Elegant Italian Villa On The Scenic Coast of New England
Villa Fiori in scenic Manchester-by-the-sea is a short walk from local Black & White Beach and a 3 minute drive from the famous Singing Beach! Perfect for family reunions and group vacations. Only 45 minutes from Boston by train or car.
The unique Villa Fiori was designed by the same architect as the world renowned Isabela Stuart Gardner Museum in Boston as a wedding present from a father to his daughter in 1896. The historic mansion was updated over the years.
When you walk into the house you are greeted by an Italian style courtyard and grand stairway. The first floor features a formal dining room with a sunroom attached, a large eat-in kitchen with double ovens, two dishwashers, a Miele 6 burner stove top, and back porch with two grills. Perfect for entertaining. Also, on the first floor is the classic and cozy walnut paneled library filled with books and games. It is furnished with a bar, wine refrigerator, a card table, and ample seating around the fireplace and tv. The library opens up to the patio and garden. The outdoor furniture and fire-pit sit above the large lawn. The formal gardens and the surrounding woods give a sense of privacy belying the close proximity to downtown Manchester and Gloucester. Finally, there is a powder room off of the courtyard and off the back hallway there is also a laundry room with a washer, dryer and iron.
The second floor features two master bedrooms with queen sized beds and baths, two suites with double twin beds and baths, two bedrooms with double sized beds, one bedroom with a queen sized bed, and one bedroom with a twin bed. There are four full bathrooms on the second floor and one half bath that serves the third floor.
The third floor has two bedrooms, the larger featuring a queen sized bed and the second room has two twin beds.
During the summer months relax on our patio in the comfortable lawn furniture and with the outdoor fire pit that overlooks the great lawn where you can also enjoy a game of volleyball or badminton. On our back porch, have fun with the fooseball table or play some basketball on our small home court.
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Supervision required. Additional deposit may apply
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Events
No events allowed
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Pets
No pets allowed
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
If smoking outside, please dispose properly
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Please turn heat down to 65 degrees.
Leave all used bedding in the bedrooms
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Strict NO SMOKING / NO VAPING policy inside & outside at any time. Additional Cleaning fees will apply if evidence of smoking is found.
Due to the historic characteristics of this home with steep staircases and open balconies, children are welcome but must be supervised at all times.
Maximum overnight occupancy is 18 guests. Not to exceed 25 total persons inside the dwelling or on the property grounds at any time. during your stay
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number C0206131660
Property # 464604vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
About the area
Manchester-by-the-Sea
Located in Manchester-by-the-Sea, this holiday home is near the beach. Hammond Castle and Fishermen's Memorial Monument are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Maritime Gloucester and Long Hill. Rocky Neck Art Colony and Appleton Farms Grass Rides are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and horse riding.
Manchester Historical Museum - 2 min drive - 1.9 km
Black Beach - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
Coolidge Reservation - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
Getting around
Manchester Station - 2 min drive
Beverly, MA (BVY-Beverly Municipal) - 16 min drive
Restaurants
Woodman's of Essex - 9 min drive
Magnolia 525 Tavern - 5 min drive
Causeway Restaurant - 10 min drive
Blue Marlin Grille - 10 min drive
Great Marsh - 9 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Elegant Italian Villa On The Scenic Coast of New England pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Elegant Italian Villa On The Scenic Coast of New England?
As of 12 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Elegant Italian Villa On The Scenic Coast of New England on 8 Dec, 2026 start from S$2,281, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Elegant Italian Villa On The Scenic Coast of New England?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Elegant Italian Villa On The Scenic Coast of New England?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Elegant Italian Villa On The Scenic Coast of New England?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Elegant Italian Villa On The Scenic Coast of New England located?
Situated by the sea, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Graves Beach, White Beach and Black Beach. Coolidge Reservation and Manchester Historical Museum are also within 2 miles (3 km). Manchester Station is 26 minutes by foot.
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We were so lucky to find this amazing property to host our guests for our wedding weekend. It is an amazing building to behold: ample space, gorgeous details throughout, functional fireplaces, comfortable beds. Every turn we took, there was something new to discover. This beautiful property certainly made our weekend, and made our guests feel at ease. We would stay here again in a heartbeat. Thank you to the wonderful communication, both on the VRBO app and with the property manager directly by text. Is there something more than 5 stars?
It was a wonderful stay! What an amazing house. The space was clean and beautiful and the host was incredibly responsive. Different rooms are hot or cold, so choose the one that's best for how you sleep! This was perfect for the student retreat we ran
Perfect for what we need!! Lots of space for my large family to spread out and enjoy our holiday together. Host, as always is super responsive and accommodating!!
Our group of 18 people found the perfect spot near the coast and in close proximity to Salem. Just a 20 minute Uber ride to Salem. The villa has loads of character and charm. Lots of room for everyone and the bedrooms were comfortable as well. We loved hanging out in the kitchen and library. There was plenty of room to cook and entertain tight quarters. We would definitely stay again.
My book club really enjoyed Villa Fiori for a weekend trip together. Such a unique, striking space, with several wonderful spaces to gather (atrium, library, dining room, kitchen) and plenty of bedrooms to spread out to. The kitchen was well equipped for cooking and serving for our large group, and we enjoyed some of the books and games provided as well. We would definitely come again!
Lovely property
Alix the owner and Don the property manager were very nice and very helpful.
art f.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified
6/10 Okay
Ericka S.
6 Oct, 2025
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
Mold in dishwasher - gross. Window Sills, door jambs, threshholds caked with insects. Spacious with lots of beds. Couches in living room broken down and musty. Very old house - charm, but old smell. Host/ Property manager very accommodating!Needs TLC. lots.
Ericka S.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jan, 2026
Hi, I am sorry to hear of your experience. We have a cleaning crew who works very hard and is very thorough. The house is old but well cared for and we do extra diligence to create a warm welcoming ambience. The couches are certainly not broken down nor do they have a musty smell. The house is situated in a woody area and sometimes we miss a dead bug, I will make sure to alert my cleaning crew. Thanks for your feedback
We had a wonderful stay. The spacious house had lots of good places for our big group to spread out but also an excellent spot for us to all gather together. The house is beautiful and old with lots of character. Don was excellent with communication and we felt welcome.
We rented the property for a small wedding party in the area. There were 18 of us and it couldn’t have been any more perfect! Initially, it had a little bit of a creepy vibe, which was amazing and fun! But after the house was filled with people, you could feel the love in the house and it felt so warm and amazing. Does the house need some work? Definitely, it’s a work in progress. Does it add to the charm? 100% absolutely! The entire wedding party all said it was the most amazing and unique stay they have had. Thank you so much for some unforgettable memories!
The space was such a welcome change from a hotel. Lots of comfortable spaces for small group conversations and the library was a perfect place to unwind by the fire.
The kitchen had a great layout for serving up meals and everyone felt "at home" immediately.
This was my second time renting this home and it’s a delight! Lots of space to spread out. Definitely an old home vibe but I think it makes the home interesting and unique. Definitely recommend!
First impressions are always important and entering the great room with the high ceiling, arches, balcony and beautiful woodwork confirmed this was going to be perfect location for our far flung family. Further explorations of the 10 bedrooms confirmed sleeping arrangements for all 16 of those staying and room to add two friends who stayed over one night. Our big family and friends gathering of 27 people held midweek with a wonderful lobster clam bake on the patio followed by an afternoon of badminton capped off a perfect week. The house, the weather and the family and friends from all over the US combined to make this a ‘must do again’ occasion. Thank you!
This was a fascinating huge house with lots of interesting places to explore. The 5 children with our group of 11 loved the outdoor volleyball and basketball. Definitely the largest and most interesting property we have ever rented.
We had a family gathering at Villa Fiori the week of Halloween. What a perfect environment! There were 16 of us and we had more than enough space for everyone.
The house is old and it definitely needs some work but we thoroughly enjoyed our stay despite the quirkiness. We would stay again.
Great house for large family if you are ok with antique style and eclectic furnishings/style. Lots of room, kitchen well equipped, plenty of sleeping beds. Great location & private. Extremely “lived in” comfortable but very old- nothing remodeled in a long time but charming.
Janice P.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023
About the host
Hosted by Chris Bissel
We are a family who grew up in this house. We love doing family trips to Italy and the house reflects our heritage and our experiences in Italy and the Cape Ann area. We love to provide a glimpse of historic Manchester-by -the-Sea and the “summer cottages” that were built in the area in the late 1890’s.
Why they chose this property
The house is surrounded by almost 3 acres of woods and gardens. We love the privacy and yet, the close convenience of the village and the beach. There are great restaurants, hiking and other sports, as well as interesting shopping and proximity to Gloucester, Salem, Essex and other wonderful Cape Ann and North Shore towns.
What makes this property unique
The architecture of the house is quite unique. It is based on the designs of old Italian houses. It is situated in a woodland setting, with a large upper garden and a lower lawn for badminton and volleyball. We are up on a private hill with the convenience of being a short walk to the train into Boston or the beach.