Villa San Fruttuoso  

Description from the manager

Ah, Portofino! If you have always dreamed of having an "Enchanted April" experience, this just might be the place for you. This holiday villa for rent near Portofino, with its stunning views of the sea, is ideal for a large family. This private villa has been integrated into the cliffs overlooking the sea and has its own private access to the water. Staying at this villa does mean bringing a comfortable pair of walking shoes – the villa is only reachable by foot from the road to the property, and there are several levels within the property. The charming village of Portofino is within reach by foot [only], and you must be ready for some... physical exercise!

[2000 m2] Nestled into the face of a cliff, this unique villa has stunning sea vistas. Because of its location, the villa is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties. In order to get to the villa, guests must walk down 32 steps from the entrance gate. Beginning at the highest point of the property [the solarium] to the private swimming platform on the sea, there are 180 steps. Guests are sure to enjoy the large patio, shaded by a century-old wisteria, a garden area and the several terraced outlooks. From the villa to the panoramic solarium there are 23 steps. A private elevator [for the residents of the area] is located 300 meters away on a pedestrian road which connects the villa to a light house and the Portofino harbor. Please do not bring a car. There is no parking at or near the house.

Upper level: After walking down the 32 steps from the entrance gate, the front door of the villa opens into a living room with several white sofas and sliding French doors that open onto the patio. There is an elegant formal dining room with seating for 10 and a kitchen with a stove with burners and oven, dishwasher, Italian coffee maker and a washing machine. There is one double bedroom [160 cm queen bed - cannot be separated] with an en suite bathroom with bathtub. There are two twin/double bedrooms [90 cm twin beds, connected on request]. There is one single bedroom [90 cm twin bed]. There are two separate bathrooms - one with shower and one with bathtub and shower. All of the bedrooms feature views of the sea.

Lower level: There are two twin bedrooms [90 cm twin beds which can be connected on request] each with en-suite bathrooms with a sink, WC and shower. These bedrooms are most appropriate for young people.

This villa is located within walking distance of Portofino, a charming village in the region of Liguria [the Italian Riviera] along the Mediterranean coast of Italy. This villa is located on the pedestrian road leading to the lighthouse - near the harbor of Portofino. A 15 minute walk from the villa takes you to its harbor of chic yachts, colorful boats, seafood restaurants and fashionable shops. Portofino is well connected with ferries, bus and train stations making for convenient day trips to Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Genova and the Cinque Terre. A bus can take you from Portofino into Santa Margherita [with a train station that goes to the Cinque Terre] or Rapallo. The coastal town of Rapallo has been a well known resort since the 19th century. There are many restaurants, cafes, bars, and nightlife activities nearby. The Rapallo train station can take you to Genoa, Milan, Pisa and Rome. Ferries depart from Rapallo for Portofino, Santa Margherita and the Cinque Terre. Ideal for a daytrip, Genoa, purported birthplace of Christopher Columbus, is recently experiencing a revival in popularity. UNESCO has added the city to its list of World Heritage Sites because of its numerous palazzi. There is also a cathedral, the second-largest aquarium in the world, and an opera house. Genoa is the closest city with an airport.

Florence: 216 km

Cinque Terre [Train]: 159 km

La Spezia: 87 km

Genova [Airport, Train]: 42 km

Sestri Levante: 33 km

Chiavari: 22 km

Rapallo [Train, bus]: 9 km

Santa Margherita Ligure [bus]: 4 km

Portofino: 800 m

Available Amenities: AC in the bedrooms, solarium, terraces, private swimming platform, stove, dishwasher, Italian coffee maker, washing machine, housekeeping, satellite TV, Home cinema, WIFI internet connection.

Extra Services: The following are listed as an aid for trip planning; the services and prices are approximate and cannot be guaranteed by Rentvillas. All extra services are payable locally in cash.

* Since the property is not accessible by car and it is difficult to carry bags of groceries on foot, the owners allow guests to arrive and relax by providing groceries to get your group through the first few days. There is a mandatory fee of 300 Euros for the grocery service.

Arrive & Relax provisions include: fresh bread [3 kg pane pugliese foccaccia], rice [1 kg], pasta [2 kg], tomato sauce, fish, meat [500 g], ham, bacon, salami, 12 eggs, cheese [parmesan, mozzarella, brie, etc], fresh fruit [5 kg], yogurt, cornflakes, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, onion, garlic, basil

Beverages: coffee [500g], fresh milk [4 liters], black tea [English breakfast tea], mineral water [12 bottles of San Bernardo], orange juice [2 liters], 3 bottles of red wine, 3 bottles of white wine

Extras: salt [1 kg], sugar [1 kg], butter [250 g], honey, jam, marmelade, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, paper towels

* A standard first dinner is included. Additional chef services can be arranged on request.

* ADSL internet connection: According to consumption.

Nearby Attractions: Portofino [harbor, restaurants, shops, ferry, bus, train], Santa Margherita [train], Repallo [restaurants, cafes, bars, ferry], Genoa [Christopher Columbus, palazzo, cathedral, aquarium, opera house], Cinque Terre.

Please Note:

* Please do not bring a car. The villa is only reachable by foot. This villa is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties. Access from the airport to the villa is possible by van or by taxi from a railroad station. There is bus or ferry transportation available in Portofino.

* There are no bug screens on the windows.

* This property accepts a maximum of 10 people, including babies.

Minimum Stay: 7

Check-In: 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Check-In: 4:00pm - 7:00pmRead more

Additional Location Information

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• Craig
  

  Craig's review of Villa San Fruttuoso

  Left on 08/20/2011 for a stay in August 2011
  
  

  We enjoyed our stay and were happy that we did it.
  
  Proximity to Portofino.
  
  Mosquitoes - no advanced warning or mosquito management plan and mosquito repellant equipment provided upon arrival.
  
  Natural beauty and beauty of Portofino.

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• Jim
  

  Jim's review of Villa San Fruttuoso

  Left on 06/18/2011 for a stay in June 2011
  
  

  Great trip, wonderful location. Theresa provided great service.
  
  Spectacular views.
  
  Noisy at night.
  
  Hiking, shopping, boating.

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• Laura
  

  Laura's review of Villa San Fruttuoso

  Left on 08/28/2010 for a stay in August 2010
  
  

  In a nutshell, my family (me, my husband, our two teenagers, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, my sister-in-law, and her two teenagers) ADORED Villa San Fruttuoso. It was heaven on earth. It's location is nothing short of stunning. While your web description is 100% accurate, it just isn't possible to express in words the spirit and beauty of such a magnificent place. If we were to go again (and I'd LOVE to), I would spend more time just relaxing at the villa or on the water. It is just a very, very special place.
  
  It is tucked into a cliffside overlooking the Ligurian Sea. It is absolutely private, with access only being by a gorgeously kept, winding walking path that leads from the Portofino piazzetta to the lighthouse. The other alternative is by boat. The villa and its grounds are completely surrounded by lush plantings, vibrant flowers and lemon and olive trees. While it is true that the villa requires lots of walking and negotiating many steps, that is part of the beauty and privacy. The swim platform is magnificent, and we put it to great use -- leaping off of it daily to bask in the salty and blue, blue sea. The solarium is another incredible asset -- with a view to die for. And, speaking of views, most of the villa bedrooms look to the east, over the sea and towards the Cinque Terre coastline which means that the sunrises are BREATHTAKING from either the bedrooms or the solarium. You can also walk onto the roof of the villa and view them from there. Wow.
  And, of course, the natural beauty is just one part of the allure of this location because it is also a destination for some of the most magnificent privately owned yachts in the world. We were agog time and again as the world's largest yachts (both motor and sail) glided by or moored out in the bay. It is so much fun to sit in the piazzetta in the evening and people watch! When speaking of the villa itself -- it is charming and very comfortable. The owner has a taste for art (I believe she is an artist), and the villa is filled with interesting art and arty decor which was a big hit with our teenagers. The living room is very comfortable and welcoming. The bedrooms are great, and there are plenty of bathrooms. The real treasure, though, is Teresa -- the housekeeper and cook. She adopted us, and we adopted her right back! She is a gifted cook -- making us wonderful pesto and pasta carbonara along with other local delicacies such as squid and anchovies (which I never thought I'd eat but, trust me, they were delicious!). My son got ill on our second day in Italy -- fever, sore throat, etc. etc. She calmly found us a local doctor and arranged for an appointment. (We don't speak Italian.) And, she took wonderful care of him, making sure he had something soft and bland to eat until he got better. One day, there were dramatic thunder storms -- she made sure we had umbrellas and plans for the day. The list goes on and on -- she was just a total love.

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• Baker
  

  Baker's review of Villa San Fruttuoso

  Left on 09/30/2008 for a stay in September 2008
  
  

  We had a beautiful time. Words cannot adequately describe the magic of the home in its unique, private, exclusive and gorgeous setting. The house is very comfortable, the bedrooms spacious and nicely furnished and Teresa, the caretaker and sometimes cook, was as delicious as the food she prepared. We loved her and each of our precious days at Villa San Fruttuoso.
  
  The private setting. Between the water access to the solarium perched high on the rocks with a spectacular view, we were transported into our dreams.
  
  The kitchen is completely serviceable, but it is not up to the standards of a high-priced property.
  
  The exclusivity and privacy of the "gated" point is sublime. Portofino and neighboring Santa Margherita-Ligure are as picturesque as they could be. Magical!

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