Sorrento Villa B&B

There are very few flaws to be found with the spectacular Amalfi Coast, but a glaring one is the scarcity of really nice family-run B&Bs. In the Sorrento area, there are hardly any that we do not consider extremely rustic. This small estate, immersed in a thriving grove of lemons, oranges and olives, was the very first establishment to offer immaculate rooms with lovely furnishings, a warm homey atmosphere, and a delicious gourmet breakfast. Thanks to the loving care of its friendly owners, it has now become wildly popular, for guests including large families on a budget as well as movie stars on a break from celebrity.

To find the villa you will drive straight up into the hills, only a kilometer from the busy tourist village of Sorrento. If you don't have a car, your hostess Maria, or more likely her son Pasquale, will come get you at the train station in Sant'Agnello. Later in your stay you can rent a motorbike or a Smart (one of those impossibly tiny and easy-to-park European cars), delivered to your doorstep in the morning. Upon arrival, you are bound to gravitate towards the big picture window in the living room, with its view of the entire Bay of Naples. This spacious common room also has a satellite television, VCR and stereo, but you are more likely to be interested in the window, which looks out over the panoramic terrace where that world-class breakfast is served. Against a background of the clear blue sea, Mt. Vesuvius and the colorful houses of Sorrento, amidst flowering bougainvillea and geranium, you will be delighted to fill your English china plates again and again with fresh mozzarella di bufala, prosciutto, tiny local tomatoes, homemade pastries, breads, jams and honey, or squeeze your own juice from the fruit growing in front of your eyes, or indulge in a second cappuccino. Ah, la dolce vita!

There are never more than 20 guests at the villa, because it has only five rooms plus one separate house. Each has a private balcony, air conditioning, satellite TV, telephone, mini-fridge, plenty of storage space and a brand-new private bathroom with marble counter, tile walls and hair dryer. There is wireless throughout the property, but if you don't want to bring along a laptop, you can just use the Internet point in the office. All the bathrooms have both a bathtub and separate shower, except for one, Noce, which is on the ground floor and has two twin beds or one queen bed, a beautiful tiled bathroom with Jacuzzi shower, and a glassed-in balcony with sea view.

The other four rooms are on the lower level. Mandarino has nice antique furniture including a king-size bed, a small bathroom with shower, and a large terrace facing the garden. Next door, Arancio shares the same terrace and faces the olive grove, seen through two large windows plus a set of French doors. It is a romantic junior suite with a pretty wrought-iron bed, huge wardrobe, 18th-century furnishings, and a luxurious bathroom with sunken tub and separate Jacuzzi shower. For families, there is plenty of room here to add one or two single beds for children. On the other side of the house, Olivo is a double that can also be a triple room. It has modern furniture, including a desk and dresser. It also has a private patio and a pink bathroom with Jacuzzi shower and separate tub. Limone is big enough for up to four people, and it has a king-size bed, possibility of adding two single beds, lots of closet space, a private patio shaded by lemon trees, and a blue-and-white bathroom with Jacuzzi shower and separate tub.

About 50 yards from the main villa is the owners' home. The family lives on the ground floor, while a very spacious guest apartment occupies the whole top floor of the two-story building. The apartment has its own yard and private entrance, which opens onto the large living room, furnished with a table, chairs, sofa and satellite TV. Off this room is a big private terrace with views of Sorrento and the Bay of Naples. The two bedrooms are air conditioned: one has a double bed and the other has two twin beds that can be combined to make a king-sized bed. There are two bathrooms, one with stall shower and one with bathtub.

You will find that Sorrento, apart from being a charming and very authentic southern town filled with all manner of shops from the most humble to the most exclusive, is a wonderful base for exploring this fascinating area. You can take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii in half an hour, or stay on a bit longer and visit Naples' fascinating museums, churches and street markets. Boats leave often for Capri, Positano and Amalfi. When you come home in the afternoon, you can cool off and relax by the full-size swimming pool that is only 80 yards from the property. Do plan to set aside one evening to attend the local tarantella show, but you'll also want to leave time to enjoy the sunset and moonrise with your fellow guests, perhaps in the hot tub on one of the most panoramic rooftops along the entire Amalfi Coast. From mid-May to mid-October, you can enjoy delicious home-cooked dinners there as well (30 Euro/person plus beverages).

Shuttle service must be confirmed at the time of booking. The charge is 5 Euro per trip from Sant'Agnello station and 10 Euro/trip from Sorrento.

Check-in: after 2pm
Check-out: by noon

Click here for information about regular boat service between Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Agropoli and Cilento.

Click here for information about private transfers to the property.

It is not necessary to have a car to stay here, but it will be considerably easier to sightsee if you have one, because the property is about 1 km from the center of Sorrento.

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