Reviews of Villa Trotta

Everything and absolutely so much more than I expected and anticipated!

October 2023 - This villa will truly let you experience a feeling of old world Italy with all the modern conveniences you would need on vacation. The views are incredible from sunrise to sunset, you can get lost in never wanting to leave Villa Trotta.

I can’t say enough good things about Summer In Italy. Luca and staff were so great with their advice and communication. I will definitely always support Summer In Italy on all my future adventures in Italy!

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Wonderful place

September 2023 - Villa Trotta is a wonderful villa with a lot of space.

Excellent

August 2023 - The house is gorgeous, we’ve spent a wonderful time there.

Excellent pool with nice gardens and lounging areas

July 2023 - We really enjoyed our stay at Villa Trotta. Pool was important to us and was excellent with nice gardens, lounging areas and outside dining tables. Traditional decor but modern facilities. Situated high on mountain side with amazing views over the valley.

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Incredible view, amazing location :)

July 2023 - The view is just incredible! What an amazing location :) Really lovely outdoor area and pool with showers and toilet. The house is old and full of character. Bathrooms are newer and of good standard.

Very good communication 👍 Thank you!

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Like a little piece of heaven!

July 2023 - Marvelous views, nice size pool, wonderful outdoor areas. A lot of space for hanging out both inside and outdoors. Probably one of the worlds nicest outdoor showers with hot water and those wonderful views. The pizza oven makes great pizzas, it's great to have all those bathrooms when you are a large party. The surroundings are like a little piece of heaven: quiet, peaceful, lush with wild flowers, butterflies, singing birds and rippling streams. The sunsets with views over Capri and the Amalfi Coast is to die for. We even spotted the island of Ischia one clear evening!

Summer In Italy gave a lot of great information and were easy to get in contact with. Also very generous that we could use a voucher from the period of Covid, even though we did not have that insurance when we booked Villa Trotta for 2020.

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Superb rustic villa surrounded by greenery

August 2022 - Superb rustic villa surrounded by greenery, a 15 minutes walk from the town center and the minimarket.

Luca, with the help of Gioconda, was a present and attentive host.

The large house with swimming pool has vintage furniture in line with the structure and the location, bathrooms (recently rebuilt) and kitchen clean and equipped with every comfort. The terraces and the swimming pool are equipped with elegant wrought iron tables, deck chairs and sun loungers, towels and bathrobes for perfect relax, with views of both hills and sea. Well-kept garden with fruit trees and flowers.

Perfect villa in wonderful area

July 2022 - It was an excellent villa in a wonderful environment. The villa itself was perfect.

We wanted to see the environment of Napoli to celebrate our 55 years marriage with children and grandchildren. Fantastic!

Rustic, functional and beautiful house

July 2022 - Amazing! It lives up to the expectations and more! The view is stunning and the house itself is rustic, functional and beautiful. The pool and the garden is also wonderful. An extra plus for the wood fired pizza oven and the outdoor showers.

Summer In Italy and its staff have been gracious, responsible and very service minded from start to finish. Fast replies and good help!

A view like in a film set

July 2022 - We fell in love with Villa Trotta! The view was like a film set. Everything you needed was in that house.

The service was great both from Luca, Klint, Anita and miss Esterina [the caretaker] who helped us on the spot.

Full of charm and character

June 2022 - Villa Trotta was easily found as it is close to the village of Perdifumo, within the Nature Reserve, and the directions supplied by the agent were easy to follow and very helpful.

The property was in excellent condition, clean and well-presented, and the Housekeeper was friendly and attentive, showing us around all the rooms and pointing out the various features.

Villa Trotta is not a new-build city-centre rental property. The property is quite old and traditional, and retains its authentic period charm and character. It is situated in a very rural location, and therefore some allowance has to be made for this. The agent's guide explains all this in helpful detail.

Two major attractions are the superb illuminated swimming pool, which is of a very good size, and appears to have been very recently refurbished. There is an associated changing and shower block and plenty of good poolside recliners. The other attraction, which is hard to ignore, is the vast terrace which runs across the back of the building, giving wonderful, panoramic and unobstructed coastal views across towards Salerno. There is a large twelve-seater table on the terrace, where we had our meals and watched the fireflies in the evening. There is also a traditional wood-fired outdoor pizza oven, which we used one evening, and which worked very well.

As a three-generation family, Villa Trotta was perfect for us all. The rooms were all huge, with high ceilings and plenty of space for everyone, and the situation is quiet and peaceful.

We found Summer in Italy to be extraordinarily helpful, friendly and attentive. All correspondence was answered straight away, and the team were always available to answer questions or provide help if needed. We cannot praise them highly-enough, and this would be a prime reason for booking a property through them again in the future.

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Unique and traditional villa

April 2022 - We all loved this villa, it’s so unique and traditional, with so much in it. We nicknamed it the house that keeps on giving as we kept finding more things and delights! It’s in a wonderful location.

Everything on the booking front has been fine.

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What a wonderful place!

July 2021 - Villa Trotta - this place is so wonderful! Hard to find the words to describe how well we were there.

The house is beautiful, has its own soul. All rooms - beautiful and super comfortable. Swimming pool and garden - divine. It is on a hill with a beautiful view (stunning!). Also, price versus quality - we thoroughly enjoyed!

All contacts with Summer in Italy have been great. I have already recommended your site to my friends. I found your site by accident, but I am very pleased with your service.

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We felt "at home"

September 2020 - We are a group of friends who love enjoy holidays renting self catering villas. The choice of Villa Trotta was partly due to the Covid situation that currently persists throughout the world.

We were looking for a quiet and welcoming place, with both indoor and outdoor huge spaces and a swimming pool, to balance the distance from the sea.

Well, Villa Trotta was all of this, and even much more! Its vintage appearance in a suggestive environment, together with its huge comfortable and well equipped spaces, gave us the opportunity to experience a truly pleasant and relaxing holiday, and we felt "at home".

In addition, the price paid for all we got, is really affordable. Thanks for hosting us!

Summer In Italy is a serious and absolutely reliable company.

Really enjoyed our stay

September 2020 - We really enjoyed our stay at Villa Trotta and hope to return another time in the future. Especially the swimming pool was a great success among the grown-up kids.

We have used Summer In Italy since 2013 and have always been very satisfied with the service we get. We recommend the firm to our friends.

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Yes, we enjoyed. Great place!

October 2019 - Yes, we enjoyed. Great place, like in a museum. Lot of space for children, fantastic dinners on the terrace, relaxing on the pool.

Everything was very fine.

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Absolute peace and seclusion

September 2019 - We were with a group of 10 adults in the spacious house. A wonderful place, fantastic location, great views and absolute peace.

We will gladly come back and would like to thank Luca and all employees of SummerinItaly for their great help in advance: on all questions we received immediate answers. Thanks a lot for this.

Location and rustic atmosphere!

September 2019 - We like Villa Trotta very much, especially its location and rustic atmosphere! It was our third stay in the villa and hope to return next year.

Since our first stay in 2013, the villa has got a swimming pool, which makes Villa Trotta even more attractable.

Excellent service from Summer In Italy.

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The views were truly magnificent and the accommodation met all our needs and more

August 2019 - We had an amazing two weeks staying in this villa. The views were truly magnificent and the accommodation met all our needs and more. The pool area was well maintained and the shower facilities next to the pool were great.

The pizza oven was a complete success with the whole family involved - exceptional!

We were very impressed by the holiday booking experience, the keeping in contact, the newsletters and the timely communication. We will definitely use Summer In Italy again for our next visit to Italy - thank you.

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We revisited after 12 yrs - that proves how nice Villa Trotta is!

July 2019 - Excellent place and house!

We revisited after 12 yrs - that proves how nice Villa Trotta is! We will surely recommend the venue to our friends in Sweden!

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Fantastic

July 2019 - Lovely stay - views are second to none!

This is an extraordinary location with a breathtaking view

July 2019 - This is an extraordinary location with a breathtaking view. It is truly more beautiful than the pictures on the web site.

The villa is large, well-kept, with everything you need. I highly recommend Villa Trotta for a holiday.

Summer In Italy were very helpful, before and during our stay.

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A true villa with a unique style!

July 2019 - A fantastic and peaceful place with wonderful views and a very nice style. A true villa with a unique style!

This was our second unforgettable holiday at Villa Trotta. The villa is simply stunning!

June 2019 - This was our second unforgettable holiday at Villa Trotta. The villa is simply stunning!

We love the quiet area where it is located, the breathtaking views and the size of the rooms even if we spent most of our time outside on the big terrace and in the pool. We even tried the brand new BBQ.

The people in Perdifumo are really friendly and our men are well known in the local bar for their morning coffee.

We strongly advice to book with Summer In Italy. We enjoyed the correspondence before our trip. We will return and hope to find it just as it is, authentic. Thank you.

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Very good

November 2018 - Very nice house with excellent sea view. Really nice swimming pool and associated showers.

Nice and friendly lunch prepared, on request, by a cooker in the house, including cooking lesson to do homemade pasta.

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Charming and authentic

September 2018 - We enjoyed Villa Trotta very much. The swimming pool is a big asset for the villa, especially for the kids. The villa is very charming and authentic. Hopefully, it will remain so.

We think Summer In Italy offered us a good service and we hope to take advantage of their professionalism another time. Thanks a lot for a wonderful stay.

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We had a wonderful stay

August 2018 - We had a wonderful stay at Villa Trotta. The view is magnificent and all the indoor and outdoor spaces are perfect for a large group. We made most of the dinners in the kitchen and ate on the large terrace during the sun set. When we were out driving the car we always looked forward to coming back to the house again.

Summer In Italy is a very reliable company, I fully recommend them!

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It was absolutely beautiful!

July 2018 - It was absolutely beautiful! The pictures on the web site are amazing, and even they do not do it justice. The view is gorgeous, and the villa was just perfect. To be honest, every time we woke up we were saying, "we can't believe this is where we're staying"!

The ladies that came and helped around the villa were lovely.

Luca was so accommodating and helpful, I'm so happy we went with Summer In Italy. 100% I would recommend this company to my family and friends.

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Fabulous huge villa

June 2018 - Fabulous huge villa. Stunning views and a gorgeous pool to relax in. We were 3 couples and we spent nearly all of our time relaxing and cooking in the villa, there was everything that we needed and with a view like that we couldn't find a reason to go out!

Very friendly and helpful company. When I had a request one evening a representative called me back within half an hour.

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Excellent

June 2018 - Overall perfect stay!

I would highly recommend this property

October 2017 - Villa Trotta is a beautiful well cared for home with a spectacular view. The outdoor terraces and a lovely pool with nice outdoor furnishings make dining and relaxing outside very nice. The kitchen is well equipped with plenty of glasses, cookware, etc. The bedrooms are very nice and three of them have a lovely view. The house could easily hold four couples or more. Villa Trotta is just outside the main part of the town of Perdifumo and it is easy to walk there. I would highly recommend this property.

This was my second time renting with Summer In Italy and I highly recommend them. The communications are timely and clear, the materials provided prior to departure are very helpful and the properties are always even better than we expect them to be based upon their descriptions. It is really helpful that photos of all the rooms are provided.

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Everything was just perfect!

September 2017 - Villa Trotta is a lovely and spacious brick villa located in a quiet and peaceful area. There is a breathtaking view of the Amalfi Coast, Capri and Ischia. The view really is to die for! Villa Trotta was very clean, has comfortable beds and the kitchen is fully equipped with lots of plates. It's so charming. We loved the outside shower with the sunset view.

The town of Perdifumo has everything you need and it will take about 25 minutes to walk there from the villa. Perdifumo has grocery stores, bars, restaurants, pizzeria's, cake shops. We simply enjoyed everything of our holiday, the peace and quiet, the location, the villa itself with the lovely swimming pool, everything was just perfect! We had an extraordinary authentic experience!

We were pleasantly surprised with the information provided by Summer In Italy during the planning stage of our trip. They were very friendly and answered all our questions quickly. Thank you so much. We would love to book with Summer In Italy again in the future.

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Fantastic family holiday

August 2017 - We had two fantastic weeks in the villa. Two families (10 persons) were completely enthusiastic.

We were very impressed by the view and by the furnishings of the house. The pool was cleaned regularly, and a cleansing force came after the first week to clean the bathrooms and get all the beds fresh. We used the wood stove - for which extra wood was delivered - and the barbecue regularly, and we spent wonderful evenings on the huge terrace overlooking the bay of Salerno.

The villa is off the beaten track, no question. But we enjoyed the peace and the idyllic countryside around us and the view is breathtaking. This place is well worth the money for children and adults have their money. The departure was very difficult for all.

The organization was outstanding. Thank you for everything.

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Great to be off the tourist track

July 2017 - Really enjoyed our stay at Villa Trotta - great to be off the tourist track and in the tranquility of the area.

Summer In Italy were really very helpful and answered all queries quickly and with great information, I will recommend you for sure, thank you!

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A superb villa

July 2017 - Villa Trotta is superb, only problem is trying to match it in the future, it may have spoiled us completely! The views are stunning, the sunsets ever changing. Favourite time, late evening putting the world to rights under the magnificent intertwining Kiwi trees forming the arbour by the kitchen.

Don't miss Enzo in his red van when he beeps and stops and says to follow him to town, where he sells his 5-liter organic vats of red wine and some delicious salami's.

The local shop in Perdifumo has everything you need for day to day things and a small deli counter, meaning you only have to venture further for a big shop if that's the way you want to go. The Pizza place through Town is as good as everybody else has posted.

Have used Summer in Italy since 2009 and can't fault the service. No improvement suggestions, pretty perfect as you are.

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Wonderful views, great sunsets

June 2017 - Very nice and well equipped villa. Wonderful views, great sunsets.

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We had a fantastic time!

May 2017 - We had a fantastic time! The terrace, the view and the garden too lovely for words and the house was also beautiful. Lovely to have an open fire for chilly evenings.

Overwhelmed with the beauty

September 2016 - My husband and I very much enjoyed Villa Trotta. Our children and grandchildren were overwhelmed with the beauty of the location.

We had a pizza night using the outside pizza oven and the staff were great.

The distance to town allowed some of our group to walk to town and mix with the locals. The fruit on site was very enjoyable and we picked kiwis and figs.

Would highly recommend the villa for families or large groups of adults travelling together. There is lots of space so you don't feel like you are on top of one another. The Cilento Coast in general is a beautiful place to be.

Summer In Italy is a great company to deal with. Very attentive to details and requests made of them.

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Really enjoyed

September 2016 - Villa Trotta is a perfect place for a group of people to spend their holidays. The house and location are great, especially the terrace with its view.

Thanks to the owner, we really enjoyed being there.

Everything was fine with Summer In Italy.

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A wonderful place

June 2016 - We enjoyed our stay in Villa Trotta very much. Especially the patio makes the villa a wonderful place. And the pool of course. And the garden. And the wiew. We will be back!

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A hidden gem

May 2016 - Villa Trotta is a hidden gem. We arrived early and met the caretaker who was a smiley lady pleased to help but little English spoken (translate came in very handy), she showed us around and explained the layout (visually). We stayed for 11 nights and every one of them slept like a baby, our room had the balcony so to wake up to that view was a pleasure. We had a few days of cloud and rain but even then the view took on a whole new meaning when your above the cloud in the valley. On both Tuesday’s we had Anna visit with her family and cooked us pizzas and then fussili pasta in the kitchen all homemade even given her special ricotta cheese all served on the open large terrace.

The village is a 20 minute walk and it has a great atmosphere with a bakery, shop and cafe. Whilst there we even met the local farmer who brought us wine and olive oil. If you are looking for an authentic Italian experience all wrapped up with plenty of peace and quiet this truly if is the place to go. Bellissimo...

I must state that in all our years of travelling the world we have never (we truly mean NEVER!) received the type of customer service we received from Summer In Italy. A massive shout to Anita and especially Melanie for the outstanding relation she built with us to ensure we enjoyed ever moment of our stay, from advice on places to eat to arranging dining experiences thank you all so much. Thanks again to everyone who made some very VERY special memories for our family. :)

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Excellent

August 2015 - Absolutely fabulous house. Stunning view. Location is also good.

The town very nearby has everything you need. A small shop, a butcher, cafe and a restaurant.

We made a lot of food at Villa Trotta. Couple evenings we went to the local pizzeria. One evening we had "mamma" cook for. Summer in Italy organized this and it was great. Mamma cooked us a three course traditional Italian meal. It was just perfect!

We stayed for one week (with other couples together with children). Everyone of us recommends Villa Trotta warmly.

Top notch service. We will definitely itse your services again!

Excellent

September 2014 - Villa Trotta is a delightful place to relax! The location is really quiet and undisturbed.

It is well equipped and you can easily stay there with two families. The equipment is complete, it really lacks nothing! It has a great view, a spacious garden and a great pool perfect for kids. The description of the house on the web site agrees 100% with the reality, photos are absolutely true to the original!

The owner very kind and the service perfect!

We would love to come again!

Grazie mille, Luca!!! The organization of our holiday worked very well and we will book again with Summer In Italy!

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Excellent

August 2014 - Oh... amazing Villa Trotta!

We stayed in August... it's a wonderful place where adults and children can enjoy their holidays. There is everything you need.

If it is possible we will be back again next year.

South of Italy is a beautiful place... Villa Trotta is the best base from which to visit and to which you return... Feeling home.

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Fantastic

July 2014 - We had a fabulous holiday at Villa Trotta!

The house and garden were great, the views were spectacular and it had all we needed.

We did have a couple of storms which caused a flood in one bedroom and bathroom but guess the villa was built for hot sunny climate.

Enjoyed our stay!

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Fantastic

July 2014 - We enjoyed Villa Trotta very much, everything was there.

When we first arrived to the villa we thought we might have to get a helicopter to take us off the mountain, but soon after we realized we were only 20-25 minutes to the sea.

People in the area were extremely friendly and helpful.

All in all it was a great vacation for all of us.

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Excellent

July 2014 - Magnificent experience.

Had a few issues with the electricity that were fixed immediately even though the owner lives some distance away.

Sunsets and dinner on the terrace every night. We were there for the feast of St. Anthony (last Sunday in June) and were treated to a firework display and music in the tiny piazza.

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Excellent

June 2014 - We had a wonderful stay at Villa Trotta. The photos on the homepage did not lie. The view is excellent and the house very nice.

We also enjoyed the interactions with the local people who were very friendly. The cleaning staff was very kind and helpful.

I think Summer In Italy has provided an excellent service and I have recommended your firm to other friends. We will most likely use Summer In Italy next time we plan a holiday in Italy.

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Excellent

September 2013 - We had a fantastic stay at Villa Trotta. The house is full of character and very homely, the location is secluded and private but within easy reach of the village of Perdifumo which has a couple of shops with anything you'll need for the house/kitchen.

The position and view from the house is absolutely breathtaking... it's quite easy to while away the days and nights on the terrace mesmerised by the view in front of you.

Didn't want to leave Villa Trotta and will go back again without a doubt if we are ever back in this beautiful part of Italy.

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Excellent

June 2013 - We really enjoyed Villa Trotta. Impressive house and incredible terrace view.

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Excellent

October 2012 - Villa Trotta has a way of making you feel at home and want to come back and visit again.

Nestled on the side of the mountains, in the outskirts of the town of Perdifumo, it offers wonderful vistas to enjoy in the peace and quiet of its terraces, surrounded by grape vines, fruit trees and flowering pots.

>Villa Trotta's kitchen is the ideal place to meet for cooking together and sharing meals. It is clean, and equipped with the basic needs for preparing wonderful meals.

Although Perdifumo is a small town, you can find everything you need, including mouth watering croissants baked fresh every morning.

There are few but good restaurants in the area, including a nearby Agriturismo called Eucaliptus where the food is great and the prices very reasonable.

The sleeping facilities are adequately comfortable, and the bathrooms, despite small shower stalls, are very clean and offer abundant hot water.

One excellent thing about Villa Trotta is its water supply and water pressure in both the upper and lower levels of the Villa.

The Villa's formal dinning room is where the wifi is located, which, by the way, was more than adequate for our needs. We ended up using the dinning room as the centre for all our computers and camera equipment. We spent many hours there downloading photos and discussing the places we had visited.

Villa Trotta has cable TV and a big flat screen television, which kept some of us abreast of the news, but was not used too often. Sitting in the terrace under the stars was always the preferred mode of unwinding after an activity filled day.

There is no such thing as the perfect location, or even the perfect vacation, but if you are looking to spend some days and experience the peace and enchantment of life in the Italian countryside, then Villa Trotta is the place for you.

Keep up the cleanliness and the great water supply.

You guys offer a good service, as well excellent and personal communication during the renting process. Your newsletter is also very helpful and informative. I would feel very comfortable recommending you to my friends. Thanks for a great experience.

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Excellent

June 2012 - few families with kids and babies: we really enjoyed our stay at Villa Trotta.

Very spacious (large kitchen, bedrooms, living-room, 2 terraces), fully equipped with kitchenware, restroom's stuff, unlimited number of towels, no problems with hot water and gas, all necessary things at hand... 2 fireplaces and an wood-oven, barbecue, nice garden, and really beautiful surroundings and views.

Ideal for hiking, trekking, cycling.

We also took trips to Naples, Pompeii, Vesuvius and Capri, Salerno, Agropoli (beaches).

It's very comfortable/fresh inside during hot temperatures, as the villa has thick stone-walls.

The service was perfect.

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Excellent

June 2012 - Spacious, relaxing, extraordinary view - excellent for a large family or group of friends. We enjoyed it immensely. The beds were comfortable. The house cooled off nicely in the evening.

We booked with you since our last villa rental in Positano a few years ago was through you and handled beautifully.

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Excellent

June 2011 - It was an amazing place to visit in the Italian countryside. It's so beautiful I felt like I was living in a postcard with the views. It was so peaceful and restful.

My only disappointment, and it's minor, is that I wish I had researched ahead of time on restaurants that were open in the area, we ended up finding them later, though. If you're coming to cook, or with a cook, haha, no problems.

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Excellent

April 2011 - We just returned from a wonderful 2 weeks at Villa Trotta in April 2011 with a total of 11 people in the house at various times. I was amazed to find this home and the area to be even more beautiful than the website suggests.

Our children were pleased to be able to play for hours on the spacious terrace and chase lizards all afternoon. It is a quiet, peaceful place with the most stunning vistas. The perfect spot for a group more interested in cooking and relaxing than seeing a bunch of touristy things. Highly recommended.

The company, Summer in Italy was also very professional, responsive and a pleasure to work with.

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Excellent

April 2011 - We thought Villa Trotta was marvellous, full of character, and in a wonderful position, plenty of different access roads so didn't have to use the same ones all the time. The roads were quite a challenge in our mini bus!

We used the pizza oven a couple of times, fun as we'd never used one before and pizza turned out well but in super quick time. We were able to have breakfast on the terrace most mornings.

As expected it was quite a cold house so we did use the fire, but it did tend to fill the living room with smoke, not so pleasant. We had one or two short power cuts but not at critical times so that didn't matter, the bathrooms were wonderful and how great to provide bathrobes for each of us.

The people of Perdifumo were lovely, the local shop provided all our food and drink needs for the house.

We visited Pompeii and Vesuvius, Sorrento and the Amalfi coast, Mt Sacro, Palinuro and a sea trip, Paestum and Castellabate, all were equally rewarding for different reasons. We'd love to see more of Cilento and maybe introduce more friends or family to it on our next trip, I'm sure there will be one I just don't know when!

Thanks for providing a lovely venue for first holiday in Italy.

Excellent

October 2010 - Loved Villa Trotta, suited all our needs, will definitely recommend to friends and family who may visit from our part of the world.

Excellent service, absolutely no complaints.

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Excellent

September 2010 - Villa Trotta is a little piece of heaven! We absolutely loved it!

Everything was excellent - Villa Trotta could not have been better. One tip to give first-time guests would be to keep the back door closed at night so the bugs don't come in. They are attracted to the lights in the house. Other than that, you have an amazing property!

The Summer In Italy team were very receptive and very helpful. We have already give out your information to people who might be interested in an Italy vacation. Thanks for everything!

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Excellent

September 2010 - We enjoyed our stay very much. The villa was excellent although the weather was not so good at the end of the week.

Website good and easy to use. Wide range of property in the area we were interested in.

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Excellent

August 2010 - We very much enjoyed our stay at Villa Trotta and in Perdifumo.

We were met with friendliness among all the local people, in spite of our lack of understanding of Italian language.

We are very pleased with your services, and will consider to book with You in the future.

Excellent

April 2010 - Stunning views, but absolutely freezing early April when we were there.

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Excellent

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Excellent

July 2009 - We all had a wonderful time at Villa Trotta and would love to return again in the future.

Your service has been excellent.

Excellent

June 2009 - We thoroughly enjoyed Villa Trotta. It was wonderful coming "home" each evening of our week. The views are spectacular. The rooms were very large and comfortable. The kitchen was well equipped. Plenty of seating both inside and out.

Couldn't ask for a nicer accommodation.

Excellent

May 2009 - The villa is lovely, with a view to die for! Very spacious and well equipped. The locals in the village were very friendly, and responded well to sign language!

We had a lovely relaxing time and the weather was very good whilst we were there.

The computer and Internet access were a welcome bonus.

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Excellent

May 2009 - This villa is a little bit of paradise!!!

We absolutely loved our stay here and enjoyed every single moment. It is peaceful and serene with incredible views from the terrace and bedrooms.

The kitchen is well-stocked with necessities and the whole villa is wonderfully spacious. Really appreciated the converters already in the rooms.

You are amazing!!! You answered every question, followed up with incredibly helpful information and were unfailingly cheerful, kind and thoughtful. Thank you!

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Excellent

May 2009 - We had a fantastic holiday - lovely villa and spectacular views.

The villa is very well furnished - evidently a well loved family home.

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Excellent

September 2008 - We enjoyed very much our stay.

The only remark is that if you would like to go to a restaurant for dinner in the evening, it is not easy. Be prepared to cook your meals by yourself.

Excellent

September 2008 - Very enjoyable stay, facilities excellent.

Very good service, directions and advice perfect.

Excellent

August 2008 - It was lovely to be away from everything.

The villa was furnished very well and comfortable. I especially liked my bathroom. The bathroom below could do with some air in it as it could get a little damp.

We will return though as all in all it was a great break.

Many thanks

Excellent

June 2008 - Lovely property, indescribable view.

Keep up the good work, much appreciate the fast response even late in the evening (but make sure to get some sleep too)!

Excellent

May 2008 - The word that comes to mind for Villa Trotta is "magical". The villa is more awesome than the pictures can portray with views to the Amalfi coast on a clear day. Our group of six had such a wonderful time there.

We took turns cooking each night, even making pizza in the wood-fired oven.

The village people couldn't have been nicer, especially at the two alimentari shops where we bought most of our groceries.

A favorite place was the large kitchen where we spent several nights lingering over dinner, great wine and conversation.

The weather in late May was a little showery and cool but couldn't dampen our enjoyment of the place, and when the sun was out, the terrace was the best.

We can't wait to go back!

All of the rave reviews about your services and properties are not without merit. Your site is easy to use, helpful with information about the properties and area, and the information is accurate. We will certainly recommend you to all of our friends.

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Excellent

April 2008 - We absolutely loved the house, the view and the beautiful landscape...

Very nice furniture, will try to find the time to return in the warmer season next time.

Thank you for the great experience.

Excellent

September 2007 - We really enjoyed our stay at Villa Trotta, everyone we came into contact with both at the villa and in Perdifumo were friendly and helpful.

It was our first experience as a family staying in a villa in Italy and I hope it won't be the last!

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Excellent

June 2007 - The Villa Trotta was in a gorgeous location with an amazing view.

It was very spacious and comfortable. We loved all the tables and ate meals at each one.

We really enjoyed our stay and would like to visit again sometime.

Excellent

May 2007 - Beautiful house, beautiful location.

We spent most of our time on the terrace.

Our kids, 6 and 7, loved exploring the house and garden.

Great website. Very responsive.

Excellent

May 2007 - We traveled to Villa Trotta on April 28th for one week. This was our second trip to Villa Trotta. We love the area, the house, the village of Perdifumo, and the people.

The weather did not cooperate this time. The weather was unseasonably cool and rained just about every day, but we did not let that stop us. We had breakfast daily at the Ruota Pastry Shop. Cornetto and cappuccino, what a way to start the day! Molto Buono!!!

The Malone Alimentari, owned by Graziella, a lovely lady, was the place to buy a bottle of local wine, fresh vegetables, fruits, pasta and cheese. We were eating fresh cherry tomatoes from Sicily in April!!! They tasted wonderful.

We made day trips to San Mauro, Acciaroli, Agropoli and Santa Maria. We enjoyed staying in Perdifumo in the evenings. We would ride or walk over to Ruota Pizzeria and feast on some of the best pizza available today.

We found we enjoyed Italy even more the second time around. We learned some Italian and decided that for our next trip we will have completed Level 3 of Italian before we return. I figure I can do this in a year. Then I will need to come back and practise my Italian some more!!!

Grazie! Viva Italia!!!

Love Summer In Italy. I recommend you to people all the time!!! Love Villa Trotta!

Excellent

April 2007 - Villa Trotta was a beautiful place to spend a holiday. We were given all the information we needed on arrival to ensure we got the best out of the villa.

Unfortunately, we did not pre-book firewood, and we would have loved to take advantage of the amazing fireplace. However, we are coming back in October so we will certainly rectify that.

I can't wait to come back again - I didn't want to leave!

Excellent

September 2006 - Enjoy? That doesn't begin to describe how wonderful our vacation was at Villa Trotta. I was so comfortable there that my own home felt strange when I came back.

Anyone looking for the opportunity to get a real taste of what it would be like to live in Italy, should treat themselves to a stay at Villa Trotta.

Excellent

August 2006 - Enjoy is an understatement. We fell in love with it at first sight.

From arrival to departure we felt at home and it was such a privilege to wake up each morning in such a beautiful place and such an elegant and spacious house. We shall definitely come back - not sure when - but as soon as we can.

The village was great as well. Sitting out in the village square watching Cinema under the stars, even though we couldn't understand a word of it was brilliant - but that was just one experience in a week of them.

Next time we'll probably have a fortnight. Thanks.

Excellent

July 2006 - We loved every minute of our stay at Villa Trotta.

To be honest with you, we were not too sure during the drive from Praiano to Perdifumo if we had made the right choice because the scenery was not colorful as in Praiano. But upon entering Villa Trotta, we all felt right that we had made the right decision!

The bedrooms were perfect, the kitchen and living room were so comfortable, and the views of the mountains from any angle were perfect.

The arbor outside the kitchen was the perfect place to have lunch or play cards as the natural cover of the kiwi trees was unbelievable!

The short stroll into town (about 20-25 minutes) was very relaxing but you definitely need a car to get around beyond Perdifumo. The short drive to Agropoli or Santa Maria di Castellabate (plus the other towns nearby) was an experience to remember with all the curves in the road but we enjoyed it.

The evenings at Villa Trotta were very relaxing and the added touch of the occasional fireworks from nearby towns made it even more special.

We were greeted at Villa Trotta by Franco and Gioconda [the owners] who were very nice and extremely patient with our poor command of the Italian language. I must admit that I never thought my Spanish would come in handy in Italy but Franco and I did well conversing in Spanish.

We truly enjoyed every minute at Villa Trotta and hope to visit again.

Excellent

July 2006 - My family and I really enjoyed our stay at the villa. We thought it was very beautiful.

It slept us all comfortably and we thoroughly enjoyed our view from the terrace as we enjoyed eating our meals outside.

Having Perdifumo close by made shopping easy and convenient. It was a very relaxing and ejoyable place. We look forward to returning.

Thanks for all your support. We appreciated being able to reach you easily to answer questions and concerns about our stay in the villa.

Excellent

June 2006 - Although we were initially a little nervous about being as isolated as we were we loved the location and the house itself.

We found the villagers warm and very helpful. Our daily food shopping trips were a joy and an achievement in international communication mixed with hefty doses of humor.

Our kids had a great time playing cards with all the old men who gathered daily at the local bar and hanging out with all the teenagers at local (and excellent) pizzeria.

Just wanted to make special mention of the helpfulness of the Summer In Italy folks who were extremely accomodating. Great job!

Excellent

June 2006 - We had an absolute splendid time!

The villa was gorgeous and provided us with some much needed rest and relaxation.

Our only regret is that we didn't rent it for 2 weeks instead on 1 week.

I was referred to you by a friend who stay at Villa Trotta and loved it.

Excellent

April 2006 - The Villa

No question Villa Trotta is a lovely, charming home in an exceptional setting. The view from the enormous deck is breath taking and difficult to do justice to in a mere description. The home is very spacious, furnished with many beautiful antiques. The kitchen as described by others is fabulous and contains everything you need to set up housekeeping.

We were greeting promptly by our wonderful hosts, who also provided us with a welcoming bottle of wine and organic olive oil from their groves – delicious!

We enjoyed our stay very much and hope to return some day.

We are including a few things that we learned on our stay to help people on future visits.

Supermarket

If you want to shop in a larger grocery store, the only true Super Mercato we found is located about 15 km away near the town of Pieta. You can get there either of two ways. The first is to continue past Villa Trotta along the same road on which you came out of Perdifumo. This will wind you down to the seaside town of Agnone. Turn right and follow the lovely seaside drive through Casa del Conte and just past the turn to Punta Licosa (left side) there is a large Super Mercato on the right hand side. Includes a fresh fish market. Note – as with most establishments in rural Italy, although they are likely open 7 days a week, they will most certainly close between 1pm and 5pm (1300 – 1700 hrs) seven days per week. Get used to it and plan accordingly.

You may also get to this Super Mercato by traveling back through Perdifumo (the same way you came in) and take the sign showing Castellabate (straight/left) rather than the Agropoli direction (hard right) about 2km past the town square. This road will wind along a ridge taking you into the hilltop town of Castellabate. Follow the winding switchback road down to the seaside highway again (enjoy the stunning view without driving off the road!). At the bottom make a hard left onto the main road and follow it through the traffic light (yes, there is one) to the Supermarket just ahead of Casa del Conte.

Heading Back Towards Salerno/Naples

We were recommended to take the beach road if we were heading back toward Salerno (as opposed to inland through Battipaglia) and this turned out to very pleasant. The beach highway SS 175 moves at a steady pace compared to the start/stop of the SS18. Best way to get onto it is to take the Paestum exit(s) and continue along toward Laura. As you near Salerno the traffic slows but you have the choice to turn back toward the SS18 or wait until you get to the Autostrade sign which leads you back to the A3. It takes about the same time as going through Battipaglia but was much more pleasant of a drive.

We highly recommend that you purchase a road map (carta stradale) of Campania which are readily available in the Area di Servizio’s along the main autostrade for about 5-8 Euros. Mapquest has some decent coverage but no distances and not all the secondary roads are clearly marked.

Agropoli

The town of Agropoli also contains pretty much all of the services you may require including Bancomat (ATM) and shopping. The town pedestrian square is quite lively in the evening. You can park as you enter town and hike up the street (which turns into one way against you) or turn right when you hit the one way, then left at the T intersection and find the local parking lot (make sure you buy a ticket from the machine for 1 Euro or you may get towed). Found a great restaurant (pizza and full meals) on the left as you enter town.

Perdifumo

This town is actually quite self sufficient and has almost anything you might need. The townfolk are very friendly and will make all attempts to communicate. We usually walked to town (about 15-20 minutes from the Villa) or, if we drove, parked in the lot just as you come into town and walked from there. There are two Alimentaries on the left as you walk into town, the first one slightly larger but both very friendly. The bar/café across from the church usually has a good crowd. There is also a small store selling jewelry and crafts, a Tabacchi and Post Office nearby. Further down the street there is a Macelleria (butcher) on the left which has great fresh beef, pork and chicken (no seafood). Turning left at the town square the Ruota Pizza and Pasticceria are across the street from each other. Pizza is usually open at 7:30 pm on Friday, Sat and Sunday and is not to be missed. A nice British lady (Mia?) works in the Pasticceria and, of course speaks fluent English (also a great place to get sweet treats).

Excellent

April 2006 - WOW villa trotta is AMAZING ! Espcially the views. You can see the sea!

My favourite day was the last day in the afternoon i went horse riding and it wasn't just normal riding it was western style! It was so much fun the place was called the Old Ranch.

In the evening we went to the local pizzeria called La Ruota. We had no idea that it was karaoke nigh. We joined in on a couple of Italian songs and English songs and mixed with the really friendly locals! Me and my cousin went and talked with the local children. What a way to end your holiday!!

I really want to go back. The beaches were amazing and the water was crystal clear! I definately want to go back. By Lauren age 9. Visited Villa Trotta 1.4.06 - 9.4.06.

Summer in italy, super efficent, booked again with them. Lauren's mum xxx.

Excellent

November 2005 - We all loved our week at Villa Trotta, and really can't recommend it enough. We stayed in four different places during our trip through Italy, from the lakes up in northern Italy, to Tuscany, to Villa Trotta and then Roma, but Villa Trotta was by far the best place we stayed on our holiday.

Perdifumo was a beautiful little town, the beaches were fantastic, and the walking in the Cilento National Park was a highlight. We even used the pizza oven.

It was all just perfect, much better than expected.

Gioconda and Franco [the owners] were so hospitable and made sure we had everything we needed, not to mention the olive oil (superb), wine and chocolate figs...

I found the website quite appealing, but it was Summer in Italy's concentration on the local area around Salerno that made me feel most comfortable with the information, and the swift and personable replies to my email enquiries. The directions and advice were also excellent and helpful.

Excellent

October 2005 - Villa Trotta was a fantastic place to spend two weeks. It is better suited for those looking for both peace and quiet and "off the beaten path" activities instead of traditional sightseeing. That said, we did do day trips to Agropoli, Acciaroli, Paestum, and to the Amalfi Coast via the ferry from Salerno.

We loved just reading on the terrace, heading into town for groceries, and then cooking in the wonderful kitchen.

We were one couple for one week and two couples for one week and, although we did not make use of all of the space, the Villa was not overwhelming for only two people. That said, we did decide we would try to come back with either a large group of friends or extended family to really fill the place the next time - there is plenty of space for a large group and would be a great place for big dinners, etc.

We loved the area. We ate at La Ruota, the pizzeria in the lower part of Perdifumo, which was great fun, as it was the place to be in town on Saturday night. A tip for those with limited Italian: there is a very friendly British woman who works at the pasticceria across from La Ruota, who gave us very helpful information on when things were open, etc. She also had some very tasty pastries and nice outdoor seating. The cafe on the square in the center of town was also fun, with cozy tables inside, perfect for card playing on a rainy day and clearly the hub of activity for a group of local older gentlemen.

The owners of the Da Silvana alimentari (on the left as you enter Perdifumo on the higher road) were very patient with our limited Italian and we have vowed to return with better language skills. The macelleria was a bigger challenge, language-wise, but had the most amazing fresh sausage.

The white figs and grapes growing around the Villa were delicious and part of our daily meals. We were only sad we missed the apples and kiwis!

We made use of the pizza oven which was great fun and not too hard to do (we looked up how to build the fire on the internet).

Other tips: there are two internet cafes in Agropoli, one directly below the train station with multiple computers (across the street from the enoteca that sells local wines and was great fun - we recommend the local De Conciliis wines). The other is in the Gran Caffe Mediterraneo on the road that run north along the water. They also conveniently sell good gelato. There is also a bar with a computer on the local road from Perdifumo to Castellabate - it's about 2/3rds of the way there on the right hand side and is called something like Manhattan Bar or New York Bar.

We also rented a cell phone for our trip, which we were glad we did, as we would have otherwise been completely unreachable and unable to do things like call restaurants in advance of our day trips to make reservations.

All in all, a wonderful, relaxing trip that gave us a taste of local life. We will definitely return.

Summer in Italy was incredibly convenient and responsive via email. We had no problems at all with the booking, directions, or otherwise.

Excellent

September 2005 - We LOVED Villa Trotta and the Village of Perdifumo and the Village of Santa Maria Castelbate.

Words cannot describe the beauty of Villa Trotta. This casa is a lovely stone house, with walls that are two feet deep. Most of the rooms have large french doors leading out to a breathtaking view. We are on the top of a mountain looking down on the valley below and off in the distance you can even see the sea.

Here at Villa Trotta you are surrounded by olive trees, apple trees, peach trees, grapevines, kiwi vines, shrubs of rosemary and lavender and so much more. This is what it must have felt like in the garden of eden. Everything to sustain life seems to be at your fingertips.

We vacationed at the Villa in the early part of September, 2005. We are not your average tourist. We do not enjoy visiting the tourist traps. If this is you, you will not be disappointed with Villa Trotta. It's a slice of Italy.

We stayed locally. We visited Santa Maria to enjoy her beach and some of the shops and restaurants. Perdifumo has a great pizza/restaurant called Ruota. The pizza is wood fired and great tasting. It is across from the pastry shop. The woman in the pastry shop's name is Barbara. She is originally from England. She was great to talk to and helpful not to mention... some great pastries too!!

There are two mini-markets in Perdifumo. Here is where we bought some of our groceries and produce.

After about three days of eating out all the time I had the desire to cook again. We were able to buy fresh pasta, bread and vegetables in Perdifumo. The kitchen was well equiped. The only thing missing was sharp knives. But I would not suggest you bring any on the plane over! Ha!

Overall I thoroughly recommend Villa Trotta as a beautiful off-the-beaten-track getaway!!!

Excellent

September 2005 - We did very much enjoy our stay in this beautiful house with the incredible views.

The big kitchen and terraces are good places to cook, eat, laugh and sit together.

In the mornings one of us had the pleasure to pick some fresh fruit.

The peace and quiet of Villa Trotta on one hand, means quite a lot of driving on the other hand.

All of the rooms of villa trotta have nice furniture and we found everything perfect.

All in all it´s a very nice place to go.

Excellent

June 2005 - Fantastic Villa, Perdifumo was the real Italy, welcoming and warm people.

Italy was mad (as usual - Air strike, Motorway Bombed and Pompei closed for a day).

For us we should have spent the week locally there was no need to go to Ercolano.

But would recommend it to any one.

We would like to encourage people to use the train to Pompei/Ercolano.

We went to Amalfi from Salerno on the boat - best way to see the coast and if we had known about the train would have been simpler.

Excellent

May 2005 - Top class had a great time

Would have no problem in recommending to friends

Excellent

April 2005 - We had a wonderful time at Villa Trotta.

The kitchen was very well equiped - it had everything you would need for a vacation and the dishwasher was a pleasant surprise.

We did have a little trouble finding the Villa upon arrival in Perdifumo. But we asked in town and the women we spoke with knew exactly where the house was located.

We would definitely book another vacation rental with Summer In Italy again.

Excellent

November 2004 - As soon as we found our way to Villa Trotta (it was not that hard, just be sure to do it during the day the first time if you can!) we knew we had arrived at a special place. Gioconda and Franco [the owners]had waited for us and made us feel very welcome right away.

It is a very large villa, and there were absolutely no disappointments as we discovered room after room of antiques and forever views from all of the windows.

Perdifumo is definitely not a touristy place, and we really felt like we had a true Italian vacation in the charming and spacious country Villa Trotta.

I would defintely visit this villa again - even though it is a little bit of a drive, it is worth it!

You run your company very professionally, and I am sure you make every customer feel as special and catered to as you did for me and my family. Thank you!

Excellent

October 2004 - We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Villa Trotta.

The house and location were wonderful and the owners and local people made us very welcome.

We will definitely visit again and next time we'll come for two weeks.

We were very impressed with the professionalism of Summer in Italy and the web site was fantastic. You're doing a great job - keep it up!! Thanks to everyone who made this such a wonderful holiday.

Excellent

October 2004 - We loved our quiet week at Villa Trotta!

It was the perfect place to relax after 2 full weeks of sight-seeing through Italy.

Excellent

September 2004 - We loved every minute of our week at Villa Trotta.

Can't wait to get my schedule sorted out for next year so that we can book a blissful two weeks. Thank you!

Excellent

July 2004 - For our second time in Villa Trotta, we enjoyed it even more than the fist time last year. Knowing the system of Summerinitaly, the very friendly owners of the house, it was a real pleasure to come back. We tried to stay more at the house, but it is also hard to resist to the charming places around: this year's specials: Ravello and Palinuro.

Despite the fact that people from Perdifumo do not really understand why we feel so good to be there, we will go back, and if possible for more than a week

Excellent

June 2004 - Villa Trotta was everything we were looking for. The villa was great and the facilities were excellent.

We wanted to experience the real Italy. The locals too were very friendly and we were made to feel very welcome in the nearby village of Perdifumo. The nearby beach (20-30 minute drive) of Acciaroli was very good.

It was a pleasure to book with you.

Excellent

June 2004 - We had an excellent holiday at Villa Trotta and really enjoyed ourselves. It is a very spacious property with fine views of the countryside, and in the distance the sea. A very peaceful, beautiful location.

Your website is well designed and clear to use, and the information you provide is well balanced and useful. The comments from past clients are exceptionally useful. We booked with you because we really liked the description and pictures of Villa Trotta and your clients' comments about it, and we thought the price for the week was fair. The booking and payment process was also very smooth and we were kept well informed by your emails.

We would certainly like to book again, and have recommended your website to a friend who is looking to book either this summer or next.

Thank you very much for an excellent villa. We had an excellent holiday.

Excellent

May 2004 - There is no way to capture in a photo the absolutely breathtaking views...... and the gardens add so much to it. I must say that the Villa Trotta was not what I was expecting - it was so much better.

We had been traveling for many hours between the plane and the driving and we were all very tired and a little but grumpy, but when we got to the villa it was all forgotten. Though it was after dark when we arrived, even at night the views were overwhelming! And the villa itself was just gorgeous! It was considerably larger than I had imagined and was equipped with anything we needed and then some! Very tastefully decorated too.

It's a little out of the way and is a bit tricky to find, but so very worth it. Absolutely peaceful, yet not too far from the restaurants and shops (maybe 20-30 minutes by car).

I will certainly be back again - for a longer stay this time! I 100% whole heartedly recommend the Villa Trotta !

Excellent

April 2004 - The stay at Villa Trotta was great. The surroundings were beautiful, the people in Perdifumo were very friendly and helpful.

One of the highlights of our stay was the preparation of pizza's in the brick oven. First of all we bought flour, tomatoes and other ingredients while getting advice from habitants of Pedifumo. Afterwards we made a fire in the brick oven and finally we delighted ourselves with wonderful pizza's.

The house was perfect. Lots of space and enough comfort.

You are a good company. Good advice, very helpful and very friendly. The website contains good information and the response on you mail is very fast.

So..., keep on enlighting your customers!!!

Excellent

April 2004 - We did all enjoy staying at Villa Trotta. And we are planning to come back again.

The owners were really friendly and helpful. We appreciated to find the "basics" in the kitchen such as salt, pepper, tea, coffee, lemons.

We liked Perdifumo and the people there very much.

We were happy in general.

Excellent

October 2003 - We are now back in Sweden again after a lovely vacation in Italy and Villa Trotta.

Many thanks to Gioconda and her family for your hospitality, letting us stay in your beautiful house. It really felt like our home for a week, something we will never forget.

We very much tried to live "Italian" in Perdifumo. It took us a few days to understand the "shopping hours". We are a very early family, getting up in the morning and also a very tired family at nights, and that is hard if you want to go to restaurants. In Italy you have dinner very late..... but that is what travelling is all about, getting to know other countries cultures.

I will really recommend Summer in Italy to all my friends in Sweden, you are a very professional agent. Italy is great, we will come back some day.

Excellent

October 2003 - I have to tell you that when we first arrived at Villa Trotta, we all tried to act dignified until Gioconda and Franco [the owners] walked out the door. Then my friend, Karon, and I looked at each other and squealed in delight. Villa Trotta was exactly the place I had dreamed about...over a hundred years old, stone walls a foot and a half thick, screenless windows and balconies overlooking breathtaking views, tiled terraces, everything in place to make us feel welcome right down to the bottle of olive oil in the kitchen and the thick terry robes to wrap up in after a shower.

The people in the village of Perdifumo were marvelous. We stopped in the square to ask directions to the Villa and when we could not understand the gentleman's directions, he indicated that we should follow him. He went into his house, came out with a bicycle, and personally led us...he on his bicycle, we in our car...the mile and a half or so around the winding road to the villa. Amazing!

A day or two later we met the same gentleman in the bakery where he gave us a whole tin of a wonderful creation of figs and nuts. We also became "friends" of the proprietor of the alimentaria where we stopped nearly every day for more food. We enjoyed preparing many of our own meals "at home". It was so relaxing, especially after long days of sightseeing.

We did day trips to Pompeii, Paestum, the Amalfi Coast, and south along the coast to Palinuro. We were awed by the views of the coast from high above in Castellabate. Our favorite restaurant meal of the whole trip, including Rome, was there at Il Calesse.

The day of the blackout was our first day in the villa [on September 28th a nation-wide black-out left Italy with no electricity for part of the day]. We were all tired from traveling and three intense days of sight- seeing in Rome and had decided that we wanted to rest for a day (Sunday). One of our party happened to get up in the wee hours of the morning and noticed that not only was our nightlight off but that there were no lights over the entire valley. So we knew that it was a more widespread problem than just our villa, otherwise we might have been concerned. It was a rainy day. We had plenty of food and a fire in the fireplace was just the right touch. The day was perfect. The electricity came back on sometime late afternoon. It was probably off about 12 hours.

Gioconda and Franco are such lovely gracious hosts. They made us feel welcome and comfortable...even when we arrived early and she wasn't quite ready for us. Who wouldn't love them?!

You were, from the beginning, professional, helpful and patient in your dealings with us. We are grateful for the opportunity to have stayed in such a lovely home that gave us just the experience we had hoped for. Thank you. I have already told one interested friend about Summer In Italy and will continue to do so.

Excellent

September 2003 - At Villa Trotta we were greeted to the warm and friendly arrival of the owners. First impressions were better than we expected. The house is quite huge and I would imagine nice and cool in the very hot months with lovely high ceilings and lots of stone and tile flooring. A truly, very traditional rustic Italian home, just what we were looking for. The house is indeed very well appointed.

We enjoyed long relaxing breakfasts in the mornings and what was wonderful at this time of year (early September), we were able to help ourselves to fresh figs from the garden (white figs indigenous to the area). Bellissimo! And great for the digestion too! I imagine any one arriving maybe late October, there will be quite a harvest of grapes to tuck into!

The little town of Perdifumo is very quaint and we made a point of buying fresh bread from the bakery every morning amongst other essentials from the little grocery store nearby. There is also a small pharmacy and post office. The villagers were all very helpful and friendly. Also a good and cheap place to buy parmesan cheese. We took several chunks back with us to England! The only pizzeria in the small town was closed for the season.

Back at the house - Fantastic enormous terrace with glorious views over the residing countryside and a glimpse of the sea in the distance. So peaceful (this beats London Piccadilly Circus in the rush hour a thousand fold)! Watch out for mosquitoes. All bedrooms came with their own plug in mosquito repellents and there was even sting lotion on standby. We found all the beds very comfortable and everyone slept very well. Maybe it was down to the fresh mountain air or just a combination of full days and warm sunshine. There were plenty of towels to go round but do bring your own beach towel. Regrettably we didn't get round to cooking a meal but this definitely would have been on the agenda had we stayed a second week. The kitchen was well equipped, the only thing I missed was a kettle (but I guess that's a British thing)!

Mr & Mrs Trotta gave good directions to some of the best beaches and restaurants in the area. I would agree that Acciaroli was very nice and about the nearest best sandy beach (about 30 min journey by car) through winding, scenic mountainous roads. September was a good time to go as not too many tourists around at all, mainly Italians enjoying the last of the summer rays. We did a lot of mileage in 1 week so we didn't mind exploring a little further to beaches at Palinuro (approx 2 hrs by coast road). The coast line here is just that bit wilder and even more deserted. Palinuro cove has a small beach and is good for snorkeling. In fact there are caves nearby where you can go cave diving if you're in to that sort of thing! This is definitely pizza/pasta land, but there are also some great fish places to be had and we were lucky enough to stumble across a couple recommended by the locals. If you haven't brushed up on your Italian before you leave I recommend a good phrase book including a food guide. We found some of the best eateries at Castellabate which is a very pretty old medieval town perched on the hill. (Recommended by our hosts and about 30 mins drive). The coast road at the bottom of this town is very pretty and there is also a good choice of restaurants. Great gelati too!

We did the trip to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii (awesome) in one day! Pompeii needs about 4 hours to do it justice and wear sturdy shoes for both. We also had a day trip to Ravello (stunning) just to get a taste of the Amalfi coast and also Paestum (fascinating and also close to the villa area). Its amazing how much you can pack in to just 1 week but to do the area real justice I would definitely recommend 2 weeks minimum. There is so much to see and do and a car is absolutely essential, along with a very good map. I have already told all my friends about the great villa and beautiful location and only wish we had taken a longer holiday.

This is a fantastic place to relax and get away from it all kind of holiday, but also a good base for visiting other touristic sites in beautiful Italy.

Just so that other travellers do not make the same mistake...... We arrived as a party of 7 (all family) including 1 small child of four. We had quite a drive all the way down from Rome Ciampino with one hiccup on the way. Please be aware of the "Tele Pass" when you are driving through the tolls. The roads are very fast and we managed to get in the wrong lanes. We had two cars and ended up with fines approx £40 per car which we settled disgruntingly on departure! Not a good start to the holiday! It was approximately 8 or 9 euros per car for this particular stretch. As we began our climb into the hills towards our destination the views got more beautiful. This was more like it!

Excellent

August 2003 - We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Villa Trotta.

We have all decided that we liked our stay there the best out of the whole trip. Very relaxing and not touristy, like Tuscany was.

The girls worked in your local bakery for one night and had a great time. The townspeople were very friendly and helpful.

Thanks again for the use of your family villa and please know that it felt like home.

Excellent

May 2003 - Villa Trotta was just lovely, with magnificent views, set in a very peaceful location. This was just what we were hoping for. We were well received and looked after upon arrival, together with a cool refreshing drink. The Cilento national park is delightful with breathtaking views around every corner.

The abundance of wildflowers, birds and insect life we came across was most unexpected. The village of Perdifumo only had the Pizzeria which was cheap and cheerful, and not quite the 'restaurant' we expected. However, the pizzas were fine.

The road signs and directions in the region are pretty poor, once you come off the main SS network. Fortunately we had already purchased a very detailed map of the region which showed most of the little local roads. So after realising that most journeys would be expeditions, we kept a close eye on our directions and ensured we checked village by village exactly where we were. Suggest you explain this to everyone and tell them not to get stressed out the first day or so while they come to terms with this little idiosyncrasy of the road system.

We found that English was only spoken in those resort towns which had a more international tourist reputation. Therefore ensuring you have a good English-Italian phrase book, and practice pronunciation beforehand is a worthwhile investment.

Restaurants in the area:. the Eucalyptus was very good, but we spent a lot of time driving around looking for others. Suggest that you advise visitors to ensure that they shop for groceries etc. before arriving at the villa on Saturday afternoon, as there is limited availability in the village.

Some of the above can be taken as negative, but on the positive it meant that we were much closer to the real people and its way of life in the region. By the end of the holiday we had realised that this was not something that a package tour to a costal resort would ever give us, and so we saw the whole experience as very positive and enlightening.

Overall, we were very satisfied with our holiday. But you should know that we, and the friends that joined us, had only ever been to the more Northern parts of Italy. We decided to take a chance and book the villa, before consulting our friends. They were a little apprehensive at first but soon changed their minds. So for anyone looking for that peaceful, unspoilt and undisturbed get-away from it all holiday, but in comfortable and spacious accommodation, then this fits the bill perfectly.

Excellent

March 2003 - Villa Trotta is a tranquil haven. Set up the hillside among olive trees without other houses immediately around it, the Villa is quiet and peaceful. The higher elevation with the views down the hillside towards the sea is soothing. There are several terraces for enjoying the tranquillity. This is a wonderful place to relax.

The nearby village of Perdifumo is quaint and equipped with 2 alimentari, a great fresh meat market, bakery, 2 bars (1 with gelato and 1 with a pasticceria), and we also enjoyed filling our water bottles at the town spring.

The former olive mill is a comfortable house, fully outfitted and has an overall homey feel. It has 2 fireplaces and the talk of "the one that smokes" has been slightly exaggerated...as long as you build the fire in the rear of the fireplace it really doesn't smoke that much. Bedrooms are pretty and airy, three have double doors that open, two onto a little balcony so you can open the shutters and breathe in the fresh air and take in the pretty hillside view each morning. Aaaah, bellissima!

We truly hope to return to Villa Trotta as this is such a relaxing and beautiful place. Nearby activities including ventures into the Cilento National Park, trips down to the seaside at Palinuro and other beaches, restaurants and shops in Agropoli, and the real highlight, a visit to Paestum which is truly impressive. Mainly we would like to return to just enjoy the peace and quiet and the hospitality we received in little Perdifumo.

Excellent

May 2002 - The approach to Villa Trotta is a typical countryside drive through hilly terrain -- winding roads (use your horn on the curves!) and magnificent views that get better and better as you climb. To get to the villa you need to drive either through or around the pretty little village of Perdifumo, then further on for just over 1 km until you see the house.

The location couldn't be more beautiful -- the villa is perched at the top of a hill, with olive trees (belonging to the Trotta family) cascading down the slope below. In the side garden, there are cherry trees and rosemary bushes, as well as a narrow path down to the well-stocked woodshed just below the terrace.

From the huge, beautiful terrace, the view extends across the rolling hills to the sea beyond and even the Amalfi Coast in the distance, just around the curve of the bay. On a really clear day, you can just see the outlines of Capri.

Villa Trotta is more than peaceful -- very little traffic passes by, and for most of the day, the only sound is birdsong, plus the occasional crowing rooster or ringing church bell. At night, the silence is complete except for the chirping of the crickets in the olive grove.

During our week at Villa Trotta, we enjoyed having an early cup of coffee on the terrace every morning, listening to the cuckoos and songbirds, and watching the morning light spread across the hills. At night, we stepped outside to watch the stars -- with no city lights intruding, star-gazing is a very different experience than it is in an urban area!

As far as we are concerned, Villa Trotta is perfectly located for a relaxing holiday. We couldn't have asked for anything more.

The little village of Perdifumo is only about a kilometer away from Villa Trotta -- there's an alimentari there, and I believe a macelleria, as well as a couple of cafes, but we actually did our shopping down the hill in Agropoli, where there was more selection.

We noticed signs to a number of restaurants along the drive from Agropoli up to Perdifumo -- we were told that the restaurant at the Hotel Eucalipto and ristorante "da Pasquale" were both good choices, but we never managed to eat at either one.

We cooked most of our dinners during our time at Villa Trotta (and ate lunch out wherever we happened to be on our day trips), though we did go into Agropoli for dinner one evening, and ate at an excellent and very affordable pizzeria called "Barbanera" (Blackbeard), just up the hill in the medieval core of the city.

Villa Trotta is roughly a hundred years old -- it was built by the great-grandfather of Luca Trotta, my contact at the "Summer in Italy" agency. The villa is built from local stone, and is quite an imposing and beautiful building. Entry from the road is actually to the upstairs of the house -- the bedroom level -- into a foyer with a high ceiling. From the entryway, you can head downstairs to the living room/kitchen level, or through the doors at the end of the hall to reach the four bedrooms and upstairs bathroom (with laundry area).

Villa Trotta is in beautiful condition -- it is the holiday home of the Trotta family, who own the Summer in Italy agency, and it has clearly been well-loved and cared for.

The terrace at Villa Trotta runs the length of the house; tiled in terracotta and decorated with containers full of roses and other flowering plants, it is a charming place to spend a lazy afternoon watching the tiny turquoise lizards that bask in the sun along the wooden railings. (These lizards occasionally pop inside the house at night, by the way, but they're not at all scary -- it's just part of living in the countryside! After a while, I came to think of them as tiny guardians, waiting patiently on the ceiling to protect us from any small insects that might dare to venture in!)

The terrace extends down a few stairs on one side, to the outdoor kitchen -- wood-burning pizza oven and an outside sink -- while we didn't use these facilities during the week we were there (in part because I was feeling far too lazy to make pizza dough from scratch), I'm definitely planning to have outdoor "pizza parties" on our next visit!

The other end of the terrace extends around the house towards the kitchen door and the rest of the garden, where the aforementioned fruit trees and herbs are located, along with many other well-tended flowers and a grapevine pergola just outside the kitchen door.

There's also an upstairs terrace AND a roof terrace, of course.

Villa Trotta is filled with comfortable furniture, all of it in good shape, including some nice antique pieces. The whole house gives the impression of a clean, comfortable home rather than an untouchable show-place.

The beds, many of which have beautiful wood or iron headboards, are comfortable -- all the bedrooms are charming. One room opens onto a small "Juliet balcony," and another opens onto a walk-out terrace that is also accessible via the bathroom.

Both bathrooms have toilet, bidet, sink, and shower -- there's also a small front-loading washing machine in the large upstairs bathroom. Everything was clean and in good working order!

The kitchen may be my favorite part of Villa Trotta -- not counting the terrace, of course! There were lots of dishes, pots, pans and utensils. There were four gas burners to cook on, a microwave and a wall oven (neither of which we bothered to use while we were there), and a fridge, closeted in a small pantry area behind doors in one corner of the kitchen. We cooked a number of full meals there, all of which worked out very well (if I do say so myself...)!

The absolute best part of cooking in this kitchen, though, was being able to pop outside the kitchen door for a branch of fresh rosemary or a few leaves of mint -- or even a few cherries, which were JUST starting to ripen when we were there in mid-May.

Our Villa Trotta experience has taught us a completely new rule of life -- sometimes, things that seem too good to be true can actually be BETTER!  The only (very small!) negative that I can think of about the entire experience is that the fireplace in the living room tends to be just a bit smoky -- but that somehow added to the whole ambiance of the house, in our opinion!

I would recommend this place to anyone who likes the idea of being in the countryside, but within easy reach (about 20-25 minutes drive) of a more built up area. Agropoli is a small city, but it has banks, shops, restaurants and other tourist services. We were always happy to take our drive back up into the hills at the end of the day, truly "getting away from it all" to such a beautiful location.

Things to do in this area.

Agropoli: There's a lovely walk along the waterfront in Agropoli, and a beautiful, gentle climb through the medieval core of the city up to the old castle. We had a very enjoyable evening out at the pizzeria "Barbanera" -- good pizza and great appetizers!

Acciaroli: This little beach town is about a half hour's drive to the south of Agropoli, along an easy coast road. The beach is gorgeous -- again, you can stroll along the waterfront, visit the marina, or just lie on the beach!

When we were there in May, there were just ten people on the beach -- we were four of them -- and the water was warm enough for us to venture in. As we stood in the shallow water, tiny fish swam around our feet -- the water was crystal clear, and exactly the shade of blue that seems so unrealistically perfect in photographs of the area!

In Acciaroli, we had a beautiful lunch at Ristorante Luna Rossa -- just across the road from the waterfront walkway. Actually, the restaurant's sign said "Il Delfino," but the business card they gave us said "Luna Rossa" -- look for either possibility! No menu, just a short list of all the wonderful fish dishes that were being prepared, apparently from whatever had been caught that day!

Paestum: Just a few km north of Agropoli on the superstrada. FASCINATING place, perhaps even more interesting than Pompeii, and definitely fewer tourists! The Greek temples are stunning, the parking is free, and there's a beautiful place to have lunch just outside the excavation area: Ristorante Nettuno. Not cheap, but very nice, and they have a lovely glassed-in outdoor terrace. There's also a children's playground just outside the restaurant.

Palinuro: I didn't time this drive, but I think it took us about an hour and a half from Agropoli -- don't quote me on that! We stopped along the way for gelato, of course. Lovely drive, and Palinuro is a very pretty little town, with a famous grotto that we didn't see, unfortunately. There's a really nice pasticceria/bar just as you come into town, but I can't remember now what it was called! Very nice array of pastries, and friendly service.

It's also possible to do day-trips to Salerno (about an hour north of Agropoli), Pompeii, and even the Amalfi Coast--but the Amalfi drive is no fun at all, and the whole area is crammed with tourists. Next time, we'll skip the Amalfi drive and just stay in our own area! Naples would be a bit of a stretch for a day trip, but not impossible.

Most of all, we enjoyed Paestum, Acciaroli and Agropoli. There's lots more to do in the Cilento area -- we barely scratched the surface! Next time, definitely.