Italy has always held an ancient charm and a magical draw, so you couldn’t be blamed for spending a significant amount of time daydreaming of the perfect getaway there. One listing on Airbnb that sees guests rent an entire island with its own farmhouse near Venice has been proving popular, grabbing headlines and prompting wanderlust-fuelled visions of peaceful country walks, exquisite wine and delicious food.
Surrounded by a lagoon and accessible by boat, the pink farmhouse of Island Falconera is nestled amidst a backdrop of trees and overlooks the water in Cavallino. Guests can see the island’s resident dog basking in the sunshine, along with flamingos and other wildlife. With seven bedrooms that can sleep a total of 16 people, a shared kitchen and shared bathrooms, the building is a typical Venetian farmhouse. Costing an average of €573 per night, guests that rent the listing have access to the entire island. Boat trips from the mainland are organized in advance with the hosts and take approximately eight minutes.
Just shy of a five-star rating across the board, guest feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with some travelers commenting on how relaxing the entire experience is from start to finish, while others said that they enjoyed escaping the busier parts of Venice.
“Our island offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature in just ten minutes by boat from the mainland. Furthermore, we find ourselves isolated from the rest of civilization where telephones, commitments and Wi-Fi become superfluous. The feedback that is mostly reported to us by our guests is that the island offers the possibility to disconnect from the usual stressful life and the problems connected to it. Many guests want to return before they even leave!” Anna Sarzetto, one of the hosts of the island told Lonely Planet.
As well as running a service that has proven popular with travelers, Anna said that renting out the island is helping to protect it from high tides and raises funds that keep it in good condition.
According to the estate, special disinfection regimes are in place in order to sanitise the accommodation after each set of guests.
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