Wonderful
2023-05-31
Traveller Type: Traveling as Couple
: On the night of our arrival, a gentleman opened the gate, led us through a secluded path, saying it is the country house of Anna Fendi - of that iconic fashion brand. They have six guest rooms in total. The next morning during breakfast, while eating a cornetto (Italian croissant) and other pastries so good that we couldnt resist to take away the unfinished amount (they kindly packed for us), the serving lady explained that the full name of this place is Villa Venturini Fendi, as Anna married a man surnamed Venturini, connected to an important family of Ronciglione. Quality of the room itself - I have to admit, I was a little skeptical regarding how comfortable it could be - consider its oldness and rustic style. Well, I didnt expect to sleep on one of the most comfortable beds and pillows I have ever slept, surrounded by calming floral fragrance of childhood memories! Furnitures are dated but of great quality. It seems that this place must maintain its historical appearance, yet still, they try their best with little amenities to make guests lives easier, such as stylish/comfy towels as well as those bathroom kits hidden in a little treasure box. Consider what we paid, there is not much to complain, after having such a magical experience. Before our leave, we were offered a tour to understand better of the places past and what remains. The words of our guide still make me smile: Anna has such a strong personality, stubbornly keep it as it is, even bringing more stuff to this place. Therefore, everywhere in this venues, you may see the details of creative curation from a legendary fashion designer (as well as a loving old woman in the eyes of an ordinary Ronciglionese, who we chatted later on that day: She will always be Granny Anna to me.) The family chapel as shown in one of my attached photos, were unlocked for us to see its stunning interiors. We felt almost like two lucky family guests, thank you!
: Do not consider this part negative, only kind suggestions (I need more space to write, too). When there might be a time when its owner decides to change things, I hope they make a better guesthouse, renew while being aware of it as a sort of cultural heritage, thus keeping the best of it. - On arrival it was a little confusing, we got helped to enter. - The area in front of the intercom could have some repair work. Or general renewal of the venue. - Wi-fi, a good one for modern age guests. I used my mobile bandwidth ok. - The shower takes some minutes to release hot water, but it will do. - We stayed in a two bedrooms apartment, takes a few steps to use one bedroom. We didnt need, but it might not be hard to use for elder/disabled guests, please be aware of that. - I am totally fine with a traditional Italian breakfast, with respect and love. Besides, they offered a great one. However, some international guests might need salty/vegan/other choices, it would be nice if they could communicate with future guests on the night before, tailoring to their individual needs. One may still find a few newly renovated places in Ronciglione or alongside Lago di Vico, understandably, if the comfort of gentrified modernity is what you look for. Yet if you are a lover of art, history, culture and fashion, and you, an international traveller like me, have somehow discovered and charmed by this little old town, of its winter carnival and summer horse-racing traditions, of its depth of complex history from medieval to renaissance...Especially, if you dont reject the aesthetic, materials and limitation of a historical country house, you are interested in spending a night in one unique private museum, Id say there is no better place in this area, than La Canonica. If I must write about more regrets, it is perhaps not having enough time to take more photos. We could visit it again. Note: The restaurant is a separate venue next door.