We were so very happy with our stay at the B&B Castello di Monleone. This is an outstanding place, run by a very nice and helpful young couple.
When you enter the grounds of the castello, you either pass with your car through a big, big porch in the ancient castle wall, or you walk up the hill as a pedestrian and enter through an equally intriguing gate in the wall at the other end of the grounds. These grounds are completely secluded, which give you the feeling of being the castle owner himself.
Paolo and his wife have made every effort to keep the romantic, unspoilt appeal of the garden with its statues and old stone seats, and to offer their guests all modern amenities: nice new wooden garden seats and deck chairs as for the garden, and lovely decorated halls, walls and corners inside the castle. As for the rooms, it would be nice to have a second chair in the room. Our bathroom was all new and modern. At breakfast, Paolo offers you gladly his netbook for a short look into your e-mails or into the weather forecast.
Breakfast itself is plentiful, with freshly squeezed orange juice and everything you want, because Paolo asks you what you would like for breakfast. So we had croissants, rolls, yoghurt, fresh fruit, jam, cheese, salami, eggs and a big serving of that lovely fresh orange juice. Other guests preferred cereals. If it’s warm, you can have breakfast in the garden, if it’s cold, you have the same splendid view over Moneglia through the big glass door which separates the breakfast room from the garden.
For a good dinner you need not go far: the Antica Osteria “da u Limottu” just down the castle path is run equally by Paolo’s family, and we felt very comfortable there and had wonderful meals: typical ligurian cuisine and good wine.
Now we cherish our happy memories of this extraordinary stay.

My wife and I just finished a brief stay at the Castello di Monleone in Moneglia, Italy. We could not have been more impressed. There are million dollar views of Moneglia and the Mediterranean, the staff are all exceptionally friendly and accommodating, and the rooms are first rate. Breakfast on the terrace looking out over the water is something we will always keep with us. We used Moneglia as a base from which to explore Cinque Terre, and found it to be perfectly convenient - just a short train ride. We strongly recommend the Castello di Monleone to anyone looking for a special location. We hope to come back and spend more time here in the future.

After reading the reviews for this place I was expecting it to be the best place I stayed in on my lastest trip to Italy - it wasn't, I was disappointed.

We checked in a the hotel owned by the same people and were greeted by a pleasant and helpful receptionist. We then walked over to the Castello (which was a considerable walk when carrying heavy cases!). First impression a property next door was under going full renovation - it would have been polite to have informed us of this - not too worry I thought, we cannot see it and I will not let this interfere with our trip. It did only on 2 morning awake us with slight building noise, but this didn't bother me too much.

What I was most looking forward to regarding this property were the gardens which looked fantastic on the web pages. My heart sunk when 10 metres after the building renovation works we walked into our gardens- the grass was a weed patch and they were unkempt and needed attention - something which would not have been an expensive thing to do and it was labour and maintainance work that was required with possibly a few pots of the irressistably Italian geraniums. It shattered any illusions I'd had of romantic evening with a bottle of wine over looking the ocean!!!

We then went to the room which was incredibly small, and again did not live up to the pictures viewed on the web-site. Rather than get down about this -yes we were disappointed- we decided to unpack very quickly to get us out of the place and go and explore the Cinque Terre which is about 1/2 hour on the train, determined to remain positive.

Upon arrival by the 'helpful receptionist' we had been given a photocopied piece of paper detailing the local train times (which was incredibly helpful) however we managed to loose this piece of paper and whilst in the reception the next day I asked a different receptionist if it was possible to have another copy of the train times as we had unfortunately lost ours. She reluctantly agreed but not without reprimanding me as you would a child for loosing the 'piece of paper' and told me that if I lost them again I would not receive another. I found her incredibly rude and condescending, but smiled sweetly and exclaimed how sorry I was and' I'm sure they are incredibly expensive to produce!' We thus proceed out for the day and felt yes we could have complained about various things but hey we're on holiday lets not let petty experiences taint our first few days of a well earned break. I could mention more what I would call not 'customer friendly' experiences but cannot be bothered.The only thing i would say you may find it a lot more convenient to stay in the Cinque Terre (we would have-Vernazza or Monterosso would have been my choices) or if particulary flush Portofino is very pleasant. Moneglia is a town with nothing going on and not particulary attractive in comparison to CT or Portofino. It was also a hassle getting the train back, the hassle and location may have not seemed quite as apparant if Castello Monleone had live up to it's pictures and previous reviews and ALL staff were customer friendly.

Perhaps I shouldn't be letting others onto this marvellous secret - I spent three nights here in August by myself before joining some friends in Tuscany and it was absolutely marvellous. A fantastic setting in this magical castle overlooking Moneglia, able to use the facilities of Villa Edera - swimming pool, bar and restaurant. Monleone is situated two minutes from the local station and only five minutes down hill from the hotel. Breakfast was divine - a huge spread, for lunch I meandered down to the town for lunch in the local enoteca (highly recommendable too!) and munched a gelate on the way back and for dinner I ate at the hotel, a la carte was so cheap - 25 euros for Linguine al Pesto followed by a monster plateful of Langoustine, Chili & lemon and a salad.....complete bliss.....and I was the only English voice by the pool. Moneglia is a typical Italian working/holiday village with food shops and life and soooo untouristy. In short, perfect.....will definitely come back again.