General Description
Borgo Santo Stefano offers a peaceful setting among olive groves that's a mere 20 minute walk from the beaches and shops of Sestri Levante, a short 30 minute train ride to the fabled Cinque Terre and a 75 minute drive over the Tuscan border into Lucca or Pisa. In earlier times, this housing complex was home to a nobleman's servants and farmers. The patrician's old villa sits up on higher ground, 300 yards away, as if still in control of its feudal realm.

Today, the gated neighborhood consists of the small church of Santo Stefano, a few private homes and seven, newly restored apartments. We have chosen two adjacent ground level units and a sizeable unit for two on the level above. The estate's 35 acres, riddled with pleasant walking trails, produce wine, olive oil and jam. An old mill on the grounds has been refashioned into a tasting room for guests to sample the estate's products sold only by local specialty grocers.

The area wines are well worth noting. Dante Alghieri sent Pope Martin IV to fast in the Inferno for his infatuation with Cinque Terre wines. Please, don't let this happen to you.

All the apartments share a furnished courtyard behind the building. Their interiors combine country antiques and quality furnishings with soothing colors. With the exception of del Mare, which has a spacious living and dining area with seating for 10 guests, the interior space in the other two units is less than that of a typical apartment housing four guests. Maid service or meals may be arranged when booking.

Within 400 yards is a supermarket. Sestri is just under a mile away with a selection of restaurants including Polpo Mario - one of the best in Liguria - specializing in seafood caught from its own fishing boat of the same name. Polpo Mario is popular among celebrities. You may even brush elbows with such known patrons as Richard Gere and the Dalai Lama.

Picturesque Sestri Levante is on a curve shaped peninsula divided into two bays. The Bay of Silence, immortalized by Shelley, is known for its fishing boats perfectly positioned against the shore. The Bay of Fables, so named by Hans Christian Anderson, offers a lively sandy beach and seaside promenade. The rest of the peninsula is a lush garden, which includes Parco Naturale dei Castelli and a tower where Marconi performed his first experiments with radio waves.

By car, Borgo Santo Stefano is a five minute drive from the entrance to the A12 highway. Heading west, Chiavari, with a myriad of shops beneath its ancient stone arcades, is reached within 15 minutes. Zoagli, 20 minutes away, was known for centuries as a producer of fine velvets. It still harbors a few shops offering the highest quality velvet goods anywhere. No Elvis paintings here. The westward route reaches Rapallo in 25 minutes; Santa Margherita: 30; Portofino: 40 and Genoa: 60. Heading east, you'll find a few small towns with sandy coves such as Moneglia: 10 minutes; Bonassola: 15 and Levanto: 20. By train, the first village of the Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare is 30 minutes away.

Technical Description
Ground floor: Up one step into the living/dining room with TV. Kitchen with stove top, oven, fridge, dishwasher and door to shared furnished courtyard. One bedroom with a queen size bed and en suite bathroom with shower. One small bedroom with a queen size bed. One bathroom with shower.