Why Tavolara Island off Sardina is worth visiting
It is one of the smallest kingdoms in Europe and our Italian expert reveals why you should visit it along with the best places to visit in the rest of the country.
When Jane Black set off on her first overseas trip at the age of 15, she had no idea she was embarking on a journey that would lead her to establish Australia’s leading Italian villa specialist, Italian Villa Vacations.
As part of a one-year high school exchange program, Black was billeted to stay with Countess Luisa Castiglioni in Venegono Superiore in Italy’s north.
“My love of Italy was born at that time of my life,” Black reflects.
A member of the Italian aristocracy, the countess rented out a villa she owned in Tuscany and was building a rental portfolio featuring friends’ properties from different Italian regions.
“The countess was an incredible influence,” Black says. “She educated me in the Italian language, Latin history, art history, food, architecture – and villas. So my business stemmed from living in Italy, the countess being a villa owner, and from her saying to me ‘When you go back to Australia, you will send people to Italy, you will bring the people back!’”
Black was happy to oblige. After returning to Australia and finishing her studies, she travelled frequently to Europe, particularly Italy, maintaining her friendship with the countess and her family, and sending Australians to stay in the countess’s small string of villas “as a hobby”.
In 2007, Black decided it was time to turn her pastime into a business, and established Italian Villa Vacations, representing an array of villa owners across Italy.
Almost 20 years on, Black now handles more than 250 villas across the country, from The Lakes region in the north to the southern island of Sicily, and is constantly adding to her portfolio.
Accommodating from four to as many as 30 guests, the villas are supported by a concierge service that will organise everything from private chefs to family outings.
Black says repeat business is strong, as an increasing number of travellers discover the joy of villa life, from the authenticity of living like a local to the pleasure of having a private retreat.
Like so many of her clients, Black says she can never get enough of Italy.
“I just love how passionate Italians are; they have a very beautiful way of living,” she says.
What is the best way to see Italy
Every region of Italy is almost like a different country. The food is different, the dialect is different, the weather is different. There’s so much to see in each region I recommend people base themselves in a villa for a week and then do small day trips, otherwise you lose so much time packing, unpacking and travelling. Staying put just gives you that opportunity to really soak everything up.
What is the next destination to visit in Itay?
Puglia has been hot for the past year or two, and now Sardinia is becoming more popular. If you’re going to Sardinia, you need a week and you need a car. There’s a lot to see on the island and the distances from north to south are quite significant, so it’s best to enjoy the area around your base and build your itinerary from there. When I visited Sardinia, I took a boat to a little island off the coast called Tavolara, which is the smallest kingdom in Europe. We ate at a waterfront restaurant on the island, Ristorante da Tonino Re di Tavolara, where the chef was serving one dish, spaghetti vongole. It was divine.
My favourite Italian restaurant
The best dining experience I’ve had in Italy is at the one Michelin-star restaurant Il Falconiere in Cortona, Tuscany. It’s mind-blowing: the winery setting, the room, the food and the staff are all amazing. They offer a degustation menu and the food is seasonal.
I love their truffle pasta. Cortona is very accessible from multiple regions, so it makes for a fantastic day trip.
Why you should visit Portofino
One of the most memorable villas I’ve experienced is Villa Portofino, in Italy’s northwest. When we arrived in the town we were met by a staff member in the piazza and guided up an old elevator through some rocks to a little coastal path that took us to the villa. It’s an amazing property with a staircase that leads directly down into the sea. People can stay there without a car and can walk to the piazza, plus enjoy their own private beach.
Where to stay in Lake Como
We find a lot of our clients want to celebrate milestone birthdays, like their 60ths, around Lake Como. It’s like landing in paradise. We have a waterfront historic villa called Villa Traversi on the sunny, western side of the lake, where people can stay without a car. They can walk to the ferry and restaurants so easily and the wow factor is amazing. It’s one of about half-a-dozen villas we offer near Moltrasio and Laglio – it’s the most idyllic part of the lake and it has good access, which is important.
Where to shop in Italy
Always travel light because the shopping in Italy is so good. A lot of our customers like to organise a daytrip to factory outlets, including The Mall outside Florence and Foxtown outlet centre near Milan, where they can pick up top Italian handbags for very good prices. I personally love the leather markets in Florence and Rome. There really is something for everyone in Italy.
Best way to fly into Italy from Australia
I think leaving Australia at night-time is a great way to fly to Italy. The last few times I’ve left about 9pm and flown via Dubai so I can sleep the first long leg, get up and have a coffee before a quick flight change and then land in Rome a few hours later. If I’m going to Tuscany or southern Italy I fly to Rome. But if you’re visiting the northern regions you should go in and out of Milan. It’s only a 40-minute drive from Milan Airport to our Lake Como villas. The access is incredible.
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