When the sun must sleep, she sleeps in Portofino. By day, she rises above Portofino and stretches her warming rays over the sea to later slip beneath the waves in a flash of dazzling light. Guests of Villa Stella Maris behold this daily celestial spectacle from halfway between Genova and Portofino and within half a mile of the sleepy seaside village of Sori.
Villa Stella Maris is a stately, 19th-century Ligurian villa built on a cliff jutting out into the sea. Within a short distance by car, rail or bus are Portofino, Camogli and Santa Margherita - the crown jewels of the Italian Riviera. This summer residence of a wealthy Genovese shipping magnate offers a vacation experience in a private seaside estate adorned with lovely landscaped grounds and a swimming pool, a setting that's hard to find along Italy's most sought after shoreline. Befitting its seafaring pedigree, the villa overlooks the sea from three directions as well as from a furnished and covered outdoor dining terrace and lush grounds that include a flower covered patio with a wood burning oven and a barbecue grill.
Mesmerizing sea views from several rooms go hand in hand with bright and spacious interiors framed by inlaid marble floors, choice hardwoods and large picture windows. Every bedroom has a screened window and its own marble tiled bathroom. The expansive, glass walled living room opens onto the gardens and features a billiard table, a large flat screen television with English language movie channels and a CD player with an IPod dock. Among the many amenities are air conditioning throughout, an ample kitchen, a washer and dryer and a laptop with high speed Internet access.
The price of Stella Maris conveniently includes: unlimited use of air conditioning, a laptop with Internet access, firewood for the barbecue, cleaning twice per week and a mid-week linen change. Continental breakfasts, meals and a cooking class may be ordered in advance for an additional charge.
The estate's terrain requires guests to be agile and for parents of small children to be watchful at all times. A 75 yard long driveway winds its way down from the coastal road to the parking, and from here, 43 flagstone steps lead down to the villa. The villa's price also includes a porter to carry luggage at the arrival and departure from the parking area.
Trains servicing the coastal towns and cities beyond pass through a tunnel that is 30 yards behind the villa. Trains are heard mostly when outdoors and from the study and the garden view bedroom.
Sori, half a mile away, is a small neighborhood village with a few hundred steps leading down to its center set along the shore with a couple of cafes, a few restaurants, a supermarket, a bakery, a butcher, a fresh pasta shop and a pay-for-use pebbly cove beach. Both trains and buses stop in Sori on their way to the coastal Riviera towns including the Cinque Terre. Outdoor morning markets in nearby towns take place on weekdays with Sori's on Thursday and Camogli's on Wednesday. The medieval center of Chiavari hosts the largest antique market in Liguria on the second weekend of each month with vendors from all over northern Italy, France and Germany.
By car, Sori is within a two minute drive; Bogliasco: five; Recco with the A12 highway: 10; Nervi or Camogli: 15; Rapallo: 25; Chiavari: 30; Portofino, Santa Margherita, Genova or Sestri Levante: 40; Cinque Terre: 75; Pisa or Lucca: 100; San Remo or Milan: 2 hours; Monaco, Florence or Lake Como: 2.5 hours.
Discounts for rentals beyond 2 weeks do not apply to this villa.
Protect your valuable vacation with Travel Insurance from MHRoss. The Rental Postponement Coverage is not available on this villa.
Technical Description
Ground floor: Huge living room with billiard table, TV, CD player, laptop, Ipod dock and glass doors to the garden. One bathroom with shower.
First floor: Main entry foyer. Dining room with ornamental fireplace and door to a furnished, covered sea view terrace. Kitchen with six burner stove top, oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher and door to the outside. Breakfast room. One sea view bedroom with a queen size bed. One bathroom with shower. Outdoor access laundry room with washer/dryer.
Second floor: One sea view bedroom with a queen size bed, a French balcony and en suite bathroom with Jacuzzi tub and shower, double sinks and heated towel rack. One sea view bedroom with two single, joinable beds, a French balcony and adjacent bathroom with Jacuzzi column shower and heated towel rack. One bedroom with two single, joinable beds and en suite bathroom with shower. Small study with a single daybed.
