Guardia Sanframondi: Part 1 - Getting There

A Corner in Guardia Sanframondi

Part 2 - Around Town
Part 3 - Good Eats!
Part 4 - Houses

We did it! Everything went according to plan. We made it to Guardia Sanframondi and Clare Galloway's charming ArtHouse B&B, explored the town, visited a bunch of houses (and found 2 that are almost perfect), enjoyed overwhelming Italian hospitality and lived to tell the tale. So without further ado...


There are at least two phases of the trip to Guardia Sanframondi. The first is getting to Italy. That's an 8+ hour flight from Philly up to about 14 hours if you're flying from the west coast. A long flight - especially for those of us who fly "cattle class". Then there's the 6 to 9 hour time difference between the US and Italy (When it's 03:00 in Philly, it's 09:00 in Rome.)

From the US there are two entry primary entry points for a trip to Guardia Sanframondi: Rome and Naples. We flew to Rome. It's a direct flight from Philadelphia, but Rome is a two and a half hour drive from Guardia Sanframondi. That means renting a car and taking on the task of driving in Italy.

Guardia - Naples Bus Schedule

On the other hand Naples is much closer to Guardia Sanframondi, there is bus service between Naples and Guardia (5 times a day) and although you'll almost certainly have a flight connection in the north (we've routed through Munich and Venice) the cost of the flight may be lower. Plus you'll have the adventure of making a bus connection somewhere in Piazza Garibaldi outside Napoli Centrale. The bus stop in Guardia is on Via Municipio in front of Piazza Mercato (see the map below).

Or you  could rent a car at Capodichino, though I understand getting out of Naples is a bit more challenging than leaving Rome.

It may sound as if I'm not too fond of the idea of flying into Naples. For us, Rome was easier but if you've never been to Naples you owe it to yourself to spend a few days there. It's exactly like and completely different from everything you've heard about it.

Take your pick, relax and enjoy. Anyway...

Knowing we'd be tired and grouchy from the flight we decided to camp out overnight at the Airport Hilton. It's not exactly inexpensive but it's a short(ish) walk from the airport itself with those "people mover" slide-walk thingies most of they way.

The Hilton is pretty much like every other Hilton on the planet. Modern, immaculately clean, nice rooms, professional staff. They do have the usual 14:00 check-in time but our room was ready when we arrived. After a quick shower and change of clothes we took their free shuttle bus into Rome for a meal and a little sight seeing.

We ate at 0.75, a wine bar around the corner from last year's hotel. It's a short walk from the shuttle drop off (on via del Teatro di Marcello just south of Piazza Venezia) and we knew it would be open. They have free wi-fi (the Hilton's wi-fi is a ridiculously expensive), reasonable prices, good food and if you're there in the evening (after 19:00 as I recall) you'll be able to enjoy a free buffet of antipasti and other light items with your wine.

Phase Two - The Drive to Guardia Sanframondi

Ours was brown...

Next morning we cleaned up, checked out and headed back toward the airport to pick up our rental car. We'd reserved an economy four door since we knew we'd have a big suitcase, a carry-on suitcase and our personal bags. What we got was a Citroen Nemo. A zippy, diesel powered mini truck. With a manual transmission. Be aware that the vast majority of rental cars in Italy are going to be manuals - you won't see an automatic until you get up into the full size luxury cars or mini vans. But even if you haven't driven a manual in years, it comes back quickly and by the time you get to the twisty mountain roads near Guardia you'll be comfortable again.

Getting out of the airport is just like getting out of any other major airport - you drive around in a big circle, merge onto a ring road, and drive until you come to the exit you're looking for. After that it's a straight shot on the A1 almost all the way to Guardia Sanframondi.

A1 is a toll road. You grab a ticket (biglietto)  when you enter and you'll pay a single toll when you exit of €9.50. On exit you pay cash or by credit card. We used the card alternative - just insert the toll ticket and then your card into the same slot.

How 'bout a Quick Snack?

Now, it may happen that you get hungry on the way to Guardia. Even if you're not hungry, stop at an Autogrill. Here in the US, you're luck to find a miniature McDonalds staffed by surly local teens. In Italy there's Autogrill. What you'll find inside are a full cafeteria, a snack bar with "grab and go" options and an assortment of packaged food, wine, and snacks. Like this:

Forget to bring some goodies for Nonna?

Antipasti Plates

Desserts and Fruit

Lunch!

And yes, nearly all the Italians will be having wine with their meals. I suggest you not join them. The last bit of the trip to Guardia is a little tricky and at the end involves a few tight up hill turns and a one lane bridge...

Arrival At Last!

View Larger Map

The "main drag" in Guardia is SS87, known locally as Corso Umberto and Via Municipio. That map is more or less centered on Piazza Mercato.

That's where the famous La Meridiana restaurant and Blues Brothers Bar are situated and it's a short walk from there to Arthouse Guardia. It's also where you'll park your car.

The Other Door to Arthouse Guardia

Give Clare a call and she'll come up to meet you and lead you down to the ArtHouse.

Try not to spend the rest of the day admiring the view - there's hills to climb, houses to see and lots of food to eat!