Our history
About Us
A family story, three generations in the making
We’re not originally from Liguria, but we’ve always felt at home here. It was our love for this land – and our desire to welcome people with open hearts – that brought us here over forty years ago. Since then, our family – now in its third generation – has carried on a tradition of genuine hospitality and heartfelt care.
A type of welcome that’s decidedly NOT Ligurian, but deeply in love with Liguria – just like us.
A story that began long ago
Hotel Villa Italia was founded in 1923 as a summer retreat for a family from Turin. A few decades later, it became a guesthouse, then a fully-fledged hotel. In 1983, after many years of experience in tourism, our family took over its management, and eventually bought the property in the late 1990s.
In 1990, the hotel next door – operating since the 1960s under the name “Albergo Ondina” – joined the story. We purchased it, renamed it Hotel Careni, and gradually made it part of our family legacy. Over time, we decided to renovate and unite the two buildings, giving life to the hotel you know today: Careni Villa Italia.
The warmth of the past, the comfort of today
From the outside, it may look like a classic hotel – but step inside and you’ll discover so much more. Here, you can breathe in the charm of the old days: calm, simplicity, and care for the little things. Guests who come once often return. Why? Because they find the smile of a grandmother, the kindness of a mother, the warmth of Alberto, and the presence of a team that feels like family – some have been with us for 40 years, others for 20. Together, we are a small community that anyone is welcome to join.
This is how we do hospitality: we enjoy sharing time together.
And that’s why we’re happy to welcome you to Hotel Careni Villa Italia – where time slows down, connections matter, and coming back always feels good.
