Description
Poet Gulf Villa is located in Maggiano,a small hillside fraction of La Spezia that dominates the city and it’s beautiful gulf. Surrounded by olive groves this typical Ligurian farmhouse is the result of a two year restoration process where the owners have maintained all of the home’s original features. During the restoration process they slowly discovered wood beams,stone walls and brick archways which had been covered by years of plaster and paint. These original features have now become one of the property’s highlights along with it’s beautiful views of the Poet’s Gulf from almost every window.
Poet Gulf Villa is perched on the Ligurian hillside and surrounded by beautiful olive groves. The area is well known for it’s special olive oil which the owners are planning on producing theirselves in the near future to offer to guests visting the villa. From the villa’s spacious terrace and manicured garden, guests may enter directly into the ground floor. Upon entering the ground floor to the left is a spacious living room that has two large sofas and a flat screen television with some satellite channels including BBC. Just beside the living room is the dining area which is furnished with an antique table and seats up to 8 guests. To the right of the dining room is the country style kitchen which is fully equipped with a dishwasher,a professional gas stove top and electric oven,microwave, toaster,coffee maker and a small cantina.
From the dining room the staircase leads guests up to the first floor which can also be reached directly through the villa’s front door. The first floor is composed of two bedrooms and one bathroom. One of the bedrooms has a king size bed (1.80x1.90 cm) and the second bedroom has two singles which can be made together upon request. From all of the beds there is a wonderful sea view. The spacious bathroom on this floor has a double vanity and a spacious shower.
The second floor of the villa is composed of two bedrooms each with their own spacious ensuite bathrooms. The “master suite” is very large and has a king size bed from which guests can enjoy a beautiful sea view. The master suite’s bathroom has a characteristic Victorian style tub with a handheld shower. From the fourth bedroom , guests will still enjoy a sea view from the king size bed and the ensuite bathroom has a double vanity and a spacious shower.
A/C units in all bedrooms.
Just outside of the villa’s front door is the entrance to the seperate laundry room which has been furnished with a large washing machine, a dryer, an ironing board/iron, a linen closet and an antique marble sink.
The owners have used many precious antiques along with high quality materials like oak floors, travertine, and handmade tiles to create a comfortable country atmosphere with all of today’s modern comforts. The villa has wireless internet throughout. There is also an herb garden for those who enjoy cooking and cooking classes can be arranged directly at the villa upon request.
Just beside the villa, is an antique pathway, that either leads down to La Spezia or farther up the hills with different points of interest such as the grotta of Bocca Lupara . For the more adventurous, the pathway leads as far as the panoramic pathway no.1 of the CinqueTerre where one may choose to go left towards Portovenere or right towards the villages of the CinqueTerre....... a long hike! The Colle del Telegrafo (point of departure for the CinqueTerre pathways) can also be reached by car in about 10 minutes from he villa.
The actual towns of the CinqueTerre may be reached from the villa either by car, by ferry, or by train. The train station in La Spezia is only a five minute drive from the villa and trains depart almost every hour for the CinqueTerre (www.trenitalia.it for schedules). The ferry dock is also only about 10 minutes from the villa and is probably the most panoramic alternative.
Although the CinqueTerre towns are better known, also the towns of Portovenere,Lerici,Fiascherino, and Montemarcello are all well worth visting and all within 20-30 minutes by car from the villa. Lucca,Florence, and Pisa are also all feasable day trips.
The owner has been catering to foreign travellers for over 10 years and has an extra touch at acknowledging some of the seemingly small details that make ALOT of difference when travelling away from home. She takes extra care in providing a housebook full of local information and activities and is always available for any special requests such as cooking courses at the villa, meals prepared at the villa by a local cook, and an American tour guide specialized in the local CinqueTerre pathways, local museums,and art cities.
