VILLA SARACENA
Near Maiori ~ Amalfi Coast
Sleeps 12 - 8 in main villa/4 in guest house; many terraces, pool, hot tub, pool house
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Villa Saracena, a remarkable villa built on the remains of a Saracen tower, overlooks the sparkling Gulf of Salerno from a serene hillside perch just 5 km from the Amalfi Coast resort town known as Maiori. It is such a lovely spot you may never wish to leave it, but many pleasures await those who consent to stray. Maiori itself is an inviting little resort town claiming as a threshold the most expansive beach on the Amalfi Coast and as a backdrop the wooded hills of the valley of Tramonti. Through the valley flows the river Reginna, right through the center of town and down to the sea. Maiori's elegant promenade is lined with hotels, shops and restaurants, but also with private homes and shady lawns with benches, and a relaxed, small-town atmosphere prevails, accented by an ever-present scent of lemons from surrounding citrus groves.

The town retains traces of its pre-Christian days as an Etruscan and later a Roman settlement: ruins of various watchtowers are seen against the rugged hillside in the company of the majestic castle of San Nicola. Visitors to Maiori can take advantage of facilities for water sports and horseback riding. In summer there are concerts and other cultural events, including an annual eggplant festival, but those looking for nightclubs should try elsewhere. Regular buses run from Maiori up and down the coast, and boat service is available to Salerno, Amalfi, Capri, Sorrento and Naples.

The grounds of Villa Saracena offer their own delicious promise of leisure, various levels yielding terraces too many to count, and at the top a gorgeous mosaic swimming pool and a separate hot tub encircled by palms. At poolside are plentiful lounge chairs and across the terrace a pool house equipped with W.C. and shower facilities.

Built into the hillside, Villa Saracena, like its gardens, has multiple levels, all unified by their connection to the original tower. On the top floor is a beautiful circular dining room, a fully equipped kitchen with a breakfast area and access to a pergola-covered terrace offering stunning sea views. The terrace is perfectly equipped for dining al fresco, with a large dining table and barbecue and a powder room. On the next level down is a large circular double bedroom with its own living area and en suite bathroom with tub and shower, and access to a small terrace. Also on this floor are two additional double bedrooms (one with twin beds made up together or separately), which share an additional bathroom with shower.

The third flight down consists of a splendid circular living room leading out to a garden terrace, a large bedroom, and a bathroom with shower. Slightly uphill from the main villa is a charming guesthouse sleeping four, with one double bedroom and one twin bedroom. The guesthouse has its own spacious living room, a full bathroom with shower, two powder rooms (one en suite to the double bedroom), and a wonderful adjoining greenhouse.

The villa's exterior is lovely, its pale stucco accented by colorful clinging vines and green shutters. The interiors, enjoying light from many large windows, are furnished in a tasteful coastal style, and abundant ceiling fans keep everything nice and cool. The villa is centrally heated and provided with telephone, Internet access, satellite TV, washing machine and dishwasher.