The inn offers five guest rooms, one with a private bath (the others have "semi-private" baths), plus a mini-apartment. Prices range from 50 euros to 60 euros for the rooms; the price for the mini-apartment depends on the number of guests.
Innkeeper Thomas Christel, who runs La Torretta Bianca with his wife Romina Abbadini, answered some questions for us about their bed and breakfast. He says that he was originally interested in becoming an innkeeper because of "the lifestyle. The quality of life with one's family, you can't put a price on."
Christel said his favorite part of running a B&B is "Meeting new people from all over the world and sharing a truly amazing area here in Italy." Here's more from our interview.
What are some of your inn's unique features?
The property has several terraces of gardens with all kinds of fruit trees, from almonds and hazelnuts to white cherries, apples, peaches, nespole, both black and white figs and a number of olive trees producing over 50 liters of oil a year.
The property is fully gated for security and privacy, it overlooks the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, and it is quiet with a cool breeze to enjoy the patios and garden. Parking is available, we provide transportation services to the beach and train station, and the inn has free wireless Internet access.
Tell us a little about your inn's history.
We opened our bed and breakfast in March 2007 after nearly a year of renovations. It has always been a dream of my wife and I to run and B&B in a wonderful location to share with family and friends.
We opened La Torretta Bianca after a false start in looking and buying property in Italy, a wonderful nun's monastery they wanted to transform into a bed and breakfast with conference rooms. It took two years to clear the proper authorization with the state, and as we came down to signing the closing contract, we found out that the nuns never accepted a donation some 50 years ago, so they didn't really own the property. The deal fell through.
What are some of the attractions in your area that guests seem to enjoy the most?
Depending on the guest, some popular attractions are the open-air markets on Tuesday and Friday, the Adriatic sun and beach, the Sibillini mountains for hiking, and some of the local towns: Offida, Ascoli Piceno, and Acquaviva for medieval to Roman architecture, San Benedetto for amazing fish dining, and local wines.
Which is your personal favorite guestroom at your bed and breakfast?
My personal favorite is the family suite called Vista Mare Room. The room contains a double bed and single beds on the third floor with amazing views of the sea and surrounding hillsides. When you wake up, you can see out the window to the sea. Not a bad way to start your day!
What other rooms do guests seem to enjoy?
Our most popular room is our suite, called the Olive Room, with air conditioning and its own private bathroom that includes a tub and shower. The view out the window is of the hillside and garden with olive trees.
We have also an enclosed portico where breakfast is served and guests can relax and check emails, read a book, just chat with friends, or plan their day. The portico doors can be opened for the fresh sea air and to step out into the patio and gardens.
Beside the five bedrooms in the main country villa, we offer an additional dependence, with living room and kitchenette, bedroom and bathroom, on a weekly rental basis. This is completely separate, but the guests join us for breakfast on the portico. It provides a mini-apartment separate for privacy and longer term stays.
How do you make a stay at your B&B special?
We aim to please our guests. We have literature from all the local sites guests can review and use. We tend to ask our guests what they are interested in and help them find that something special, whether it is shopping, Roman architecture, or a unique bottle of wine. We also have conventions with local restaurants and a beach chalet for our guests to enjoy.
What might a guest have at a typical breakfast?
Our breakfast starts with their choice of tea, espresso, cappuccino, hot chocolate, or milk. We offer juice, fresh fruit (seasonal) and fresh baked rolls or local paste -- croissant with cream or chocolate or plain from our local bakery. We also provide some homemade breakfast cakes and fresh fruits from the garden as well as jams made from the fruits, such as fig, peach and orange.
What's the strangest thing that has happened to you as an innkeeper?
The "ghost guests" -- people who stay that you don't see or hear for their entire visit.
What advice would you give to aspiring innkeepers?
Don't skimp on your upfront marketing costs. It will pay out tenfold in the end.
