Welcome to our website! We call this place "Casaway, Your Home, Away!" and Nocciolina is our shiny star, the symbol of our pride for what we've built since 2009.

As passionate travelers and global citizens, we have journeyed across all major continents, immersing ourselves in the diverse truths of each culture through its food, traditions, and people. Born and raised in Northern  Italy, we now call sunny California our home. We lived in Santa Barbara in 2008, came back in 2015, and finally moved to San Diego in 2023.

Our love for travel and exploration has inspired us to create unique and welcoming vacation homes where guests can feel the warmth and charm of our experiences. We believe in leaving a piece of ourselves in every house we've lived in, whether it's a rental or a property we own. Each of our homes reflects our commitment to quality, comfort, and cultural authenticity, offering you a memorable stay that echoes the beauty and diversity of our world.

Finding Nocciolina

In August 2020, the first summer during the COVID-19 pandemic, we rented an apartment far from crowded cities, in Castiglione Falletto, a small suburb on the top of a hill, not too far from Barolo. While driving around, we fell in love with the beautiful view and the characteristic country houses built of natural stone, which is abundant in the area.

Not that we were planning to buy a vacation house, but we started browsing through available properties, just for fun. When we found this place, something clicked. The position was not accurately marked on the map, but we really wanted to find it. It wasn't easy, because it really was in the middle of hazelnut fields, but we finally found it! It was a Saturday afternoon and was a long shot, but we called the agent to organize a view. We almost hung up the phone when Emanuele Dotta picked up and setup a visit! A few hours later, we were signing paperwork to make an offer, which the buyer happily accepted! It all happened so quickly that we barely realized what was happening, but it felt very natural.

Renovating Nocciolina

After our first summer, we named this house "Nocciolina," because of the hazenult trees in its garden.

The potential of the extra field attached to the house was blatant. Initially we wanted to make it a patio with an outdoor kitchen, as you can see from the sketches below. We talked to an architect and a construction worker to get a first idea and in a few week we've started building the attached room, yet without a clear idea of what that would become. Maybe a bedroom, maybe a play room, maybe both.

Keep Building

We were working on a tight budget and, most importantly, we were living 2 hours from Nocciolina, so the renovation work was progressing very slowly. After about 2 years, in 2022, renovation work was still ongoing. But the barebone structure and finishing were done.

The Outdoors

After 2 summers spent with the family at Nocciolina we still didn't know we wanted to make it a place for others, but it was clear that the garden was the most important part of the house, because it was big, open, and immersed in nature, with a beautiful view on the Monviso. Such stunning sunsets!

So we built a small deck for a Jacuzzi and a cabana with a dining table underneath. It was when we decided to move to California that we realized the opportunity of turning Nocciolina into a business. After a few months spent finishing the place and setting it up for guests, we received our first reservation. We were very happy, but we saw it canceled after just a few hours, because the guest had confused the Jacuzzi for a pool. They wanted a pool, and we felt a bit embarrassed. So we rolled up our sleeves and built a larger deck for a pool, and that was it!

Goodbye Nocciolina

Another summer went by and in July 2023 we were ready to leave, but no house is done or truly lived wihtout a family picture. Less beard, less hair, grown kids, and four one-way tickets to San Diego.

Come stay at Nocciolina and experience a "home away from home," crafted with love and passion!