All guests renting Villetta Mimma Vittoria (named after the owner’s mom) will be greeted with a welcome care package containing local Calabrian products of (virgin olive oil - grown, harvested and cold pressed by the owner’s relatives in nearby Seminara, fruits and vegetables (in season) grown and harvested by the owner’s relatives in nearby Ponte Vecchio, preserves and home made table wine made by other relatives in Gioia Tauro). The products (those that are lawful to import) are also available for sale if the guests want to take back a little flavor of Calabria back with them. the owner’s relatives in Gioia Tauro are predominantly merchants in the jewelry, giftware and dry cleaning business. Modest discounts will be made to Villetta Mimma Vittoria guests at these fine establishments.

The owner wants his guests to have a wonderful time, take in the local culture that few tourists get to experience, visit the cultural and historical sites, enjoy the beaches, take a cooking class in Calabrian cuisine (provided by another of the owner’s aunt’s) and come back year after year inviting more of their friends to join them in nourishing their bodies and spirit.

Minimum stay at our villetta is 1 week (7 nights).

EXTERIOR DESCRIPTION
A charming townhouse in the small seaside port village of Gioia Tauro (southern Italy), the Villetta features exposed beam ceilings and terra cotta floors. It is decorated in a tasteful, minimalist style and offers all modern amenities. A gated walkway outside the property is equipped with an outdoor shower, barbecue, and storage space for beach gear and rental bikes. Gioia Tauro has both a train station (400 m away at Piazza Marconi) and a bus station (1 km away). The nearest food shop (20m), supermarket (100m,) restaurant (300m), and Laundromat (400m) are within easy reach on foot. The nearest town is Palmi (7 km). Although there is no telephone at the property, cell phones which operate with a prepaid Telephone card are available for rental. Parking is available on the street in front of the property. The ground floor is handicap accessible (there is a full size sofa bed). The closest airports are Reggio Calabria (50 km away) or Lamezia Terme (70 km away).

INTERIOR DESCRIPTION
Two floors. Ground floor- There is an open plan living room with double leather sofa bed, a dining room with wood burning Franklin fireplace, and an American-style kitchen. There is one bathroom with toilet, sink and handheld shower. A marble staircase leads to the first floor. First floor -There is a large double bedroom queen-size bed with skylight, walk-in closet, and small balcony. There is a second, smaller bedroom queen-size bed with custom built-in closet. The bedrooms share one large bathroom with tub and exciting shower head. All windows are equipped with screens. The amenities include air conditioning, Internet connection, Tel/Fax, barbecue, microwave, freezer, oven, full stereo system, SAT TV, VCR, hair dryer, washing machine, and espresso /American coffee maker. Extra amenities at (an additional cost) include cook, maid service, and cell phone rentals per week plus the cost of a pre-paid Tel card, Electricity, Telephone and extra linen changes.Gioia Tauro is not only a town by the sea, but a way of life, a love. Gioia Tauro charms anyone who goes there with the color of its sea, the greens of its shores, the warmth of its inhabitants. It is a place that has a miraculously positive and uplifting effect on those who are struggling with the constant demands of everyday life. From artists to businessmen, Italians to Americans, Germans and other Europeans, this Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean part of Italy is for everyone. Those who come from cold, or warm lands, have all undergone an invigorating metamorphosis when visiting Gioia Tauro. They have left their jobs, deserted their native towns to live here.

Gioia Tauro is not a fad; Like mythological cities of the past, it does not let go of those who see it. Its sea, its shores, its history, its inhabitants form a whole, influencing visitors and rendering their life experience utterly blissful.