The Property
The two houses, built in the 1960s/70s, are modernist masterpieces by the Italian architect Alberto Ponis.
Main House
The main house has three double bedrooms (one en suite) and one, en suite single room.
Villa Ligeia has a large, airy living room with glass doors the full width of one end. These open out onto the main terrace and a spectacular view, especially at sunset.
The design of the house catches the light, off-shore breeze coming down the mountain. This keeps the house naturally cooler in the heat of the afternoon.
There is a library of over 1,000 books distributed among the rooms of the two houses.
A wide main terrace wraps around two sides of the house. It has a shaded dining area under a pergola ideal for open-air dinners.
Tower House
The guest cottage (known as the Tower House) is set back in the woods about 50 feet from the main house.
The cottage is circular and the ground floor is made up of an open plan kitchen and living room, a twin bedroom with plenty of wardrobe space, and a shower room/lavatory. It has a fully equipped kitchen with fridge, oven and hob, plus washing machine.
The first floor is one large suite and has its own semi circular terrace looking out to sea over the woods, plus access to a roof terrace from which you can see the whole Gulf of Policastro.
Its shaded, apron terrace, dotted with Mediterranean oak trees, surrounds the house and is a delightful alternative venue for lunch. There is a sunbathing garden beside it.
How to find us
By air
Fly to Naples and either hire a car or take a train. Alternativly, fly to Lamezia in the South which is closer but the flights are restricted.
By train
Either Sapri or Maratea stations are close by and fast trains from Naples to Reggio Calabria stop at both. It's between 1.5 & 3 hours, depending on the type of train you take, and costs between €50 & €9. We strongly advise you to book onto a Eurostar from Naples (1.5 hours, €50) - you will have a seat reservation and airconditioning, both essential during the summer. You must do this well in advance on-line as they fill up. Book here
By car
It's around 3 hours drive from Naples airport. You pass Vesuvius, the Amalfi peninsula and Salerno then keep heading for Reggio Calabria and the South. Turn off at Padula and pass Paestum and Bonabitacolo and go on down to Sapri. From Sapri take the coast road south to Cersuta.
N.B. you will need at least one car at all times as Villa Ligea is in the countryside, there is little local public transport and you are not in walking distance of food shops.
Pool, Garden & Woods
Partially built into the hillside, the two houses are surrounded by managed woods. These provide shade and tranquillity.
Paths wind between the trees, connecting the houses, the carpark, the pool and the shoreline. The hammocks below the main villa are a wonderful place to enjoy your siesta; reading, chatting or sleeping.
Sunbeds are arranged around the pool, which looks out over the main villa to the sea. Nearby, in the shade of the trees, are a dining table and chairs, for lunch or supper al fresco. The barbeque area is here also.
At the end of the private driveway from the main road there is a car park with space for four cars.
