Name: Villa Gaidello di Mauro Ghiaroni
Address: Via Gaidello, 18, 41013 Castelfranco Emilia MO, Castelfranco Emilia, Castelfranco Emilia, Castelfranco Emilia, 41013, Italy
Rating: 8

Location

Orto Botanico di Modena

Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari

San Vincenzo

Teatro Comunale Modena

University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

Modena Town Hall

The Synagogue

Modena Cathedral

Piazza Grande

Torre della Ghirlandina

Santa Maria della Pomposa

Palazzo dei Musei

Modena Fiere

Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport

Villa Spada

Palazzo Aldrovandi

Teatro Arena del Sole

Civic Museum of the Middle Ages

Fountain of Neptune

Palazzo Re Enzo

Palazzo Comunale

Piazza Maggiore

Palazzo d'Accursio

Basilica of San Petronio

Archaeological Museum

Mercato di Mezzo o Quadrilatero

Tower of the Garisenda

Santa Maria della Vita

Santo Stefano's Basilica

National Art Gallery of Bologna

Margherita Gardens

Aquatico

Square Antonio Fontanesi

Piazza San Prospero

Reggio Emilia Cathedral

Tricolor Flag Museum

Municipal Theatre Valli of Reggio Emilia

Teatro Ariosto

Basilica della Ghiara

Palabigi

Salus Hospital

Acquedotto di Ferrara

Ferrara Cathedral

National Archeological Museum of Ferrara

Castle Estense

Teatro Comunale

Palazzo Schifanoia

Palazzo Scifanoia

Palazzo dei Diamanti

Palazzo Massari

Piazza Ariostea

Parco Urbano G. Bassani

Eridania Park

Auditorium Niccolo Paganini

Barilla Center

Ennio Tardini Stadium

Cathedral of Parma

Baptistery of Parma

Bishop's Palace

Piazza Garibaldi

Shrine of Santa Maria della Steccata

Teatro Regio di Parma

University of Parma

Palazzo della Pilotta

Ducale Park

Hospital of Parma

Villa Gaidello di Mauro Ghiaroni

I am confused. Are there two "Villa Gaidello"s? It seems that the conflicting reviews could be describing two different places. I note that Google lists a  Villa Gaidello near Modena and a Villa Gaidello at Castelfranco, but understand that these locales are in the same area and probably describe the same property. We stayed at Villa Gaidello, Castelfranco, in 1999. The food, accommodations, and service were outstanding and the stay was one of the highlights of our trip.

We stayed at Villa Gaidello in 1995, and were astounded by the marvelous meal provided by the Villa then on a reservation only basis, so we decided to return there in late May.  We can report that the quality of the meal in particular has not diminished with the passage of time.  We have noted other postings complaining about the meal, which prompted us to offer this review.

The service at dinner is friendly and gracious.  Once Marta, Paola Bini's niece, leaves on Friday, there is little to no English spoken by the staff, but you don't need Italian fluency to enjoy the procession of antipasti, tortellini en brodo, marvelous ricotta-stuffed tortelloni, (in our case) mixed grilled game, including faraona, chicken, and rabbit, multiple desserts, walnut liquer, and wine.  If you think this is not up to your food standards, or consider it overpriced, by all means don't come to Villa Gaidello, but its food has been written up in top-notch cookbooks such as Lynne Kasper's, and is still very good.

The apartments themselves are not the same accomodations as offered by a modern business hotel, but they are very large in size and a good bargain for the uniqueness of the setting and the accomodations.  Travelers wanting conventional hotels should choose those--the point of an agriturismo is that you are seeking something less conventional, more idiosyncratic.  Villa Gaidello is comfortable, not antiseptic.

With respect to the complaints about cameras in the parking lot, I have to say that if we had not read about them, we never would have noticed them, and didn't even remember they were there until we returned, and went to write this review.  There is certainly no feeling of intrusiveness on guests by the Villa at all.  We found the staff very helpful (Marta speaks perfect English) prior to our arrival in giving directions over the Internet, booking a tour at the local balsamic vinegar factory, recommending a local restaurant for dinner our first night, etc. 

Reviews seem to fall into two categories: those who love Villa Gaidello for what it is, and those who are disappointed by what it's not.  If your tastes coincide with those who love it, you will enjoy it, too.

Castelfranco Emilia

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golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

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mini-bar

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pets-allowed

wi-fi

park access

confused

Still a special place to stay and dine

This was nothing like tauted on the internet.  The owner has dementia and has a live-in caretaker who doesn't speak a word of english. She would not let us into the gate at check-in because the manager wasn't there.  Finally we showed her papers and she let us in and told us to wait.  Finally some woman came bustling in from parking lot ran up to the villa threw open the shutters and gave the place a quick look-over and invited us into our room.  The agricultural part has gone to wasteland.  There are no gardens, vineyards etc. Breakfast is the only meal provided. At least we got bikes.  Totally rundown they should close and just live there.

Buyer beware!

We visited Villa Gaidello in early November, 2009 based on Lynne Rossetto Kasper's (The Splendid Table) recommendations on her radio program and cookbook.  Unfortunately, Paola Bini no longer operates the restaurant due to ill health.  We were not aware of this when we made the arrangements.  We had a very good dinner nonetheless, but diners should be aware of this development.

Paola Bini no longer cooking at Villa Gaidello

My family and I stayed at the Villa Gaidello and were very disappointed. According to their website, we thought this was a working farm and would witness pasta making, olive pressing and tomatoes growing. There was nothing growing on this farm but weeds. Our rooms were down the road away from the main house and we had no heat. We insisted on being moved into rooms with heat, and by 10pm, we were settled in our rooms in the main house. The rooms were clean, but toilet seat was broken along with the shower head. The owner, Paola Bini, is no longer in charge, but two caretakers now run the place who speak very little English. The place is very quiet, but very run down, the grounds are overgrown with weeds and bushes, but you could look out and imagine that in its day, it must have been a wonderful place to stay. For 300 euros per night, it was not a good value, and overall a great disappointment.

Villa Gaidello di Mauro Ghiaroni

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