Villa rental in Castellabate, Italy - Wonderful 18th century villa opposite sea and few minutes walk to sandy beach. - Property 3636

Ground floor: The ground floor has antique terracotta tiling and vaulted ceilings and consists of a living room with an antique stone fireplace and adjoining dining area with large terrace windows which give onto the front patio courtyard ideal for outdoor dining. The kitchen in colourful vietri tiling consists of a gas cooker and oven, washing machine, fridge freezer, table and seating area and leads out toa wild fruit orchard where one can collect wonderfully fragrant oranges and lemons. Access to the upper floor is either via an internal spiral stairway (without handrail) or the main imposing outdoor stone stairway, which as with many older properties was the only access to the living quarters. There is also an annexe bedroom which sleeps 2 with bathroom with shower/basin/WC adjoining the house with private entrance via the courtyard.

Upper floor: The upper floor consists of 3 light and airy bedrooms decorated in colourful mediterranean style with vietri tiled flooring , 2 bedrooms have a terrace and all enjoy wonderful views across the bay. There are 2 bathrooms, one with shower and one with bath and shower. The upper hallway is equipped with a ping pong table and leads out onto a terrace which runs along the length of the building and features an antique water well. The extensive views across the green olive trees and beyond to the azzure coloured seas add to the attractive features of this magical location and on a clear day one can see the Amalfi coast and the graceful silhouette of the island of Capri.

Excursion possibilites: The local area offers a wide selection of restaurants where one can dine 'al fresco' and enjoy good genuine cooking where home made pastas, fresh fish and local wine form part of the menu. There are also numerous possibilites for excursions to the various places of interest - Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast- Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, Sorrento, the island of Capri, all being withing easy reach not to mention the local area where rugged stone farm houses dotted about the terraced olive groves and entire villages stand as living monuments to times goneby. Agropoli train station 10 minute drive regular services to Naples, Rome, Pompeii consult www.trenitalia.it Hydrofoil departures daily to Capri from San marco harbour (10 minute drive from S. Maria) from mid June-mid Sept with Metro del Mare low season boats from Salerno

Other Activities: hiking, excursions, boat trips, gastronomy