Casa Pietra - The Main Farm House

We stayed in this wonderful, rustic Italian farmhouse with amazing views to the valley, the sea and to the small town of Attessa. The house had plenty of room for us to spread out, and our en-suite bathroom was huge! Our host was welcoming, helpful, entertaining and an excellent cook! We arranged day trip to Rome by local coach which was an added bonus to our holiday. I would recommend this location for an authentic Italian holiday for those who would appreciate Italy without the tourists.

We had a wonderful stay in Casa Pietra in August 2012. Even before arrival we were made to feel welcome with, for example, assistance from the owner with directions from Rome. Once we arrived (relaxed thanks to the excellent directions) we were made to feel equally welcome. The house is in a fantastic location with views across the valley to the picturesque hilltop town of Atessa and down the valley to the enticing Adriatic. Surrounded by ample grounds including an Olive grove, Fig and Almond trees it makes for a very relaxing getaway to the real Italy. The outside terraces provide ample space to relaxing and dinning – we can highly recommend a breakfast of local fresh fruit on the terrace to start your day. Inside the house has a spacious open plan kitchen and living area. The three double bedrooms are similarly spacious and simply but stylishly furnished. Children are made to feel welcome throughout the house with swings and a climbing rope outside, a few board games and a simply wonderful homemade dolls house. The pool outside is great for children and adults alike, the swing into the pool proved to be a big hit with our seven year old. The short ladder into the pool also makes for peace of mind for those with toddlers and younger children too. The local area is steeped in history and just waiting to be explore we found picturesque hilltop villages, with winding streets and welcoming friendly faces at every turn. If you are looking to get away from it all there are plenty of opportunities. Whereas the short drive to the coast will take you to some lively beaches and coastal towns, including the stunning town of Vasto with its castle and views to the coast below. Beaches range from the organised beach umbrellas and deckchairs found along much of Italy’s coast to more low key beaches of the Riserva Naturale Regionale Punta Aderci. For the more adventurous, Aqualand close to Vasto will appeal to children (and adults) of all ages, there are also outdoor and indoor pools in many of the local towns and villages. Food as ever in Italy is a great pleasure and the area does not disappoint with simple but delicious food at every restraint we tried, not to mention some fantastic ice cream. We will definitely be looking for an opportunity to return again and have already recommended Casa Pietra to Family and Friends. The Fayers Family, Bristol, UK.

Lovely holiday,amazing weather. Owner was very agreeable and all our needs were catered for. Very short and easy drive to gorgeous beaches with clear warm sea. Great bars and food minutes away.

We stayed in this wonderful, rustic Italian farmhouse with amazing views to the valley, the sea and to the small town of Attessa. The house had plenty of room for us to spread out, and our en-suite bathroom was huge! Our host was welcoming, helpful, entertaining and an excellent cook! We arranged day trip to Rome by local coach which was an added bonus to our holiday. I would recommend this location for an authentic Italian holiday for those who would appreciate Italy without the tourists.

I returned to Casa Pietra on my own, for a weeks painting holiday. The house, as before, was clean and I was lucky to be allocated the en suite bedroom. The service was great: I was collected from Pescara bus station, all but four meals were fully catered with due consideration of my special dietar needs, the other four meals were taken at selec ted restaurants as part of the trips we made in the owners land rover. The atmosphere throughout was friendly and accomodating, and it was a very enjoyable week. The painting tutor, Marco, was a delight, who was able to tailor his teaching to our individual needs. I learned a great deal and brought home three watercolours to be proud of. He suggested interesting locations for outdoor painting we also worked in his Atessa studio and at Casa Pietra, according to weather and choice. All materials were provided as promised. The weather was mixed and the plunge pool did not tempt during this week as it had during the hotter weather of August. The house is being lovingly renovated by its owners and this should be borne in mind. At the time of my visit there were no banisters to the inside stairs of the house, nor to the external stair from the ground to the terrace and front door. I am unsteady on my feet and use two sticks to get around and I managed, but some people would find this less than ideal. The house is along a quiet road dotted with isolated farmhouses, facing thedelightful little town of Atessa with forest-clad hills in between and ingeniously farmed hillsides in its valley. The Adriatic can be seen from the kitchen window. We heard and saw buzzards flying above us. We were able to enjoy fresh figs from the owners trees. The Chieti area of Abruzzo is an absolute delight. It is not much touched by tourism and the local people are friendly if you are friendly towards them. There is so much to delight the eye: mountains, castles, lakes, hill-top stone towns and villages, monasteries and the gloriously eccentric trebocchi: wooden fishing platforms like overlimbed spiders which perch seemingly precariously in the sea. Locally produced food and wine are also part of the pleasure of a visit to this area and we were able to visit a cheese festival and the local honey shop, sample local wines and fish and, of course, gelati - ice cream. It was a wonderful week and, I hope, not my last at Casa Pietra. Recommended for: Adventure Seekers, Girls Getaway, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Romantic Getaway

Reply from Casa Pietra

Thank you Sue, How lucky I am to get such a good review! I am pleased to say we now have banisters inside and outside.