PORTOVENERE CASTLE VILLA

Description from the owner

PORTOVENERE CASTLE VILLA with large garden and memorable sea view.

UNDER COMPLETE REFURBISHMENT. READY FROM 25.03.2013.

A beautiful and romantic setting, this unique villa is at the foot of a charming medieval castle and protected by its walls.The property has plenty of character and refined furniture.

We will continuously update the images to show the refurbished interiors and new furniture.

Sleeps six : 1 x double bed (bedroom) 1 double bed (in a corner of the living area with sight totally protected by walls and furniture) 2 x single beds (in the living area). Bathroom with shower.

Open plan living area and k...itchen, with wide windows, all with sea view.

Air-conditioning, heating and fireplace.

The large secluded garden terrace offers a memorable sea view, wich includes Palmaria island, the gulf of La Spezia and the Apuane Alps. The terrace is a fantastic space for sunbathing, eating and entertaining and is equipped with a table, chairs and barbecue.

Place stones take you in pergolas and striking corners framed by the flowery local vegetation, according to the most ancient Ligurian traditions, with masonry walls of stone, garden pergolas and in the secular olive-tree shadow.

Ideally located for walking, in a few hours you can walk to Cinque Terre, or to Palmaria island (you can reach the island by the boat in a few minutes and then you can walk all around it or to the top).

Restaurants, shops, beach and boats for trips are far less than 50 mt

You can reach the villa, from the centre of the village, by stairs and paths in the old carrugi, in 10 minutes.

We can help you to take your suitcases.Read more

Additional Location Information

HISTORICAL NOTES
"Portus Veneris" has its first recognition in the Itinerary of Antoninus
161 AD as a naval station for the Roman triremes for the routes of Gaul and Spain.
The pre-Roman "Castrum Vetus", rising in Piazza Spallanzani, was given by Grimaldo Vezzano in 1113 to the Genoese consuls who built the "Castrum Novum" calling it "Colony Januensis”.
The new Genoese borough was surrounded by walls in 1160 and in 1161 the Castello Superiore was built, on a pre-genoese foundation, it was restored in 1458 (of this period are the higher part, the “Pillared Hall", andthe home of the Castellano).
Early Christian remains of the fourth and fifth centuries reflect a fervent monastic life in the monasteries of San Pietro (St. Peter), San Giovanni Battista (St. John the
Baptist) on the island of Palmaria, and in the Benedictine monastery of the Tino, which after the pillage of Venice, went to the Olivetans also present in the Convent of Le Grazie.
On the tip of the village dominates the Church of San Pietro, in Gothic-Genoese style of 1277, built on the foundations of a Romantemple. The church of San Lorenzo, built in 1116 by the Antelami Masters was consecrated by Innocent II in 1130.
Under the Castle,at the top of the town, there are the remains of ancient houses of the Colony of Genoa, on the open bay of the cove “Grotta Arpaia”, dominated by a characteristic cliff, behind the island Palmaria there are other caves of extraordinary beauty: the Grotta Azzurra (Blue Cave) , studied in detail by biologist
Lazzaro Spallanzani, the Grotta Vulcanica (Volcanic Cave), the Grotta delle Verginelle (Cave of the Virgins) and the Grotta deiColombi (Cave of the Doves).
The turreted old village with its typical fortress houses, with its "carugi", its monuments and its natural beauty has always been dear to artists and poets from
Petrarch to Montale, from George Sand to Guglielmo Marconi, which in the sea of Porto Venere, in 1897, made his historicalexperiments.

TOURIST ROUTE
Before arriving to Porto Venere there is the seaside village of Grazie, where stands the Roman Villa of the Varignano, interesting archaeological site dating back to the first century B.C., and the Refectory of the Convent of the Olivetans containing
frescoes of the fifteenth century by Nicolò Corso. In Porto Venere, the Borgo Antico (Ancient Borough) leads, to the right, to the defensive walls that lead to the Castle, and to the left, to the Capitolare Tower (1161 AD), where the interesting
rusticated facade and elegant windows can be viewed.
In the carugio (narrow street), Via Capellini, there are theancient houses, which retain the facade decorated with arches and doorways of slate.
Having reached the end of the carugio there is the Piazza Spallanzani on which stands the Church of San Pietro, in alternating bands of black and white, built in Gothic style in the second half of the thirteenth century.
Before reaching the Church, on the right, there are the steps that lead to the Grotto Arpaia (or Byron) from which there is a wonderful view of the rugged coast.
Going back tothe paved road uphill, there is the Church of San Lorenzo, consecrated in 1130 and in subsequent periods.
From thechurchyard, through a staircase, the Castle can be reached.
It was built in the sixteenth century with military purposes by the Genoese on pre-existing Roman, Byzantine, and medieval fortifications. Going back to the flight of steps and the "Capitoli", there is the Descent Doria, which overlooks the tower-houses built during the Middle Ages with defensive purpose and that until the last century stood on the sea.

boats trip :
from/to: Porto Venere / La Spezia, Lerici, Cinque Terre, Isola Palmaria, Portofino
www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it

from/to: Porto Venere / Isola Palmaria / Cinque Terre
www.barcaioliportovenere.com

Location Type Beach

Rental fees

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