Noce Spagnola was the B&B my niece chose for our first three nights in Italy. This place and the owner and family did not disappoint! It is very clean and has a charm even in its simplicity. Pio made us feel very welcome and did a wine tasting to help us discern how to smell and taste the different flavors of wine. It was fun and we learned a lot! The small apartments are charming with a small kitchen and all the essentials. There is ample parking in front and a nice garden out back. A lovely arranged luncheon was served in this garden and was thoroughly enjoyed. I had no idea of all the interesting sites to see in this area of Molise. It was my first time in southern Italy, and it was wonderful to be off the beaten path! This was relaxing before we headed to the touristy and crowded cities to the north. Thank you, Pio and family. Also thanks to Nicole for booking us at Noce Spagnola!…
This was our 2nd stay with Pio at B&B Noce Spagnola. The first time (2016) we stayed in the upper apartment, while my mother and oldest child used the lower one. !n 2018, we were in the lower apartment. Both are wonderful. The upper apartment has a wonderful balcony and a large dining area and lounge (which we missed), but the lower apartment has a more homey and historic feel, since it includes the old traditional family kitchen. Both apartments are roomy and comfortable, combining historic elements of the Molise tradition and modern comfort (such as large modern showers). Pio is a gem, always willing to provide advice about what to do and places to visit. He was able to procure the keys and take us to the Santuario Madonna delle Grotte, which I really wanted to see. In 2016, he arranged an official guide to the archaeological portions of the Abbazia di San Vincenzo al Volturno so we could enter the frescoed crypt of Epyphanius. Pio also suggested a visit to the Museo Internazionale delle Guerre Mondiali, which was also amazing. The reason we came to Rocchetta in the first place was to attend the Bagpipe Festival (Festa della Zampogna) in nearby Scapoli. Noce Spagnola is a very convenient location, with easy parking and a quiet atmosphere when you return. I would love to stay in Scapoli, if it were even possible to rent a room there during the festival, but the kids would never get any sleep with the craziness of crowds and concerts. At B&B Noce Spagnola, all is quiet, calm, and orderly. When I opened the windows to enjoy the night air (and you can, because some of the windows actually have screens on them; a rarity in Italy), I could hear the faint strains of live music. I never was sure if they were from the festival (since it did not sound like bagpipes), or a club out in the countryside somewhere, but it reminded me I was on vacation and good times would continue tomorrow. We even had a wonderful view of the lunar eclipse high above the valley below us. And since we were up in the mountains, it was cool at night even in July. I asked my wife if the apartment had air conditioning, and she could not remember either, since it was so pleasant. I look forward to returning again, to make more great memories in the heart of Molise.…
A bed and breakfast that wonderfully translates a classic old local house into a wonderfully enjoyable place to stay. Pio was a great host, making sure to bring home-made cake for breakfast and ready to help us with every logistic. We really enjoyed the house and the area and look forward to coming back soon.
We arrived in the little town of Rochetta on top of a small mountain last night which is about 25 minutes south of my family's hometown of Alfedena. We were greeted by our gracious host Pio who told us about everything this region had to offer and even called ahead to a local farm called Agriturismo Costantini that doubles as a restaurant to let them know we wanted to dine there that evening. The food there was out of this world and completely sourced right there on the farm and we had the place entirely to ourselves, I can't express how wonderful the whole night was. I didn't get to see much of the area because it was dark when we arrived, but I did get to wake up in a beautiful cottage with a stunning view. Not sure why my family wanted to leave in the first place!
Noce Spagnola combines all of the things we look for in a place to stay: cleanliness, comfort, character, and, ideally, some way to help create memories. Our rooms here were all of that, from the quality appointments (fixtures, tile work, furnishings) to the immaculate condition of the apartment when we arrived, from Pio's obvious delight that we were here to the feeling that you were staying in someplace you'd never been before (and might not ever see anywhere else)—everything worked to create a visit unlike anything we'd had anywhere else, and to create memories that will stay with us for a very long time.
Just a 90 minute drive from Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (Fiumicino) is a remarkable mountain village in northern Molise province near the spectacular mountains of Southern Abruzzi. Rocchetta A Volturno, is home to the regions most wonderful B&B, The Noce Spagnola, run by Pio Gianninni and his family. We are from downtown Chicago, where the sounds of police sirens awaken us, not here, we are awakened by the sweet sounds of beautiful Italian being spoken by the neighbors; one was the lovely and spry 94 year old grandmother of the owner. The B&B sits close to the heart of Rocchetta, a short walk from the town center, the piazza, where children play and many young adults mingle. The B & B was carved out of an old Masseria, a stable of sorts, built by the original settlers of the village, in the late 1800's. The three apartments in the B&B are meticulously transformed into modern day living spaces, while maintaining all the character of the original structure still in tact. Arched ceilings in all the rooms make each room feel welcoming, and the wall and doorways have been built into the exposed volcanic stone, which was used to build many of the structures that exist in the area, adding to its vintage charm. As you enter the apartments the new exquisite wood windows in each room look out on a flowing landscape of simple hills filled with olive and fig trees and hilltop villages, such as Coli, which surround the area. Off in the distance are the high mountains of the Abruzzi National Park, some reaching heights of nine to ten thousand feet! Pio has spared no expense in his build-out and restoration, from comfort within the B&B and the well crafted wood windows and doors, to the modern conveniences of a kitchen and bath, while still maintaining its rustic nature. The kitchen still has the original fireplace and bread-making stone oven! The refrigerator is well stocked, but if you need to replenish it, there are two wonderful grocery stores within a short walking distance. There are 3 great cappuccino bars in the town center, and almost everyday you can sit with the old men, who play Scoppa, the ancient Italian card game, outside the bars at tables on the main street. Rocchetta has some rather historically significant sites to visit nearby. There is an archeological dig dating back to Roman times, where a monastery has been unearthed, similar to the ruins of Pompeii, including some spectacular views and pristine old structures. The town of Rocchetta was occupied during the war by the Germans, Moroccans and the Americans so there is a war museum full of WWII history from the region. There is also an olive oil processor and that produces its own olive oil as well as oil from the trees owns by other towns people. Another incredible feature is the ancient town even higher up the road called Rocchetta Alta where you find the remnants of a church built around 1100 AD. There is so much more, too much to list here. There are many pictures online if you Google it. If you are driving, Rocchetta is easy to get to, only a 20 minute drive from a larger town nearby off the auto strada, called Isernia. Of course you could just hang out in Rocchetta for the few days you might be there, and live the life that these hard working Italians have known for centuries, or you could also venture out to the nearby surroundings. The Noce Spagnola is well worth the visit and the price. Pio was gracious and quite accommodating (spoke English well) and the trip to and from was, from a scenery point of view, nothing short of splendid. The B&B had no WIFI or television, but we understand that is coming this fall. There is parking right off the street in front of the B&B, just a few steps from the front entrance. I HIGHLY recommend this B & B!!! I look forward to going back next Spring, or perhaps this winter, I heard the skiing is fantastic!!!…
This B&B is incredible! My daughter and I stayed here for a week and did not want to leave. The space is amazing, made with ancient rock typical of homes in Rocchetta. The owner, Pio, in Italian style has renovated the internal structure, employing local craftsman to create a beautiful and unique Bed and Breakfast experience. The inside area is minimally, though tastefully decorated and impeccably clean. The outside has a fantastic garden with a private sitting area where you can relax and sit in the sun, surrounded by flowers. My daughter gathered basil from the garden while I cooked pasta on the traditional hand-tiled stove, listening to birds singing out the kitchen window. The house is in walking distance to the main piazza in Rocchetta where you can always find a kind person to chat with.…
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