Villa Pia, Italy.

[artichokes]

Has anyone been to Villa Pia?

We are thinking of taking our daughters there this summer. They will be nearly 3 and 7 months.

The webite looks great but you clearly spend alot of time with the other families. What type of people go there? Is it braying sloanes taking young Inigo on an Italian tour or is it normal mortals who are fun to hang out with?

Bump.
There must be some mumsnetters who have been, it looks a very mumsnettie kind of place.

we went when my dd was about 3. It was a strange mix of people - some ordinary mortals mixed in with v. middle class people. The evening meal was with the other parents and some people were definitely not on our wave length - but having said that it was part of the fun deconstructing people afterwards. I remember a conversation were one couple proclaimed that you had to send ur kids to private schools cos at state schools they weren't taught right from wrong! We nearly fell off our seats at that one.
I hope this doesn't put you off co we had a nice and relaxing time - nice area, lots of play areas and other kids around, did lots of reading and the food was fab, fab, fab.
There has been a previous thread about villa pia if you search for it.

Thanks Mercedes. A few reviews on here suggest it is abit run down and not very comfortable. Is that a fair comment?

We didn't find it run down - yes the rooms are very simple but life is meant to take place outside. Nice weather, kids playing, you reading. perfect to me

Mind u its been 3 years since we were there so I suppose things could have changed.

We went in 2007 when DS was 5 and really enjoyed it. We were there the first week in Sep so it was not completely packed. The lunches were definitely the highlight of the day in term of quality of food. Another major plus point with children is being able to help yourself to snacks & drinks (inc wine & beer for the grown ups) from the fridge whenever you want, all included in the price. The only down side might be the lack of nice soft grass for a baby to crawl on, life centred round the courtyard which is gravel but does have quite a large area of green outdoor carpet for the little ones.
Certainly didn't find it run down.