About us
About Us
Plinius is an independent travel and editorial platform, alongside a creative studio, centred around Italy.
We curate holiday villas and Little Gems [small hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs], and share the places, people, food and stories that make us want to return.
Plinius was born from a simple belief: the places worth staying in aren't always the most expensive, and the most memorable are rarely found by searching a list of stars. We look beyond the obvious, seeking out places with character, a story, or simply something that makes us stop and take notice.
Founded by Shari Wijnhoud, Bodo Groen and Ellen Grandjean, Plinius is for curious travellers who care about where they stay and what surrounds them.
The Plinius Story
The name Plinius is inspired by Pliny the Younger (ca. 62–113 AD), the Roman senator and writer. He is best known for his letters to friends, in which he vividly described his villas near Rome and in Umbria, their gardens, art, landscapes and the journeys to reach them. His writings capture the rhythms of daily life and the longing for peace and space amid work and duty.
In choosing his name, Plinius follows in his footsteps, uncovering (in a contemporary, digital form) the same joy in slowing down, observing, and truly connecting with place.
Places Worth Knowing
Our collection of holiday villas is deliberately small and carefully chosen. Villas, palazzi and country houses shaped by history, architecture, design or the people who have brought them to life.
Alongside them are our Little Gems: small hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs with their own particular character. Some are chic and refined, others wonderfully simple. What they share is a sense of place and a story worth telling.
Little Gems are independently owned and managed, with bookings made directly with each property.
Beyond the Obvious
We are interested in the Italy that reveals itself slowly.
The village market instead of the supermarket. A family-run trattoria instead of a polished tourist restaurant. A local producer, an overlooked garden, a road worth taking simply because the landscape looks beautiful.
Through our magazine, Substack and travel guides, we share the places and experiences that have stayed with us; not because they are famous, but because they are memorable.
Plinius.the.agency
Alongside the editorial platform, Plinius.the.agency is our creative studio.
We work with beautiful places, hospitality brands and independent businesses on photography, editorial content, visual storytelling and social media.
Our approach is simple: tell the story well, and make people want to be there.
Get in touch at: info@plinius-homes.com / ellen@plinius.homes / shari@plinius.homes
P.S. We sometimes work from hilltop villages or countryside kitchens, so if our reply takes a moment, know we’re somewhere beautiful, and we’ll get back to you very soon.
The team
Shari Wijnhoud
Founder, Booking & Content Manager
IG: @shariwijnhoud
Favorite Region: Piemonte! A stunning area in the north, with its antique market in Turin, Slow Food culture, and Barolo wines.
Dish: A Neapolitan pizza is always welcome—especially a pizza bianca with plenty of cheese!
Drink: Negroni.
Italian Habit: Aperitivo hour—unwinding with a drink and chatting about the day.
Ellen Grandjean
Founder, Booking & Content Manager
IG: @centifoliaprovence
Favorite Region: Sicily. Love the island’s rich history, cuisine, and easy island life!
Dish: Vitello Tonnato, a true classic.
Drink: Nero d’Avola, a bold, full-bodied Italian red wine. You could always wake me up for it!
Italian Habit: La passeggiata, the evening stroll through town, just like the locals.
Bodo Groen
Founder
IG: @huize_frankendael / @podere_invidia
Favorite Region: Tuscany, hands down my top choice. It’s where our journey with Plinius began with our first house, Podere Invidia.
Dish: Risotto.
Drink: A fine glass of Brunello from Montalcino.
Italian Habit: Enjoy a freshly brewed espresso right at the bar! And, of course, a limoncello after dinner.
Brian Sahertian
Website builder - together with the Clicksmash team
Website: Clicksmash
Region: Trentino | South Tyrol, and ideally during the warmer hiking seasons. It’s the perfect contrast—wandering through breathtaking nature, embracing the slow-living lifestyle, and leaving the digital world behind for a while.
Dish: Italian dishes with a Portuguese twist, just like we enjoy at my mother-in-law's. The best of the Mediterranean!
Drink: Nero d'Avola from Sicily and homemade Limoncello, just like my father makes it.
Italian Custom: Cappuccino in the morning.
Emma Peijnenburg
Photographer
IG: @emmapeijnenburg
Favorite Region: Recently discovered Liguria, where beach vibes meet rolling green hills—a photographer’s dream!
Dish: An authentic lasagna.
Drink: A classic Martini with an olive!
Italian Habit: A fresh cappuccino every morning (and yes, only before 11:00 am!).
Marjolein Meulendijk
Creative Consultant & Designer
IG: @cremedelamar / @stylenootnl
Favorite Region: Tuscany for its stunning sunsets and landscapes, but recently, Puglia has captured my heart with its orchards, whitewashed homes, and relaxed way of life.
Dish: Spaghetti alle vongole.
Drink: Negroni!
Italian Habit: Scarpetta! Use bread to mop up any leftover sauce.
Plinius Partners
Sabine and her team from Over the Moon Weddings
Founder and wedding planner
IG:@otmweddings
Favorite Region: Too many options! But for weddings, we'd say Tuscany or Puglia, depending on the vibe you want.
Dish: So hard to choose one thing but I love it when a meal or dish is just really simple, only a few ingredients, but the taste is amazing
Drink: Love a good Prosecco while enjoying a beautiful view
Italian Habit: Starting the day with a coffee and a “cornetto”
Maartje and Patrick from Ajen
Founders Ajen
IG:@ajen.care
Favorite Region: Trentino-South Tyrol, especially around Bozen. Perfect for wandering through vineyards and embracing slow living during the warmer days, but just as magical in winter.
Dish: Pasta carbonara. The best I’ve had so far was at Casa Newton, where we spent time last autumn.
Drink: Black tea, always, no matter where I am
Italian Habit: This year, I tried truffle hunting for the first time, a special experience. Being out in nature with the dogs, searching for hidden treasures, was a beautiful reminder of how rewarding simple pleasures can be.
Who was Plinius?
“Let me into the secrets you would prefer no one to know.” ~ Plinius the Younger
PLINIUS the Younger (62– c.113) was a Roman politician, philosopher, and writer. He described the Tuscan countryside to his friends in his famous writing “Letters on the Tuscan Villa”. In his vivid descriptions of country estates, including the gardens, art, and surroundings. He also tried to improve the balance between man and nature. In one of his letters, Plinius describes “the perfect day” in Tuscany. Interestingly, his perfect day (1st century AD) has not much changed from our perfect day.
We aim to continue Plinius’ journey and follow in his footsteps by sharing his love for beautiful places, slow living, nature, art, and culture. Plinius shared his findings through letters and we use a more digital form to communicate and let you into the secrets you would prefer no one else to know. Plinius stands for sharing the most beautiful places in Italy in a more sustainable way. The places we selected are the result of this ambition.