Casa Chiocciola

A memorable holiday experience…
You’re probably wondering: why chiocciola (key-oh-CHO-la)? It’s the Italian word for snail shell, the symbol of the Italian Slow movement. Plus, you’ll see a few snails in the garden from time to time. Chiocciola is also used by the local geeks to describe the “@” sign, fitting with my tech background and geeky tendencies.

My wife and I over the years have painstakingly turned our country home, Casa Chiocciola, into a pleasant hilltop getaway, perfect for self-catered holidays. The house can comfortably accommodate one or two couples, or a small family of five. Across the street is a 15th-Century convent, the oldest and most important structure in this hilltop hamlet. Chiocciola is considerably more modern, just a few hundred years old. Chiocciola looks out at the mountains and down onto the old Roman spa town of Sarnano. Even the quiet moments here are impressive. The hillside has stunning views of the mountains and myriad distant hilltop towns visible up until the horizon.

See what others have had to say about their vacanza splendida at Casa Chiocciola on Trip Advisor... Did you spend time with us? We’d be grateful if you could share that experience with others.

For the inquisitive traveler, Amandola is the perfect break, blessed with fantastic local cuisine, views that would make the Tuscans blush, and a bounty of indigenous wine varieties that will make you wonder: why don’t we come here more often? The nearby National Park also has something for all kinds of nature-lovers: for trekkers, horseback-riders, mountain bikers, para-gliders, fishing, and sailing.