Our adventure started about 10 years ago in Liguria, a province along the beautiful Italian coast. We were looking for that one special place where we could fulfill our dream: a piece of land to grow vegetables, fruits and olives sustainably, and produce our own wine. A place that would not only make our hearts beat faster, but also those of our guests. Liguria, with its mild climate and rich traditions in agriculture and horticulture, was the perfect place for our adventure.

CURIOUS ABOUT WHO WE ARE?
We are Ab and Shirley. Ab, born in the Westland in a family of growers, grew up among flowers and plants. Shirley, born in The Hague and raised in an Indonesian family, had a career in fashion after her education at the Rotterdam Art Academy. Together, we are the proud parents of three children: Romeo, Guy, and Ivy.

After many years at the helm of the family nursery, Ab continued to follow his ambition and founded Wematrans, a company specialized in the logistics of flowers and plants. Starting with 1 truck and 1 driver, Wematrans grew to a fleet of 40 trucks with a team of 150 people. Finally, the company was acquired by Royal FloraHolland in 2020.

Behind an old fence in Bordighera, we discovered Villa Genua. Overgrown by weeds and wild brambles, there it was”our” house: hidden by the bougainvillea, stately, dilapidated, and beautiful! It was love at first sight. In March 2017, this dream became a reality. With the help of a fantastic team of Italian architects and builders, we breathed new life into the house and estate.

We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished and can’t wait to welcome our first guests in the spring of 2024.

After years of dreaming, planning and hard work, we have found our place. Welcome to Villa Genua, where our dream and your vacation become a reality!