Villa near Praiano - etia no.: 124

description:

The house and its gardens are full of atmosphere and the spirit of the place creates a perfect harmony and balance.  The construction is very fascinating, as the villa stands isolated amidst a wide-open space, slightly sloped towards the sea. The house is an ancient villa (the former owner was a farmer who used the central cupola room as an open fireplace) restored with extremely good taste and sobriety, keeping the charm and quality of the material of the original house in a design of Austrian architect, Laurids Ortner. Materials are natural, colours are never too strong, and every detail just falls perfectly into the surrounding nature of the coastline.
The villa offers six bedrooms, all with private baths. Every bedroom is 4.30 meters high, with a domed ceiling, stone floor, stencilled walls, and sea views. The stylish rooms are furnished with black elements of oriental inspired furniture.  Each room has writing desks, mini-refrigerator, telephone, armchairs, lamps, and built-in closets. Three of the bedrooms also have flat screen TVs and DVD players.  French doors or large panoramic windows bring the greenery and the sea into the rooms.  A glass book case lies in the center of each bedroom, each focusing on a different literary field of interest – art, architecture, nature, history, philosophy, and psychology.

Terrace/garden:
The opportunity to spend the entire day outside is one of the great advantages of life by the sea, and the garden, which serves as an extension of the house, allows you to enjoy this privilege. The design of the garden enters in dialogue with the house’s architecture, laid out by the famous Belgian landscape architect Jacques Wirtz, covering an open space of 5000 square meters with sculpted hedges, greenery, fountains, and stone benches, and also enjoys a seawater swimming pool.  The view from its position looks right onto the Galli islands, the Faraglioni rocks of Capri, and Positano, allowing guests to follow the sky and sea change during the day and the changing seasons.
You will be surprised as the sloping levels continuously serve you with new angles and views until a Saracen tower by the beach appears. The garden is planted with pine trees and olives. Walking through it one can smell its perfumes and birds.  A patio, just outside the property, is furnished with tables, chairs, and umbrellas ideal for taking breakfast while you enjoy the garden and the views.  A small lined patio is furnished with a table and chairs, allowing for a more private outdoor area. 8 steps lead down to the second garden level, planted with trees, and another set of steps takes you further down to a circular fountain. The last garden level brings you to a seawater swimming pool built out from the natural rock.  Like the rest of the property, the pool maintains the colours of the rough material with which it was built. The property also enjoys a private beach platform, down a serious of steps descending the cliffs, allowing you to swim in the open sea. The garden’s only night-lights are its candles.

Ground floor:
Cosy office/bar with sofa, chairs, and table leading to the bedrooms up a staircase.  Adjoining breakfast room with 6 small tables, chairs, and benches, and a large glass door leading out onto the garden. Small kitchen equipped with all necessary facilities and utensils for cooking - dishwasher, 4-range stovetop, microwave, electric coffee machine, meat slicer, large refrigerator/freezer. Both kitchen and bar have direct garden access.

First floor:
17 steps leads up to two suites, and a double room. Each suite is comprised of a double bedroom with baldachin beds and stencilled walls.  Well furnished adjoining living area and ensuite bath.  The double room is positioned in the centre of the house, and therefore, a bit darker and cooler.

Second floor:
Three beautiful double bedrooms are accessible up a flight of 26 steps. Two rooms enjoy en-suite baths, while the third bedroom has its bathroom in the corridor.  All rooms lead onto a paved terrace viewing the sea and the garden, furnished with lounge chairs and tables.

Access:  An access alleyway takes you down to the property (about a 3-4 minute walk from the main coastal road, and approximately 170 total steps (spread out over the course of the alleyway) to the villa’s entrance.

facilities:

• Seawater swimming pool, (5 meter x 10 meter x 2 meter)
  
• Access to a private beach
  
• Flat screen TV and DVD (in 3 rooms)
• Telephone
• Heating
• Breakfast buffet 
  

Parking: A private parking space in a public parking lot, situated along the main coastal road (3 min. walk from the property) can be arranged on request (20 Euros per day).

prices 2007:

service included:

• Breakfast buffet
• Daily maid service
  
• Linen change once a week
• Porter service included
  

our suggestion:

We are making this property available on the rental market for the first time.  It is continuously undergoing changes and new facilities are still planned.  Please ask us for updated details when booking.  The villa does not have air conditioning, however, its characteristic dome-shaped ceilings (in all bedrooms) and thick, stone walls favour a clean, cool ambience with a good air circulation that, combined with the fresh marine breeze, creates a very cool and comfortable ambience, even during the hot summer months.