DiBagnoregio and
OrvietoTour. That was a beautiful and thoroughly
enjoyable tour. I would highly recommend any and
every tour that is offered.
On our last day, had a problem with our rental
vehicle for our second week in Tuscany. Alvaro
spent several hours securing another vehicle for us.
He then drove us up to Tuscany to pick up the
rental and made sure we made it to our next
destination. Along the way, he gave us a wonderful
tour of Sienna.
After a week in Tuscany, Alvaro and Rosalba drove
to the villa, picked us up and helped us return the
rental. It was so nice to see them again. We had a
leisurely ride back to Villa Rosalba stopping by the
beautiful town of Capalbio for a meal of Cinghiale
(wild boar) roasted in a wood oven. After our meal
and some sightseeing, we rode back to Villa
Rosalba where we had a wonderful meal prepared
by Rosalba. We then toasted our wonderful hosts
with one last shot of limoncello (or orangecello) and
we were off to the airport for our long journey
home.
It was truly the most memorable trip we have ever
taken. It was made memorable by the kindness and
hospitality of Alvaro and Rosalba. Any trip to Italy
would not be complete without a stay at Villa
Rosalba.
|
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Mark, North Dakota
701-952-1392 |
|
| 12/02/07 |
Positive
|
We just returned from our first trip to Europe, which was the trip of a lifetime, in large part due to our gracious hosts, Rosalba and Alvaro.
Santa Marinella was a perfect location for our family since we traveled back and forth to Rome on a regular basis during our visit. The train was incredibly convenient to our location, and very easy to use. Villa Rosalba was perfect for our group of 7. Our family of 5 rented the upstairs apartment while Grandma and Aunt Linda rented the downstairs. The villa was warm and comfortable -- a home away from home. The garden was beautiful, even in November, with oranges and lemons from their trees just in season. Our youngest loved meeting Bejimino Franklin (Benji), Rosalba and Alvaro's enthusiasticly friendly dog.
Our family has commented many times that a trip to Villa Rosalba is like going to visit the Italian relatives we didn't know we had. They immediately took us in and made us feel like family. Anything we wanted they were more than happy to help us with. They provided transportation for us to the airport (including big hugs upon arrival and departure). We asked them to take us on a tour of Siena (which was magical), and of Santa Marienella (which was incredibly interesting and the food was amazing).
Rosalba's cooking was out of this world. The lasagna and marmalade tart (made with her homemade peach marmalade using peaches from her own tree) the first day were wonderful; the suppli (Italian delicacy) was delicious; and the beautiful apple cake she made was as eye-catching as it was delicious. They also took us to the grocery store shortly after we arrived. We enjoyed our visits to their home (just next door to Villa Rosalba) along with the traditional homemade limoncello and orangecello.
They were very kind in extending an invitation to our oldest son, studying in Rome this semester, to visit if he wanted to, and to come for their 5-hour Christmas dinner. Since he'll be back in Iowa over Christmas, he was unable to accept, but the intivation is another example of their generosity.
We will always remember with great fondness our wonderful trip to Villa Rosalba, and we highly recommend this wonderful destination to others.
Thank you, Rosalba and Alvaro, for your amazing hospitality. We hope to return someday. |
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The Terpstra's, Lynnville, Iowa |
|
| 11/18/07 |
Positive
|
As I put my photo album together from our mid September trip to Italy, I am filled with warm feelings and wonderful memories. We were at Villa Rosalba from Sept 18th -26th and it was too short a time. From the moment Alvaro picked us up from the airport in Rome, we felt we were going to have a special experience.
The apartment is spacious, clean and so much more comfortable than the cramped hotel rooms we have stayed in on other trips to Italy. After having traveled all the previous day and all night we were exhausted. Rosalba had a hot meal in the oven for us and a cake to snack on. Alvaro took us immediately to the local grocery store so we could stock up and not have to worry about anything until we rested up. Already we felt like family!
After a few hours of rest, we meandered down to Rosalba’s “summer kitchen” in her beautiful fruit tree filled yard and were immediately invited in for a glass of wine and conversation. The conversation lasted well into the night and by the time we went back to our apartment we felt we had made life long friends. From that time forward we had the best vacation ever. This was my husband and my third trip to Italy and our adult daughter’s first trip. We took advantage of the day trips described on their web page and went to Tarquinia the first day. It was lovely. The Etruscan tombs and the museum are wonderful and give a very vivid picture of the lives of the pre-Roman civilization. We had lunch at a wonderful little restaurant which had delicious fresh seafood and (of course) excellent wine. Alvaro knows his wines and loves to share his vast knowledge with you. We also went on the Lake Bracciano and Odescalchi Castle trip. The Odescalchi Castle was where Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes were married a few years back and the whole area and lake are very beautiful and worth the trip. I think one of our favorite trips was to Civita di Bagnoregio and Orvieto. Don’t miss this trip: it is spectacular. Both places were featured on one of the Rick Steves show on Italian hill towns. We also visited the Cereveteri winery and got an excellent tour. They are opening a new restaurant there that looks to be quite nice. It is a great place to buy wine for the trip home…or for any other occasion. My daughter and I took the “Rome at Night Tour” and loved seeing the buildings and monuments lighted up. Our pictures were spectacular. It is possible to schedule a non advertised trip with Alvaro if his schedule permits. We did and chose to go to Siena because our daughter had not been there. We had a fabulous day as Siena is so lovely and there is so much to see. As you can see, we had a most memorable trip made very special by the treatment we received from Rosalba and Alvaro. We hope to go back and highly recommend you take advantage of a very special opportunity.
Feel free to call or e-mail us if you want.
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Caesar and Paula Ricci, Dallas, Texas
469-233-6251 |
|
| 11/05/07 |
Positive
|
This was a nostalgic return for three sisters and a friend. Our visit was the last week of September. The weather was warm and sunny. Santa Marinella was our home for a year in 1960. The return did not disappoint and we thank Rosalba and Lavaro for making this visit a wow! Lavaro met us wearing a North Dakota sweatshirt [all four of us are graduates of either NDSU or UND]. Rosalba had a meal oven ready; it was great.
The town has grown but the people remain most simpatico. Vilarosalba is a very short walk from the train station,yet the train noises are less than those a half mile from my Wisconsin farm.
From the welcome meal, fruit from their garden and additional snacks we were made to feel like treasured guests [loved that apple cake!].
Future guests, take advantage of their van and tours! They tailor the trips to your tastes, do the driving and the parking! WOW
Like many of their former guests; we truly hope that one day these hosts can visit us at our homes in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Washington. |
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Mary Roche, Columbus WI |
|
| 07/14/07 |
Positive
|
Our extended family of 6 has just returned from a wonderful 2-week
stay at Villa Rosalba, and it was truly a perfect location for our vacation!
Villa Rosalba is a very short walk from Santa Marinella's beautiful sandy beach,
and just a few blocks from the local train station (on a direct line to Rome).
The town of Santa Marinella is picturesque, with gorgeous flowers everywhere, friendly residents, and several very good restaurants and markets within an easy walk (we are still dreaming about the wonderful
local seafood). There's a little cafe up the street where we went for cappucino and freshly baked rolls and pastries every morning. The Villa itself is spacious, immaculately clean, and well-equipped, with an unbelievably beautiful garden (the photos on the website really don't do it justice ... there are lemon, peach, and plum trees, a small vineyard, a small vegetable garden, and every flower under the sun).
We spent several days sightseeing in Rome, several days relaxing at the beach, and we went on some of the fabulous tours offered by Villa Rosalba's hosts, Alvaro & Rosalba. They took us to Tivoli (Villa Adriana & Villa D'Este) one day, and to Ostia Antica and Lake Bracciato another day (with a tour of a local olive oil and wine factory).
However, the most special part of our stay at Villa Rosalba was the generosity
and warmth of the owners, Alvaro and Rosalba, who live in a detached unit on the property. Their English is very good, and they gave us sightseeing advice, helped us with train timetables and recommended the small hill town of Frascati for a picturesque day trip.
Rosalba and Alvaro have perfected the art of warm hospitality without being the least bit instrusive. They picked us up from the airport, so there was no need to rent a car, and even spontanteously offered to drive us to a nearby park so that our 8-year-old could play soccer with the local kids! Rosalba had a warm meal waiting for us on our first night, with her handmade lasagne, spinach canneloni, and a fabulous fruit tart. They brought over freshly grilled antipasti one evening, invited us to join them for Rosalba's homemade limoncello another night (from her own lemon trees), and invited us over for an al freso 5-course local seafood meal on our last night! They are incredibly warm and friendly, without ever being "in your face". Rosalba and Alvaro truly represent the best of Italian generosity, the Villa is beautiful,
the town has every convenience and is well situated for sightseeing. We can't recommend Villa Rosalba highly enough! |
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Lisa & Ken Drexler, Potomac, MD
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| 07/13/07 |
Positive
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| We returned from our time in Italy on June 11th. It is not possible to put into words how wonderful our visit to Villa Rosalba was. This was, by far, our best vacation destination ever. Rosalba and Alvaro were always available for advice, guidance and pointers on how to best experience the area. Alvaro is knowledgeable and passionate (and a great source of information) about his Italy. Don't miss the Limoncello (you will be hooked!!) The arrival meal was probably the best food we've ever tasted and more appreciated than Rosalba could know. The tour options are fantastic and should be taken advantage of if at all possible. Roma by night was spectacular, uncrowded and far different than the Rome you see during the day. The pizza place in Civitavecchia is a true taste of Italy and not to be missed; unlike any American version you've ever tasted. Rosalba even picked the fixings for a fresh salad right out of her garden for us one night at dinner. Be sure to bring your kids so Benjamino (their lovely little dog) has someone to chase! We feel like we have met long-lost family in Italy and hope to visit with them again soon. We would be happy to correspond with anyone that may be considering this wonderful place for their visit to Italy...we cannot say enough good things about this place and these people. |
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Tina Hanson, New Castle, Colorado
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| 06/20/07 |
Positive
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Our family of five spent the week of 6/8/07-6/15/07 at Villa Rosalba and we cannot say enough good things about our experience! Alvaro and Rosalba welcomed us as family and the villa and gardens were beautiful. We strongly recommend the tours they offer in the region. We had originally only booked the Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoreggio tour, but after spending a wonderful day with them in the beautiful Italian countryside, we quickly added the Roma by Night tour for our last evening. This tour ended with us sipping cappuccino under the stars at midnight as we all took in the breathtaking view of Rome from Gianicolo Hill! An experience not to be missed!
We should note that in the past few months, Alvaro has purchased an eight passenger Fiat van with picture windows. It is perfect for touring larger families. We also found Santa Marinella to be very conveniently located for day trips to Pisa (2 hours to the north with no train changes) and Florence (2 1/2 hours away with a train change in Rome). On our final morning, we took advantage of Alvaro's airport shuttle service to Ciampino airport in Rome, a comfortable ride that saved us more than two hours of train and bus transfers.
We loved Villa Rosalba and have already recommended it to our frineds. Alvaro and Rosalba's English is good and we enjoyed every moment we spent with them. |
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David and Laurie Yost, Pinetop, Arizona
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| 06/11/07 |
Positive
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| Our family of 5 stayed at Villa Rosalba for only 4 nights – it was not long enough. The Villa was beautiful and comfortable, but the best thing about it was Alvaro, Rosalba and their puppy, Benji. Rosalba had a wonderful dinner prepared for us for our first night there and also brought over a “taste of Italy” on another night. We felt that we were able to get a glimpse into true Italian life, unlike anything you would get at a hotel. The train station was a very short distance away and the trip to Roma Termini took about an hour. From there you could get to just about anywhere in Italy – we went to Pompeii one day. We hope that we have a chance to go back and stay with them again in the future. |
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David and Sheri Jenkins |
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| 04/18/07 |
Positive
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| We were able to spend five lovely days at Villa Rosalba with Alvarro and Rosalba. The Villa was spacious for the six of us traveling together. Our hosts, Rosalba and Alvarro, went out of their way that we had a great time. From the homemade limoncello, to the lasagna, to the suppli, everything was delicious. We were able to enjoy the early evening after the craziness of Rome on the front patio, with the delectable scent of orange blossoms! It truly was a memorable experience and we thank them heartily! |
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Kristin, Antioch, IL
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| 03/16/07 |
Positive
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| My husband and I stayed here last summer and could not have been more pleased with the accomodations. On that topic, the photo of villa rosalba does not to the villa justice AT ALL. Alvero and Rosalba were the nicest people we met while in Italy, and the little town is lovely. The train ride into Rome is so very convenient. I could not recommend a better place to stay or nicer people to spend time with. |
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Sue, Phoenix, AZ
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| 02/02/07 |
Positive
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We can not improve much on what many have said. We spent 3 weeks in Italy (our 3rd trip there) and we enjoyed it all. We stayed in hotels, B&B's and the Villa Rosalba. Only two of the places were extremely special & memorable. One of the B&B's in Tuscany and the Villa. Everyone comments on Alvero & Rodsalba's hospitality. It is the best ever.
On our arrival my son & I took turns going nuts with driving in Roma that I was ready to collapse when we finlaly arrived. Rosalba calmed us down with her homemade limoncello made from her own trees. The Villa is very nice, the gardens lovely but Rosalba's cooking is 4 star great. To say they went the extra mile is not enough. My lovely wife is in a wheelchair and I had a bit of a problem getting up the steps, & upon our return to the Villa the second day Alvero had a cement ramp poured for us. WoW!. Because of the wheelchair we could not take the train & I wanted no more of Roman driving, Alvero became our driver and guide as well as having the police take us right in to the Vatican & Museum with no waiting in line. He was great although I wasn't sure how much it was to help us or how much fun he was having driving our Jaguar which was 3 times the size of his car. Just kidding, Alvero. It is also nice to make your arrangements through their son, Andre right here in the US in English. If you are going to stay at the Villa, be sure & reserve Paola if you want a guide, at least 6 weeks in advance. She is very bright and speaks very good English. We ahve traveled all over the world and I have taken the time to write something like this only one other time. The only BAD thing I am going to tell you is that Rosalba got me hooked on Limencello and I am sipping some as I wite this. You will not regreat make these lovely people your friends. We are taking a transatlantic cruise next May to North Africa, Morroco, Barcelona, Corsica and ending up in Civitavechia, Italy and hope I can get Alvero & Rosalba to come join us for dinner, before we fly home the next morning. |
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Pat & Carolyn Fedde, Broken Arrow, OK
918-451-2769 |
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| 01/31/07 |
Positive
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| My two children Chris and Annie - ages 16 and 14 respectively - and I recently spent 3 weeks at the Villa Rosalba. We were there from December 16, 2006 through January 6, 2007. We definitely DID NOT want to leave! Rosalba and Alvaro were absolutely wonderful, and ever since we have arrived back home we realize how much we miss them and how much we enjoyed their company - they had a marvelous sense of humor, they were very loving towards my two children, they were always helpful, extremely generous with their time, and most hospitable. I can honestly say that Rosalba went out of her way to make us feel at home and she succeeded in making us feel like family! She helped me with grocery shopping - we ate most of our meals at the apartment - invited me to her beautiful little house for many cups of coffee and fed all three of us on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve with the most incredible feasts of Italian food that I have ever experienced! Rosalba cooked so much delicious food that we sat down to Christmas dinner at 1:00 p.m. and didn't get up from the table again until 5:00 p.m.!! On New Year's Eve we had another one of Rosalba's exceptional meals, and then we celebrated the arrival of the New Year out in their garden under the lemon trees waving sparklers and having a spectacular time!! We took them up on several of their offers to tour historical sites and areas nearby - all at very reasonable rates, and when I happened to mention to Rosalba that I had been to Assisi almost forty years ago and loved it, she promptly went to Alvaro and asked him if he would like to drive us all there for a visit!! We set out at 8:00 a.m. stayed until well after dark and were treated to sandwiches which Rosalba had made the night before!! It was a most delightful and memorable day, and I think we laughed almost all the way back to Villa Rosalba in our two hour drive in the car!! I also have to add that the apartment was lovely, very clean, large and sunny, and we arrived to find a Christmas tree in the living room and Christmas lights out on the balcony! We loved Santa Marinella, we loved Villa Rosalba, and more than anything we loved Rosalba and Alvaro...We were truly sad to leave and I don't think we will ever stop talking about our trip to Italy...!! |
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Nancy Richardson, Baltimore, MARYLAND
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| 10/28/06 |
Positive
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We just returned from spending two weeks at Villa Rosalba. We and our friends rented both the lower and the upper apartments. The units are beautiful and absolutely spotless. We slept 6 comfortably in each unit.
Villa Rosalba is in Santa Marinella, a beach community about 40 minutes by train from St. Peter's Square, 60 minutes from Roma Termini, the main station in Rome. The train station in Santa Marinella is, literally, 200 yards from Villa Rosalba, and the trains going to Rome stop in Santa Marinalla twice each hour. We went into Rome about half the days we were at Villa Rosalba. The rest of the time we stayed in Santa Marinella and just relaxed.
Most of us went on a tour of the Etruscan area near Tarquinia. The tour was led by our knowledgeable hosts, Alvaro and Rosalba Pomante. It was a great day in uncrowded areas of Italy that deserve more historical attention than they get. The cost of the day-long tour was very reasonable, and we recommend it to visitors in the area.
But the best part of staying at Villa Rosalba was getting to know Alvaro and Rosalba. It was a fabulous experience to get learn about their Italy from them. Alvaro and I talked about all sorts of things, just like long-time neighbors. They are interesting, funny, generous people. It seemed, truly, that they couldn't do enough kind things for us. They were absolutely faithful about meeting us and retuning us to the airport on time. We had dinner together several times. They are a great couple who obviously enjoy each other's company, as well as the company of their guests at Villa Rosalba. I was sorry to leave them, and I hope to see them again somday.
Ciao, Alvaro and Rosalba!!
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Craig Ziegler, Granville, OH
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| 10/07/06 |
Positive
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I stayed a Villa Rosalba the last week of September, 2006. It was our first trip to Italy. Rosalba and Alvaro made our staty memorable. The villa is unbelievable. It has evrything you need. It was so wonderful to stay in Santa Marinella. It is an absolutely beautiful seaside town. We travleled to Rome and Florence from Santa Marinella. The train station to the Termini in Rome is 5 minutes away. Our last night Rosalba nad Alvaro treated us to homemade Tiramisu and Limoncello. I have already recommended Villa Rosalba to people I know who are interested in visiting Italy. A TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE
Thank you Rodalba and Alvaro
Pat, Mary and Kathy |
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Pat Burke, Massachusetts
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| 09/29/06 |
Positive
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| Carol and I had a wonderful time at Villa Rosalba and would recommend it to anyone. We travel to Italy once a year for 4 to 6 weeks and Villa Rosalba ranks with the best villas we have rented. Rosalba and Alvaro are very gracious hosts and made us feel very welcome. Santa Marinella is a lovely sea town with good restaurants, friendly people and great access to Rome, Civitavecchia and many other places via the train which is within walking distance of the villa. Villa Rosalba is definitely on our list of places to which we would like to return. |
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John & Carol Irwin, Naples, Florida |
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| 08/05/06 |
Positive
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Stop looking. I know, before you commit to renting a villa there is always that hesitation, "is it what I expect?...is it all everyone says?" In this case it is more! What a wonderful place and most of all, what wonderful people! Charming, clean, comfortable, quintisentially Italian with a wonderful balcony overlooking their wonderful garden and fruit trees and the hosts could not be more gracious and genuine people.
Our needs were considerable, as my wife and I have 5 children, ages 12 and under and we were staying for 8 nights. Not only did Villa Rosalba meet our family's needs but the spirit of service, genuine helpfulness, and good cheer were all we received from Rosalba and Alvaro. These are truly good people---honest, informative, caring. They are now promiment in our travel photo album as they treated and took to our children like their own.
If you are looking, stop; if you are wondering, don't; this is the place. If you want reasonable proximity to Rome but a chance to escape the city too (the train is 1 block away for a 50 minute ride to the city) then stay in this lovely place with these wonderful people. |
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Jamie & Debbie |
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| 08/04/06 |
Positive
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We (our family plus our sister and brotherin law and niece) stayed at the villa July 17-25 and had a fantastic time! The accommodations were perfect for the 6 of us. The two girls had their own room and then each of us had our own room with plenty of closet space. The villa is conveniently located near the train station (a 5 min walk) so we were able to get to Rome each day. It does take about an hour on the train though because of all the stops along the way. But it's a good way to relax and enjoy the country side and not have to worry about driving. Alvaro and Rosalba were wonderful hosts, providing us with homemade lasagne and fruit tart when we arrived. We also were able to experience Rosalba's bruschetta, fried mozzarella, and homemade cheesecake (to die for!) The beach is fabulous and the water is around 84 degrees. It was nice to have a place to relax after coming home from the craziness of Rome! Thank you again for a great time.
Allen and Cari |
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Allen and Cari Zarou, Folsom, CA USA
916-984-8111 |
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| 08/01/06 |
Positive
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| My husband and I brought our four children to Italy the week of July 8-15th. Villa Rosalba worked perfectly for us as it was clean, comfortable, and the kindness shown to us by our lovely hosts was unbeatable. Our family visited Rome and Siena and my favorite day was spent on the lovely beach of Santa Marinella. Thanks for a wonderful introduction to Italy. We will be back! |
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Dawn Lantero, Hinsdale, Illinois USA
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| 07/10/06 |
Positive
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| We went as a family of six and left as a family of eight. Alvaro and Rosalba became a part of our family and we felt like we were a part of their family. We visited Mossimo's store down the road every day and cooked dinner every night. Staying at Villa Rosalba allowed us to experience life in Italy. The Villa is beautiful and wonderfully located. We felt at home. Alvaro and Rosalba took us on the Santa Marinella tour our first day in Italy. What a great way to start off our trip. We stayed for 10 days in the beginning of May and it is a fantastic time of the year to live in Italy. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our stay. We have nothing but positive moments and memories of our stay and look forward to when we will return. |
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The Pagano's, Fairfax, VA
703-817-1227 |
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| 07/09/06 |
Positive
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| We had the pleasure of staying at Villa Rosalba the last week of June, 2006. Rosalba and Alvaro's hospitality was as delightful as the fresh peaches off their tree and the homemade Italian meals cooked for us by Rosalba. (Be sure to visit her local grocery.) The lasagna was a true taste of Italy, and her gnoochi was to die for. To being invited into their home for capuccino and wine, to their tour of Tarquinia, we were welcomed into their home, as well as their lives. They held true to their motto of "if you're happy, we're happy". This is an experience not to be missed. We shall return! Tina & Stacy |
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Tina Trevor, Tucson, AZ
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| 04/24/06 |
Positive
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We just got back from a 5 day visit to Villa Rosalba. We echo all previous comments. The flat was great and the hosts charming. Rail service very convenient and the driving fun! (needless to say we did not drive in Rome)
Villa Rosalba is a home away from home absolutely ideal for families. |
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Brian Smith, Memphis, Tn/Amsterdam, NL |
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| 04/17/06 |
Positive
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| We stayed at Villa Rosalba for 3 nights in March of 2005 with our 3 children ages,1.5, 3, and 4. This was one of the best places we stayed during our 3 week tour of Italy. The kids often ask when we can go to see Ms. Rosalba again. The location was awesome as was the hot lasagne waiting in the oven when we arrived. The train station is very close and easy to take into Rome (although if you have a double stroller and the train is crowded you will find yourself standing between cars). We enjoyed walking to the sea after returning from a busy day of sightseeing in Rome. |
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BBill and Laura Coppernoll, Wuerzburg Germany
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| 04/16/06 |
Positive
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My wife, two children, sister-in-law and I just returned from spending a wonderful vacation at Villa Rosalba. We arrived on April 1st to a wonderful home cooked meal composed of fresh bread, lasagna, and dessert. Rosalba and her husband Alvaro are wonderful hosts who welcomed us as family, and made our stay extremely enjoyable. Alvaro drove us to a local store to buy our train tickets, and Rosalba invited us into their home for some delicious homemade lemoncello made from their own lemons (Rosalba even played table hockey with my fourteen year old son).
We had great privacy at the Villa, and especially enjoyed sitting on our porch overlooking the lovely garden below. The Villa was spacious, very clean, and nicely furnished. Santa Marinella is a beautiful town on the Mediterranean, and the Villa is just two blocks from the train station, making a wonderful home base for train trips to Rome.
Just down the street from the train station is a local pub called the "Monkey’s Pub", which serves up great hamburgers, French Fries, and beer.
We highly recommend Villa Rosalba, especially for those traveling with families. |
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John C. White, Winston-Salem, NC
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| 03/08/06 |
Positive
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Our Roma Vaction (Feb.10- Feb.19,2006) started the moment Alvaro picked us up from the airport and drove us to Villa Rosabla. We were welcomed by Rosa and Paola, and presented with a delicious lasagna, bread, and fruit tart dinner with milk for our 10 year old son. We took a short walk to the wine shop and purchased a good inexpensive local red wine, and our feast was complete.
The Villa was spacious, very clean, and nicely furnished. We ate all our breakfasts in the well-appointed kitchen and we ate about half our dinners there as well. We enjoyed walking to the grocery store and local shops to get pasta, olive oil, bread, meats, cheese, fruit, vegetables, yogurt and wine.
Our stay at the villa was for 8 nights; however, we would have liked to stay much longer if our time had permitted. It was a dream come true, close to the train station where we caught the train to Rome and Tarquinia and located in the picturesque Beach town of Santa Marinella. But one of the best surprises were Rosa and Alvaro. They were charming and hospitable and we enjoyed their company and conversations. Our son was spoiled with Rosa's chocolate cake and fruit tart, and Rosa spoiled us with her homemade lemoncello and orangecello. Rosa and Alvaro taught us about barbequed pizza and took us to their
favorite gelato spot.
The weather for our vacation was beautiful with only one day of rain. We were able to travel to Rome five times. Our favorite memories were the colosseum, Palatine Hill, seeing the opera Rigoletto, the Sistine Chapel, Campo di Fiori Saturday market, and
just relaxing in the beautiful piazzas. The people were great everywhere we went and we walked and used the metro all over town.
Now, back home in Northern California we cherish the days we spent at Villa Rosalba and hope one day to return to Rome and to this paradise.
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Gerald,Victoria, and Loren Stone, Healdsburg CA
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| 02/27/06 |
Positive
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We just returned from a week with Rosalba and Alvaro. We stayed from 02/17/06 to 02/24/06 and had a magnificent time. They were the best hosts and just as the previous posts mentioned, the homemade lasagna was terrific, as was the yummy dessert. Santa Marinella is a summer resort town, and winter is the off season, but it was loveley to have a nice quiet, clean LARGE place to stay. Santa Marinella was easy access to Rome, just a short train ride and you are at St. Peters or Termini. We also took the train to Pisa and Florence. That was very easy and quite a nice adventure. I can't say enough wonderful things about this rental and hosts. They are the best. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea that they are pushy hosts, however. They only offer as much advice and help as requested. (we stayed in a place in Hawaii and the host would not leave us alone, always offering unsolicited advice).
Again, I can not say enough nice things about Villa Rosalba. We have been to Italy twice now and this was so much better than staying in a hotel in Rome. |
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Gina & Roy Smith, St. Louis MO
314-418-3830 |
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| 02/13/06 |
Positive
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We stayed at Villa Rosalba over New Year for 5 nights.
Rosalba and Alvaro were warm and welcoming hosts making us feel right at home. It was great having the help of local knowledge from Alvaro, Rosalba and Paola. We caught the train to Rome three days, and yes you should buy a ticket and validate it before you get on the train (just like Paola told you mum).
Alvaro and Rosalba took us to a delicious meal in Citaveccia and the best gelati shop in the whole of Italy. Rosalba also cooked us a huge New Years Feast. We found it easy to access rome from the beautiful town Santa Marinella. We also enjoyed shopping at the town market and exploring some of the local historical sites. Mum enjoyed having a kitchen and washing machine. Matthew enjoyed having his own bedroom.
For a mum travelling with two teenagers (14 and 11) Villa Rosalba was a secure and relaxing haven in the middle of a hectic European tour;also a great place to recover each day after the magnificence of rome.
We want to say a big thanks to Alvaro and Rosalba
From Gillian, Matthew and Miriam |
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Smith Family, NSW Australia
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| 02/06/06 |
Positive
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I can honestly say that my family's stay at Villa Rosalba (10/04/05-10/09/05) was the best experience we have had traveling in Italy. We have rented a number of homes all over Italy and have not been made to feel so welcome at any of the others.
Rosalba and Alvaro adopted my parents, neither of whom had traveled outside the US before. They treated them with kindness, courtesey and respect. My mother in particular was much more at ease once she met them.
The apartment and the garden were delightful. The short walk to the sea was a treat. Rosalba's lasagne was magnificent, as was her special Limoncello, that she generously shared with all six of us.
Rosalba and Alvaro went above and beyond being the hosts, as they tirelessly tried to get luggage from Air France to my family. Even after we departed for the rest of our trip, they continued to pursue it, eventually making the trek to Tuscany to bring the bags to my family. This is why we return to Italy-they made us feel like family. I cannot recommend Villa Rosalba too highly. It is perfect.
Using the train to get into Rome is very easy, and solves the problem of a car. Having Paola as a tour guide was also too easy-she is knowledgable and a delight to spend time with. |
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Grace Stewart, Phoenix, AZ
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| 01/15/06 |
Positive
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| Our stay at Villa Rosalba could not have been more prefect. We stayed in the villa for Christmas break 2005. The town of Santa Marinella is picturesque and beautiful. We took the train into Rome several times and did not get lost once! Rosalba and Alvaro were very welcoming and even took my daughter to swim practice with the local team. The apartment is very roomy and comfortable. We had fun in the small kitchen! The villa is the perfect place to stay in Italy if you want a true taste of Italian culture. We can't wait to go back to Villa Rosalba! |
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Elvira Chiccarelli, Florida, United States
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| 01/07/06 |
Positive
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Hello, Just returned from our stay at Villa Rosalba. We arrived on 12/27/05 and departed 1/03/06. This is a great place to stay. It is situated well for day trips to Rome (round trip train to Rome and unlimited metro and bus rides is 7 Euros, this is the BIRG ticket).
We traveled to Rome for 3 days. If you want to avoid lines at major sites like Vatican museum, Colosseum, etc, get there very early. Otherwise get there mid morning, there will be vendors that will take guided tours (Vatican Museum 25 euros each plus admission) through, they have the ability to cut lines and go through the group tour entrance.
We also drove through Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria, visited different towns like Tarquinia, Orvieto, Siena, Cortona, Bagnoreggio and Civita. We used Rick Steves Italy 2005 guide book, and he has many recommendations for walking tours, driving tours, restaurants, etc. It was the best of our 3 guide books.
Rosalba and Alvaro are great hosts, we were there for New Year's Eve and they invited us to a great New Year's Eve celebration in their home with a wonderful dinner. We stayed up to celebrate the New Year and Rosalba brought out her home made Lemoncello cream liquor (from her own lemon tree) for the New Year's toast.
They made us feel at home, the apartment is warm, functional and clean. They provided a meal for our arrival which was great since we got in late.
All in all, a great place to stay and we recommend it highly.
Bill and Inessa To |
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bill and inessa tom, Woodstock, IL
312 424 8138 |
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| 11/22/05 |
Positive
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Cheryl and Andre were super in helping us set up our reservations and very promt in answering any questions we had.
Villa Rosalba was simply a delightful place to stay. I can't believe our luck in finding the place amid the thousands of possibilities found on the internet. I can't posssibly imagine staying anywhere else if you are visiting this region of Italy. As beautiful, charming and clean as the Villa was, the REAL charm of the Villa is its owners, Alvaro and Rosalba. You will never meet a more warm, friendly and gracious set of hosts no matter where you go. My wife and I along with our traveling companions (Tom and Lillian Downs) instantly fell in love with them both. Although they hire Paola to help guests with English information, their English is getting good enough where they will soon be able to say goodbye to her. Between their English, our feeble attempts at Italian and a little bit of charades, we were fully able to communicate almost anything with them. They don't treat you like guests, they treat you like family. They are warm, outgoing people who really love what they are doing and it shows. We had flown into Milan and used a rental car for 10 days to see the northwest region of Italy before coming to the Villa. Because of the convenient location of the train station to the Villa and the fact that you shouldn't drive in Rome, we needed to turn in the car the day after we arrived. Alvaro went with me in our car and Rosalba followed in one of their cars to help me locate the rental car return in Civitavechia and then bring me bach to the Villa. Later in the week Rosalba took us to see a medival castle in the town just south of Santa Marinella. She was also going to take us to some Etruscan caves, but the weather that day was a bit inclement. They did take us for an after dinner gelato (ice cream) at their favorite place in Civitavechia (Andre knows where I mean). It had more flavors and was the best gelato we had in Italy.
Our fellowship with Alvaro and Rosalba certainly was the high light of our entire time in Italy. The countryside and many fabulous sights were very nice, but they were truly outstanding. We will remember the sharing of a fantastic lemon flavored liquor (secret family recipe) Wow!!!! Swapping stories about each others families out on the front porch. We have made friends that we will see again. We are also hoping that they will come see us on one of their visits to the U.S.
Jim and Dee Osborn
(alias: Giovani and Dorina Osbornini) |
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Jim & Dee Osborn, Merritt Island, FL
321-453-2397 |
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| 09/23/05 |
Positive
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| Me my wife and our 3 year old daughter Isa spent a week in september at Villa Rosalba. We had a great time and loved the hospitality of Rosalba and Alvaro. We highly recommend Villa Rosalba especially to familys with children. |
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Erik, Sweden
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| 09/20/05 |
Positive
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| We just got back from villa Rosalba. What a beatiful place to spend vacation. We would go back in a heart beat. Villa is very conviniently located: 5 minutes from a beach with clean sand and crystal clear water and 2 minutes from a train station. There are several grocery stores in a walking distance with fresh fruits, vegetables, and different cheeses etc. Be aware of limited time stores are open. They are closed on Sundays and they are open half a day on Thursdays. Villa is spacious and clean. It fits 6 people easily. It was very nice and relaxing to spend time outside in a beatiful garden. Rosalba and Alvaro are warm and friendly people who made our stay very comfortable and memorable. I would highly recommend to use their pick up service at airport. It is 90 euros and worth every penny especially after long flight. There is a large kitchen at villa which equipped with all necessary gadgets to cook. There is absolutely nothing negative I can say about the villa. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Rita |
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rita dukhon
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| 08/05/05 |
Positive
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We (family of 6, 3 girls and 1 boy) had a wonderful time at Villa Rosalba. We enjoyed the hospitality of Rosalba and Alvaro. We took the train nearby to Rome a couple of times and really was amazed at all the history at Rome. When we got back to the villa, we spent the evenings sitting on the patio eating, drinking and laughing. It was awesome, living the Italian life. We spent alot of time at the beach since we are from Hawaii. The beach was not like the beaches in Hawaii, but since it been over 4 yrs since the last time we been to a beach, the beach there was nice enough and safe to swim, splash around, play volleyball, get sun-tanned and rent out a paddle boat. Also, there are alot of snack shops nearby for treats while at the beach. The only fault, is they don't have a DVD player or a TV that can hook up a DVD player to occupied the kids. But overall, the villa is beautiful and very comfortable. We highly recommeded this place for vacation.
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Richard & CJ Lalau, Stuttgart, Germany
49-011-7032917069 |
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| 08/01/05 |
Positive
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| We couldn't have been happier with our accomodations at Villa Rosalba. Even though we were a little reluctant and self concious, due to our lack of Italian language skills, and having a very energetic toddler, Rosalba and Alvero treated us so kindly in every way, we were made to feel right at home from the start. It was worth every penny to have them pick us up at the airport, and it was great having her homemade lasagna and delicous pastry ready for us once we got in from a long flight from Chicago. They really seemed to like our little 'Giuseppe,' and he was happy playing in the courtyard. The Villa was clean, and quiet, with everything you could need, including washer and clothesline for laundry. The courtyard was beautiful, with various trees such as magnolias and lemon trees, bushes, and flowers. Sometimes, it was just nice to sit on the patio. We quickly acclimated to the village of Santa Marinella, finding a nearby grocery store, and enjoying a gellato on the town piazza, or getting up in the morning for pastries and esspresso or cappuccino from the nearby bakeries. We took lots of day trips to Rome, and actually enjoyed the train rides, viewing the country side, and using the ride home to wind down after a day of sightseeing. It's a quick train ride to the Vatican, but close to an hour to Rome's main Terminal, I would recommend getting the day pass that allows unlimited day travel in Lazio (trains bus, subway), which costs about 5 euros per person. There is another station that is convenient to the colloseum, but I don't recall the name. It's a short bus or subway train to the Colloseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill. We also liked taking the little electric buses through the very narrow and sometimes winding streets in Trastevere and other places. All in all, we really enjoyed our stay at Villa Rosalba, and we hope we can stay there again. |
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Ed & Julia, Rockford, IL
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| 07/27/05 |
Positive
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| We had a wonderful time at Villa Rosalba. In particularly we enjoyed the gracious hospitality of Rosalba and Alvaro. They went out of their way to make us feel at home. We did not have a car and they picked us up from the airport and drove us back. They also gave generously in terms of their own time and took us for a wonderful trip to see the Etruscan caves. We spent many evenings together sitting on the patio eating, drinking and laughing. They made this holiday very special. The villa is beautiful and very comfortable. Its proximity to Rome makes it very easy to commute. This is a highly recommeded hoilday place. |
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Zvika and Zippi Rosenberg, Haifa, Israel
04-8371648 |
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| 07/27/05 |
Positive
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| We've just come back from a two week stay at Villa Rosalba. The Villa and its surrounding is beautiful; the beach, which is very close by, is also wonderful. Santa Marinella is a quaint little town and its proximity to Rome by train made it vety easy to go to Rome for the day and return home in the evening. The greatest charm of this place, in my opinion, is the presence of its managers, Rosalba and Alvaro. They practically adopted us and we spent many hours together laughing, eating, drinking lemoncello and going on trips. We are going to miss them. This is a highly highly recommended place. |
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Dr. Shula Mor, Thornhill, Ontario
905 773 1425 |
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| 06/20/05 |
Positive
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We had a wonderful stay at Villa Rosalba! The atmosphere is perfect for a relaxing time in a beautiful Italian setting.
Rosalba and Alvero were extremely hospitable and helpful to us, and made us feel at right at home.
The villa is ideally situated; close enough to Rome for easy day trips on the train, and nearby to a number of great sites that are somewhat off the beaten tourist track.
The villa itself is only a short walk the quaint town and beach at Santa Marinella. You can stroll into town at night and have gelato by the sea. What can be better?
The Villa Rosalba is truly a gem. We highly recommend the Villa Rosalba and hope to come back again.
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Todd and Anne King, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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| 06/18/05 |
Positive
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| I can't believe that a week has passed since our return from Italy. My family and my daughter's best friend, Amy, stayed at Villa Rosalba from June 4 through June 11, 2005. We arrived at the villa hot and tired and hungry! Rosalba had lasagna waiting for us as well as (a bonus) dessert. This was especially nice because it was between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. and the stores were closed, so we could not shop for groceries. The villa was spotless and the grounds were amazing. We were immediately comfortable in our "home away from home". We took the train into Rome three times during the week and spent the remainder of our vacation exploring Santa Marinella or just relaxing at the villa. Everyone agreed that the highlight of our first trip to Italy was meeting and talking with Rosalba and her husband; getting a real taste of Italian culture. There will definitely be a return visit to Villa Rosalba and Italy. |
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Regina Mitchell, The Colony, Texas
972-625-8824 |
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| 06/14/05 |
Positive
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This villa was more then excellent. It provided for our family a place of relaxation after a long busy day visiting Rome. (It's a 45 minute train ride directly to Rome). Rosalba and Alvero made us feel like family and provided us with a taste of Italy that we would not have experienced in any tourist area. The villa is very spacious, clean, and fully equipped. The hospitality was outstanding not to mention Rosalba and Alvero's special touches and secret recipes. We communicated in English and our broken Italian very well. It was a home away from home. I already have recommended this villa to a lot of friends and family. Please fell free to communicate any time .
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Anonymous, Russell, Ontario
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| 04/14/05 |
Positive
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| The villa was very clean and comfortable and Rosalba helped us so much to enjoy our stay. We toured the area for 6 days and she and her husband gave us maps and detailed travel suggestions.They also suggested restaurants in the area and provided us with a safe parking spot within their gates. We went to Orvieto and Siena as full day trips and we toured the necropolis north of santa marinella. IT was a very pretty town and from the villa you could walk to the train and into the center of the city. This accomodation would be perfect for a family because there were three bedrooms.I recommend it highly. |
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Anonymous
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| 03/28/05 |
Positive
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| My wife and I and four adult daughters (ages 18-26) stayed for 8 days in last part of March. Rosalba and Alvaro were most helpful (provided airport transport for a fee, helped get train tickets, made homemade lasagna). very comfortable setting for six although bed mattresses ranged from hard to soft. Transport to Rome was closer to an hour. Easy walk to the train station, ATM machine, grocery and beach. Well-equipped kitchen, good supply of hot water, good closet and drawer space. Folder of good information available in dining room. Very relaxing. Train announcements made in English also. Would definitely stay there again, especially with more than two people. Would be glad to answer questions. |
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Terry & Janet Weston, Mansfield, Ohio
419-756-4661 |
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| 11/04/04 |
Positive
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We arrived earlier than anticipated after a hectic week in Rome for our son's wedding. Our nerves were a little frayed at the edges but the warm welcome from Rosalba and Alvaro helped us to unwind. The wonderful meal and thoughtful provisions were just a small part of their hospitality.
The villa was conveniently situated for the beach, shops,restaurants and station.
From the initial enquiries to Cheryl and her helpfulness to the encouraging printouts of information on Villa Rosalba that made us feel welcome even before we had left for our trip, they were only an indication of the warmth and hospitality we experienced. Many thanks. |
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NIgel & Tessa Dearsley & family, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
613-544-1922 |
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| 10/14/04 |
Positive
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| The villa was PERFECT!!!! It was always nice coming from the big city to a quiet villa with a beautifull yard to enjoy. Truly an Italian atmosphere with all the trimmings. We couldn't have been more at home. Rosa was perfect! |
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chellis Patterson, newark, ohio
740-366-1594 |
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| 10/03/04 |
Positive
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| Our stay at Villa Rosalba was absolutely perfect. The apartment was so spacious and clean and the view was so appropriate for Santa Marinella. Rosalba was the perfect hostess, complete with home-cooked meal and bread upon arrival and a small parting gift as a souvenier of our stay. We highly recommend this villa for your stay in or near Rome. The trains are conveniently located for your sightseeing and the town is very quaint. |
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Ron and Pam Brown, Morton, IL
309-264-8796 |
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| 08/25/04 |
Positive
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The two of us and our children and their families spent a week using the entire Villa Rosalba in the summer of 2004. It worked out wonderfully for us in all ways. Cheryl and Andre were super in helping us make all the arrangements and answering our questions. The hospitality of Rosalba and Alvaro made us feel so much at home right away. We engaged Paola for two time periods in Rome and she was great in getting us around to the places we wanted to see. Her advice about scheduling our time in Rome to avoid crowds helped us see more than we might have otherwise. We found Santa Marinella much cooler than Rome and the community had the feel of a friendly town. Everything is close by including the train station just 4-5 minutes away. We enjoyed some evening meals at local restaurants and then a delicious gelato on our walk back to the villa! If we return to this area of Italy again we will certainly want to stay at Villa Rosalba!
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Jim & Dixie Miller, Richmond, Indiana, USA
(765)966-6399 |
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| 06/22/04 |
N/A |
Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
Cheryl & Andre -
We really enjoyed our stay at Villa Rosalba. Rosalba and Poala were both
wonderful. We absolutely loved the beach and the town is wonderful as well.
Please feel free to forward my email address to anyone who is looking for a reference.
Thanks for all your help.
Christina Schneider
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Christina Schneider
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| 06/17/04 |
Positive
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| We had a wonderful stay at Villa Rosalba and in Santa Marinella. It worked out so well for us to be able to take the train into Rome for the day and then be able to come back to our own quiet retreat at the end of the day. We also felt comfortable taking the bus to the surrounding towns and then finally renting a car to go farther out into Tuscany to explore. We enjoyed walking through Santa Marinella and found several little restaurants were we loved to go to for our evening meal. Rosabla and Paola were wonderful, making our stay very pleasant. Cheryl and Andrea were so helpful with information before we went. We look forward to returning some day soon. Mary and Buzz Ostlund |
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Mary and Buzz Ostlund, Bellingham, WA
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| 04/27/04 |
Positive
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| We had a great holiday in Santa Marinella. Rosalba and Alvaro were wonderful. They made us so welcome and indeed spoiled us while we were there. The accommodation is ideal and of a high standard. Andre and Cheryl too were very helpful in the organisation of our holiday. We would recommend Villa Rosalba as an ideal base for a family holiday to Lazio and the surrounding areas whether using a hire car or public transport. Everything is close to hand. An ideal holiday home. |
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Carole & Denis Watney, Duns, Scotland |
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| 04/19/04 |
Positive
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My husband and I agree that this was our best vacation ever. We stayed 2 weeks at Villa Rosalba. We originally wanted to stay in Rome, but this turned out to be so much more interesting, inexpensive, and convenient. The Villa is literally a couple of minutes walk from the train station which takes you directly into Rome every half hour, its VERY convenient and easy. After a long day of sightseeing in Rome with all the crowds, we always look forward to hopping a train back to our peaceful villa! Staying in Santa Marinella is like really living in Italy, with very few, if any foreign tourists. The people are incredibly friendly and the
language barrier was never a barrier at all! Everything is much less expensive in Santa Marinella compared to Rome. Also, we felt like we had two vacations in one, because we spent as much time at the beautiful beach
(again, a few minutes walk from the villa) as we did sightseeing in Rome. Finally, Rosalba and her husband Alvaro were fabulous hosts and could not have made us feel more comfortable and welcome. We can't wait to go back and will recommend this VRBO to everyone!
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Gina Constant, Albuquerque, NM
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| 04/18/04 |
Positive
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| My friend and I stayed at Villa Rosalba for 11 days. We started our Italian vacation on the Isle of Capri for 3 nights (wonderful) and then rented a car in Sorrento and drove the 2.5 hours up to Santa Marinella. The town itself is very quaint with wonderful cafes, shops and markets. The waterfront is beautiful. Neighboring towns such as Civitivecchia, Ceveteri, Santa Severa (must see castle!) and Tarquina were all visited by us as well. It was easy to get around by car and a great way to experience the "no tourist" Italy. We went into Rome on 3 separate days - the train was very easy and inexpensive. It was so nice to come home to quiet Santa Marinella after those very busy and tourist filled days! Our accomodations were great - we stayed in the upstairs apartment and felt like real Italians drying our newly washed closed on the line, brewing fresh perculated expresso, and sitting on our balcony enjoying our hosts' lovely gardens. Alvaro and Rosalba are fantastic people - they give you as much privacy as you need. Since they don't speak English yet (they are learning!) we spent some time playing charades to figure out what each other was saying! They have a tour guide that speaks wonderful English meet you upon arrival - she shows you everything about the area and gives great hints for your travels. She was so helpful and called us a few times to check on how we were doing. Since our stay was so long and we had a car we headed to Siena and Pienza for an overnight stay (through Tuscany about 3 hours with all of our stops for photos). Later during the stay we also drove to Assisi for another overnight (through Umbria about 3 hours again). It was so nice to just have to take an overnight bag -- and very affordable since the villa is so reasonably priced (too reasonable in my opinion!!!). Both locations are a must see! Well - I have rambled enough I suppose. We had an amazing journey and feel free to contact me with questions. Thank you Rosalba and Alvarro!!! |
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Carver, Richmond, Virginia
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| 04/13/04 |
Positive
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My family and I had a wonderful 3 week stay at Villa Rosalba. We wish we could return right away! It is an easy walk to the beach, to shopping, and to restaurants. It is also a short walk to the train, which we used to get to Rome for sightseeing. But as I also worked in Rome 3-4 days a week, the train was extremely convenient for my commute.
Villa Rosalba is quiet, beautiful, and peaceful. We had most of our meals on the porch, amidst magnolia trees and colorful shrubbery. The kids picked fruit from the variety of fruit trees, and our youngest (4 years old) literally fell in love with Rosalba. Everyone - Rosalba, Alvaro, and Rose, treated us as family and we spent many enjoyable evenings with them relaxing in the yard. But they also respected our needs for privacy, and made us feel extremely comfortable.
Santa Marinella and the Villa Rosalba is a great alternative to staying in Rome, which can be quite hectic. Plus, we felt the price to be very reasonable. Please contact us if you would like more information! |
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John Deckop, Philadelphia, PA
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| 04/03/04 |
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My wife, Rita, and I just returned from spending a wonderful vacation at Villa Rosalba. We arrived on March 19th to a wonderful home cooked, authentic meal prepared by Rosalba herself. We were given keys to the Villa, the gate to the little lane outside, and a "beeper" to open the gate to the driveway. Rosalba and her husband, Alvaro are wonderful hosts who will to anything in thier power to make your stay as warm and wonderful as ours was.
Santa Marinella is a beutiful little town smack on the "Med" and as the Villa is just two blocks from the train station, makes a wonderful home base for train trips to Rome and Florence or anywhere else your curiosity will take you. Having rented a car, we alternated train trips one day with car touring the next!
As a point of information, just down the street from the train station is a pub called the "Monkey Bar" and next door is a tobacco shop who's owner was educated in the United States and speaks very good English. When we had trouble with our ATM account back in the States, he was very helpful in getting us connected, by phone to our bank. We got our problem straighted out right away!
Having to leave Villa Rosalba on March 29th was very hard, as we felt that we had made lifelong friends of Rosalba and Alvaro...we are now planning our trip back to Villa Rosalba for next year!
Ron and Rita Ragan
Davenport, ND |
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Ron & Rita, Davenport, ND
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| 01/18/04 |
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Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
Hi...we had a great time in Rome. It did rain most every day but it didnt slow us down too much at all (we did get inundated with oodles of umbrella salemen in Rome).Of the six full days that we were there, we spent 4 of them in Rome (via the very convenient and reasonably priced train), and the other two days we went touring with the car. We visited Civitavecchia, Tarquinia, Tolfa and Cerveteri and surrounding areas including some Etruscan sights/museums. We also visited some areas South of Rome including the town of Frascati (villa Aldobrandini), Lakes Albani and Nemi, and castel Gondolfo. Very nice indeed! In Rome, we did mostly the typical touristy stuff (Rome was so overwhelming...so much to see!). We visited the Vatican/St.Peters, colosseum, Spanish steps, Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, San Giovanni in Laterano, and as many piazzas and fountains we could stand (they were all wonderful and unique in there own way). For the kids, we had to do the obligatory hard rock cafe (our daughters b-day present on Jan 2nd). The food wasnt as good there as in some other HRC'S we've been to (and certainly not even close to the Italian restaurants and pizzerias we tried out), but we didnt go there for the food, and we had a great time.
The villa was wonderful also. Rose met us there (we met Shirley too). They gave us good advice. Rosalba made us lasagna for our arrival (absolutely scrumptious). The rooms were spacious/comfortable and the kitchen had everything we needed to cook some meals ourselves (we shopped at the nearby Di per Di supermarket). Our hosts also let us pick fresh oranges from the orange tree (yummy).
All in all, we had a super holiday. If we have the time before we move back to the states (summer 2005), then we would absolutely do it again from Villa Rosalba.
Thanks again for all your help, and Happy New Year!
Arnie & Lori Schumacher
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Arnie & Lori Schumacher
U.S.A.
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| 05/06/03 |
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Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
"I cant imagine being in Rome now, although we were looking there first". Our four kids, ages 15,13, and 10 year-old twins can walk on the beach and go off on there own. We dont have to worry about them because it is safe and friendly in Santa Marinella, and it is also very convenient. After spending a day in Rome, we step off the train, turn left, and are home. It is a pleasure to return to villa Rosalba after a busy day of touring around Rome and the surrounding region. We have lots of privacy at Villa Rosalba, and especially enjoy sitting on our porch overlooking a lovely garden. The owners, Rosalba and Alvaro, are very helpful and open, so we feel most welcome- more like guests than "tourists". In fact, the day we arrived, there was fresh bread and home-cooked lasagna awaiting us in our kitchen! Our vacation here has been very relaxing. We highly recommend Villa Rosalba, especially for those traveling with families.
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Bill and Joanie Randle
Athens, Georgia
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