A haven in the hills
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 3/20/05
Asti is situated between Milan and Turin. To explore the surrounding areas a car is essential, especially as the villa is slightly off the beaten track and most tourist attractions are, at least,a 30 minute drive.
As a family of four (including 2 boys!) we found Villa Sampaguita a very tranquil and safe place to be. The hosts are extremely friendly and full of local knowledge which we found very helpful when planning days out.
Although there is no pool at the villa there are plenty of outdoor swimming venues in the area offering good value for money.
Our children (and ourselves) were free to wander around the villa and it's vineyards, in the knowledge that they were completely safe and on some occasions help out.
This may not be the ideal location for those with small children or families looking for the thrills and spills of themeparks. However, if, like us, you prefer to experience the more cultural side of Italy, not fight your way through tourists and do your best at speaking Italian and trying the local cuisine then this is an excellent place to start.
Villa Sampaguita offers both self catering and bed and breakfast and also you can dine with the hosts al fresco in the evenings.