About us

About

In 2022, Shari Wijnhoud, Bodo Groen, and Ellen Grandjean founded Plinius® to provide travelers with comprehensive assistance in discovering exclusive, unique Italian holiday villas. Additionally, Plinius® inspires with stories in their online magazine, enhancing the ultimate slow travel experience.

Plinius® serves as your compass to uncover the real Italy. We believe that travel is better when there is time and space to appreciate the authenticity of Italy. Therefore, we offer exclusive slow-travel vacation villas and articles that allow travelers to enjoy Italy like carefree locals. Plinius® doesn't sell vacations but 'slowcations.' For us, it's all about an unspoiled connection with local culture, people, and landscapes. Far from mass tourism and crowds, it's about an enriching, surprising, and immersive experience in Italy.

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.

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"

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.