There is always a moment of uncertainty upon arriving at accommodation booked on the internet.Does it live up to the promise of the photograph as advertised? Bella Vallone delivers everything it promises and more. Karen proved to be a gracious host going out of her way to assist with vineyard and restaurant bookings and any number of odd requests.
The cottage is delightfully decorated and offers all the normal home comforts with a well equipped kitchen. Views are spectacular across the  rolling hills of Le Marche and sitting out on the patio in the mornings having breakfast was a delight.
Le Marche is a largely undiscovered corner of Italy and offers plenty of opportunity for exploring unspoilt villages and vineyards.
Nigel, South Africa 
 

Not being in the habit of holidaying anywhere twice, returning to 'Cottage Sereno' at Bella Vallone was a first for us and we were not disappointed with our decision to revist this extraordinary part of Italy. It was every bit as wonderful as we had remembered from the previous year. Seeing our hosts, Karen and Grahame, again was like being reunited with old friends and the accommodation was even more of a home from home this year with the addition of extra bedroom furniture, a washing machine and sun loungers. The only things that weren't any better this year were the joy of being in San Ginesio and the tremendous views - because they are perfect and no improvement is possible. If
you are looking for a base from which to explore Le Marche, to relax and get away from it all then this is the place to be. Just be prepared to perhaps spend rather more time than you planned simply soaking up the views at Bella Vallone - something we are not sure one could never tire of.
Janice & Iain, UK

f you're thinking of visiting Bella Val'lone don't think twice - it's  alright! In fact it's more than alright - it's perfect and we can't wait to return. Karen and Grahame have created a wonderful place to relax and spend long summer days gazing at the stunning scenery of the San  Genesio countryside, with just the gentle sounds of the shepherd and his sheep blowin' in the  wind.The one bedroom apartment that we stayed in  is beautifully styled with a very comfortable bed, well equipped kitchen and shower room. Everything you need is there if you don't fancy  venturing out too far.The beautiful town of San Genesio is about 10 mins drive away, with a great place for pizza and for sitting in the piazza  watching the world go by. There are other restaurants within easy  driving distances and Karen and Grahame are happy to share their local  knowledge.We didn't explore very much during our stay, being more than happy with the location of Bella Val'lone, but did drive to the coast  one day and up into the Sybilline mountains another. To summarise, if  you want to
experience the 'real' Italy, then Le Marche is the area to  visit, and I thoroughly recommend Bella Val'lone as a place to stay. 
Julie Wollaston, UK

A group of 8 of us stayed at Sereno for a friend's wedding and we had a  fantastic two night stay. The apartments and the cottage were all  beautifully furnished, clean and had everything you needed.  The location  is stunning and the views around the cottage were breathtaking. Karen was the perfect host - friendly, extremely helpful and thoughtful, but yet didn't encroach on our stay. I  very rarely write reviews, but it is worth it for our stay. I would  definitely go back and would certainly  recommend people to stay there.
James, UK
 

It is a beautiful part of the world - a taste of authentic Italy. The location
is so peaceful and is surrounded by stunning views. The accomodation is finished to a high standard and meets all the needs to self-cater in complete comfort. A car is essential to explore the surrounding area which had much to offer. The characterful hilltop towns and villages offer a sense of the regions history and culture. The local food and wine is very reasonably priced and of good quality,this accompanied by a relaxed pace of life makes it is the perfect place to switch off and recharge the batteries. For those seeking fantastic walking country this location fits the bill, both on the doorstep and within the Siblini National Park. A week did not feel long enough and we hope to back with friends...
Alison Neilsen, Northumberland, UK

We had a wonderful time. Karen and Graham were great hosts. The accomodation was
superb - tastefully docorated, very comfortable beds. We found everything we needed in the kitchen and the rest of the cottage.
Barbara and Pauline, UK

What we liked best about this holiday was simply being  there! The worst  part was having to come home. Cottage Sereno at Bella Vallone is ideally  situated amidst the most beautiful countryside with 360 degree views that take your breath away. It offers peace and tranquility but is still within easy reach of nearby towns and restaurants and even the coast  which is well worth visiting. Being only recently renovated the property  is in lovely condition and has the added luxury of air conditioning  although you don't always need it as the cottage maintains a pleasant  temperature throughout the whole day. The owners, Karen and Grahame, are  more than happy to help in any way they can if you require their assistance with anything but otherwise will not intrude on your privacy.  All in all, this is a wonderful holiday experience. You will not be  disappointed. 
Janice & Ian, UK

Bella Vallone is exactly that…a beautiful valley. We stayed in Cottage  Sereno, which was delightfully decorated in keeping with the country  surroundings, with a touch of luxury. Although we only stayed for a couple of nights I was relaxed immediately, sipping a glass of wine on the terrace overlooking the open fields. This is a perfect location for a  couple to have a tranquil weekend away or would be fantastic for a  larger party to enjoy
long evenings of outdoor eating, whilst taking in  the beautiful views. Karen the owner was lovely and very helpful. I would highly recommend a stay here.  
Hailey, UK

Reviewed September 24, 2012 for a stay in September 2012

Myself & my partner visited bella vallone in early September, having never been to Italy before we were immediately greeted with a very warm welcome. Having no satellite navigation in our car the directions we were given to find Bella Vallone were very easy to understand. Once being shown to our apartment which was spotlessly clean with everything that we would require (fridge freezer, cooker & all the utensils and a great four poster bed) Free Wifi connection was also provided just to keep up with world events or like my partner - Facebook :) A tv is also available in the room with a good selection of DVDs to watch in case of bad weather or a lazy day.

We did eat out for most of holiday as we wanted to experience local Italian cooking & there we found 5 star treatment at 2star prices. The quality for the cost was ridiculous.

Location wise was very relaxing & a great place to sit out at night & enjoy a BBQ & watch the sunset over & through the valley, ready for the clear skies & millions of stars to appear, which in itself is priceless & you'll find yourself sitting there for hours.  We found that's there was a lot of scenic attractions to be seen as you would expect in Italy, all we found within a short drive from our location which were recommended by our hosts & kindly given directions to those as well.  
All in all a great place to visit & we cannot wait to re-visit time & time again as no words can do this location & hospitality justice.
Danny, UK

My husband and I visited Le Marche for the first time this past spring and were so lucky to find a base at Bella Vallone. All the rain during our stay did little to dampen our spirits, as we knew that no matter how wet we got roaming all over the surrounding area, we'd be cozy and warm back in our studio! Karen was a terrific host -- coming out to fetch us when we had trouble navigating past a debris-closed road and leaving generous amounts of high-quality supplies
(including some fantastic lardo that delighted my husband) in the kitchen that enabled us to whip up a romantic and tasty dinner for two before we collapsed on the incredibly comfortable four-poster bed and succumbed to travel fatigue.

In the morning, we were able to enjoy some sunshine and make friends with the host animals before setting off to explore as much as possible. The hiking we had hoped to get in seemed less enticing given the weather, but we managed to visit several nearby hill towns (including San Ginesio and Sarnano),
the Paper Museum in Fabriano (terrific tour -- much more interesting than the name might imply as they actually demonstrate the old wooden equipment, which is still in use), the Frasassi caves (FANTASTIC), and plenty of wineries.

In the end, three days wasn't nearly enough to get in all we wanted to see and do, but that gives us a compelling reason to return sometime soon!
Kate & Nico - Lake Como

Bella Val'lone is a gem situated in the midst of waving hills of wheat and sun flowers interspersed with swaths of velvety green. The panorama is awe inspiring as is the beauty and care that went into restoring this  amazing villa from the beautiful cream colored stone work, to the  gourmet kitchen to the luxury bathroom and the comfortable beds with  fine linens to name just a few.
The air conditioning is a major plus and  in our experience, a rare find in the countryside of Italy. The owners  are lovely and gladly give helpful advice on
the surrounding areas while  at the same time remaining unobtrusive. Having visited Tuscany and  Umbria a number of times, because of all of the buzz about the Le Marche  area we decided to give it a try. Now we understand the buzz, it
rivals  any of the countryside that we've had the privilege to experience in central Italy. There are many interesting small towns nearby and the  Adriatic is less than a forty-five minute drive. Don't forget to stop in  the small beach town of Sirolo and swim in the blue green water and  then walk up into this picture perfect town and have a gelato. Also,  bring an extra bag as there is a
shoe outlet area nearby and the prices  are excellent. Bella Val'lone and Le Marche provided an experience that  we won't soon forget.  
Michele and Anthony, USA

A perfect refreshing place to stay whilst discovering a new part of Italy. A warm welcome waits you at this perfect retreat in unspoilt La Marche  area of Italy. The views out of every window are stunning. If you want  to write, draw, walk, relax or use it as a base to explore the area we  couldn't recommend Sereno more strongly. 
Trevor, UK

We stayed at Bella Vallone for a week but wished we stayed longer.  The place is stunning and is an ideal base to discover this wonderful region.  We stayed in an apartment which was really great and had everything we needed.  The beds were so comfortable and the little touches made us both feel we were staying in a five star hotel.  The views from every side of the property are stunning and we will definately be coming back to this gem of a place.
Judy Neil - South Africa

If you are thinking of staying at bella vallone rest assured you will not be disopointed!! We arrived late afternoon off the standsted ancona flight, we had fab directions and couldn't believe driving up to the apartment just what we were staying at for the next week! The views are out of this world and so tranquil. Karen and graham made us feel... so welcome the moment we arrived. The apartment was spotless and equipt with everything needed for our stay! The information guide Karen and Granam made for the guest found in the top draw really helped. They
were so accommodating and helped pick out fantastic restaurants where we sampled some of the best food we have ever tasted!!! The beds are so comfortable and the chairs and sun loungers were well used. The views as mentioned are phenomenal, the stars at night are worth going just to see this. The dogs and cats had there own personalities and really made our holiday! They are adorable and very welcoming!! The cottage which karen was so kind to let us view was fantastic!!
It was well thought out and has the amenities needed for any family or group!!
the dip pool was clean and ready to use everyday!! Punto and eurospin are approximately 10 minutes away from the apartments where you can get your food etc, the BBQ facilities at the apartments make a fabulous evening eating and
sipping the local wine with breathtaking views!! Karen ensures you have everything needed ie fresh towels, bits and pieces to get you started, Dvd's -
the apartments are very clean and like they haven't been used! Wifi was fantastic and great connection!! May I also add the security I felt here and the security I felt with important documents etc!! Don't look no further than belle vallone for a breath taken stay in the heart of le marche! The church's, towers and gelato shops in the near by villages are ones to visit!! Thank you to you both for a fantastic holiday and superb stay!!! 
Rachael, UK