Villa Gioia — Hotel in Corato

We booked Villa Gioia for our wedding over a year ago, which we just celebrated on September 20th, and honestly, I don’t even know where to start. From the very first moment, Silvana, Luisa, and Massimo made us feel completely at ease. The second we booked, they reached out right away to kick off the planning, sending all the info we needed and even created a group chat so everything was organized in one place. And as anyone who’s planned a wedding knows, organization is everything- so we immediately felt like we were in good hands.

In April, I had the opportunity to visit the property for a walkthrough with Luisa, who was there to greet us with open arms. She even spoiled my mother and me with a full tasting experience (the whole menu with wine pairing and dessert- which made me so excited for the wedding day.) Being part of an Italian family, my mother and I felt an instant connection and kinship with Luisa. She made us feel like a true priority, never an afterthought. Her hospitality, patience, and willingness to answer our endless questions was very much appreciated, especially since planning a wedding in a foreign country can be a bit intimidating.

Throughout the planning, Massimo, Silvana and Luisa kept on top of everything for us, they also recommended outstanding vendors, as well as transportation services for our guests, ensuring that every detail was lovingly taken care of. In the last few months when things started to get busier and more stressful, they handled last-minute requests with such grace and empathy, and even added little personal touches that made our wedding feel even more special. Shout out to Massimo here because he works with so much professionalism and is always focused on finding solutions, delivering a luxurious experience within our budget and without any hidden surprises. Overall, every choice felt collaborative with them- never transactional or forced. That kind of intuition and care is rare in the wedding industry, and it made such a difference for us. Massimo, Luisa, Silvana, and their dedicated staff genuinely treated us like family.

When our wedding day finally arrived, it honestly surpassed all expectations. Silvana and her catering team were not only professional, but absolutely top tier- every one of my guests kept talking about the food and service- how incredible everything tasted and how amazing the staff was. Also, I didn’t have a wedding planner, so at first I felt a little nervous about how everything would come together. But as soon as I saw how seamlessly everything was handled, I felt completely at ease. Silvana was such a loving and calm presence in the midst of all the chaos. She stood with me in quiet moments, offering support and reassurance that I’ll never forget. Both Silvana and Luisa made sure the staff stayed perfectly on schedule and that every final detail we envisioned was brought to life exactly as we’d hoped.

And then there’s the property itself!! This 300-year-old masseria is straight out of a movie. It feels like a masterpiece, part work of art, part museum, and yet also a home filled with love. I wholeheartedly recommend Villa Gioia. Our wedding was the most extraordinary day of our lives, made possible by our amazing hosts and their incredible team. Their kindness, professionalism, and genuine care are truly one of a kind. This is all to say- if you’re considering Villa Gioia, take the time to appreciate every exquisite detail, honour the space, and feel the care and love their family has poured into it. We can’t wait to return for our first anniversary and soak in a bit of that unforgettable magic again. Simply put, Massimo, Luisa, and Silvana are remarkable humans, and Villa Gioia is truly a...

Great venue, poor management.

Celebrated our wedding in Villa Gioia mid September. 13 of us stayed for 5 nights. Two day wedding with a total of 70 guests - wedding day (ceremony and formal dinner), and day 2 (poolside lunch buffet).

VILLA We paid the deposit and balance as per the contract and pre arrival. €800 holding deposit paid on arrival. On arrival: ensure any existing damages are noted with Luisa. On departure: ensure a full check is done prior to departure. This should be done by Luisa as per the villa contract. This was not done for us. Towels: only 1 set of towels per guest for 5 days. Hired Luisa as event coordinator for event days. €700 cash was paid on departure as previously agreed. Silvana liaised with the catering on the wedding day, Luisa did on day 2.

CATERING Catering details (food, drinks, cake, running order) all accounted for in a catering document and confirmed. Deposit and balance paid as per the catering document which was paid in full prior to wedding date. Guinness kegs: paid in full in advance - told 2 days before the event that there would be no Guinness. Wedding cake: lemon meringue pie ordered as cake cutting moment - see pictures attached of what was requested and agreed versus what we received. We saw the cake for the first time only prior to cake cutting moment. 4hr open bar: paid for in full prior to date. This included draft beer, any bottled beer we would pay extra. Agreed as per catering doc. To our surprise we received a bill for 3 extra kegs of beer post wedding. Day 2: guest arrival - lunch setup or drinks were not ready so guests were left with no drinks for 30 minutes after arrival. Day 2: paid for buffet lunch, wine, beer and a prosecco toast for 60 people. We did not receive wine or the prosecco toast. Highlighted to Luisa and the catering manager. 2 bottles of Prosecco and 3 bottles of wine were brought out for 60 people. This was not sufficient.

The above are the main points I wanted to share from our wedding at Villa Gioia - we did not receive the goods we paid for.

There are many small details I haven’t mentioned as I feel the above is enough to understand our experience. We had a great 2 days celebrating but the lack of communication and sense of care caused use both a lot of stress and extra work for us and our families.

Our take away: Villa Gioia is a great venue but we highly recommend hiring an experienced external wedding planner to arrange all vendors, logistics and coordination on the day.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

My review above is not intended for a reply from Villa Gioia. Purely sharing our experience so that other's do not make the same mistake we did. We paid all our bills in full so we are not looking for a discount etc. I will not tolerate lies therefore will not engage with Villa Gioia's unprofessional and untrue...

We just had our dream wedding at the beautiful Villa Gioia and can't recommend it enough for anyone hoping for a rustic, laid back Italian vibes. It was everything we dreamed of and more thanks to the attentive service of Maria Luisa, Silvana and Massimo, the villa owners. From the moment I inquired into the villa as a possible wedding venue we were given so much information on what to expect with the owners organising all the incredibly talented vendors so we didn't have too. Having a WhatsApp chat with the owners made the wedding planning feel effortless as they would respond to enquiries so quickly always with a yes answer or providing a solution. From the moment we arrived at the villa with our family and friends Maria Luisa was on hand to help with anything during our stay including booking taxis and airport transfers which was a huge help for many of our party who didn't have hire cars. On the day of the wedding Maria Lusia and Silvana were both on site coordinating everything with many staff there to ensure the set up was perfect and wow did it look beautiful. The florist Aldo took my brief of Pinterest inspiration and made it come to life, with hundreds of stunning flowers decorating the villa, ceremony tree and my bouquet of flowers. I was also given a bouquet as a gift for my room as I got ready with my bridesmaids. So many thoughtful touches throughout the day made us feel so special. The catering was fantastic and food was great quality with many of our guests commenting on how delicious everything was. Our wine glasses were never empty and I recommend hiring the bar who providing an ongoing flow of cocktails and drinks that kept our guests dancing all night. The villa itself is a breathtaking property with so much history and antiques. It was so much fun and special to stay there and the most beautiful backdrop for a party. The pool area is stunning and was perfect for our 2nd day pool party which we self catered on the large outdoor bbq. If you're thinking of having a wedding in Puglia I really recommend Villia Gioia, not just because the venue is stunning and the vendors are wonderful but also because the owners really do care about your special day, making it easy to plan and so you're able to relax and enjoy...