Villa Divina Praiano - Amalfi Coast

Description

Villa Divina is located in Praiano, on the Amalfi Coast. It is approximately 7 km (4.5 ml) south of Positano and 10 km (6 ml) north of Amalfi. It offers the perfect balance for a wonderful, relaxing vacation. One can enjoy the peace of a Mediterranean-style small town villa while being within reach of two of the most beautiful and exciting seaside destinations in Italy, with shops, sites, cultural events and restaurants.

Villa Divina enjoys a 180 degree view of the Mediterranean, with the Island of Capri and its world famous Faraglioni on the horizon and the magical town of Positano to the right.

Villa Divina was a 16th century olive oil mill that was completely restored from 2003 to 2006 by the present owners. While the structure and some its characteristic features such as the cupola ceilings, the arches and even a good-luck stone on top of the upstairs master bedroom were kept intact, modern and sophisticated features were added to the house. They include an electronically controlled wire system; 24/7 DSL Internet access, a stereo system that piped into all rooms, including the bathrooms; and an extremely quiet central air conditioning system, with a dual system for heating in the winter. Villa Divina is an all-season home.
The bathrooms and the kitchens have a successful mix of handcrafted features, such as travertine marble sinks and old Neapolitan tile back splashes, and modern appliances of the highest standard.
The villa is built on two levels and has two completely independent apartments, with their own bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor terraces. (All bedrooms have their own bathrooms.) On yet a third level there is a magnificent infinity pool that makes you feel as if you could swim into the sea in front of you. A fourth terrace has a wonderful shaded limonaia, or lemon tree pergola, where you can sit and have a drink or rest on a lounge chair in peace and seclusion.

Accommodations:
The upstairs apartment (approx 120 square meters) sleeps 4 with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The downstairs apartment (approx 65 square meters) sleeps 2 with a large bedroom and bathroom (plus a Guest WC).

Upstairs:
From the entrance on the street level you enter into a terrace above the property. You go down approximately 20 external steps to a large terracotta tile terrace with a breathtaking view of the sea. The terrace is decorated with large terracotta vases with a variety of flowers and plants and furnished with a set of wicker furniture (a two-seat sofa, two chairs and a coffee table) and a number of canvas fold-able deck-chairs. It is shaded by a very large natural linen market umbrella and a Spanish-style canvas canopy of the same color. At night the terrace is softly illuminated by in-ground lighting hidden behind the terracotta vases and Moroccan style candles lanterns hanging above a outdoor table (for 8) made with a patchwork of Vietri tiles.
Through two large glass arched doors you enter into the living area, two wide rooms (approx 50 square meters) with cupola ceilings, a picture window that looks out to the sea and a fireplace. It is simply and elegantly furnished with a white sofa, a round glass & metal coffee table and a set of wicker furniture (a two-seat sofa and two chairs).

Off the open space outside the living area is the kitchen (approx 20 square meters). With a large single glass panel door facing the sea, the eat-in-kitchen has a wooden table that sits 6-8, an extra-spacious travertine sink, a back splash of antique Neapolitan tiles, wooden and tile counter tops, an American-size stainless steel refrigerator, a semi professional stove, an electric oven and a quiet dishwasher. The kitchen also has various size espresso machines and a Melita coffee maker.

The master bedroom (approx 19 square meters) gets its light and view from a large single glass panel door facing the sea and is furnished with a 19th century cast iron queen-size canopy bed. The wall opposite the bed has built in closets and a desk equipped with a computer with 24/7 access to the Internet, a printer and a fax machine.

The bathroom (approx 5 square meters) has walls painted in the Venetian spatula style and a handmade Vietri tile floor. It has a shower, bidet and sink set on a travertine counter-top.

The second bedroom is a small (approx 13 square meters), but lovely, internal bedroom with two twin size beds that can be joined to form a king sized bed. The wall opposite the bed has built-in closets with drawers.
To compensate for its size, the bedroom opens into a spacious second bathroom (approx 10 square meters) hand painted ocher Venetian spatula walls and a Vietri tiled floor. There is a shower, bathtub, bidet and sink set into a travertine counter-top.

Downstairs:
Approximately 20 external steps down will lead you to the downstairs terrace. Under a bougainvillea pergola shaded by canvas and cotton curtains, a large handmade outdoor table of Vietri tiles allows you to eat or drink in front of the exquisite view of Positano and the Mediterranean Sea.
In front of the terrace is a beautiful grass lawn kept green all year round by a sprinkler system. To the right is a huge, hand-made terracotta vase, which sits next to an old pomegranate tree.

The master bedroom (approx 15 square meters) of the smaller apartment looks out at the sea through an all glass arched wall. There is a queen size bed and a built-in closet with drawers.

The bathroom (approx 6 square meters), which adjoins the room, is hand painted hand-made Venetian spatula technique and has a Vietri tiled floor. There is a bathtub, shower, bidet and sink set into a travertine counter-top.

Next to the master bedroom (with its own access to the terrace and a magical view of the sea through a glass wall), the living room (approx 40 square meters) is furnished with two white sofas. A large wood dining table separates the living area from the kitchen area, which has a travertine marble sink, dishwasher, retro-style refrigerator and a handmade Vietri tile back-splash.

The garden:
Hidden on the side and below the lawn is a vegetable garden on which the gardener grows tomatoes, potatoes (for which Praiano is famous), eggplant, herbs and delicious wild arugula. When in season all of this produce will be available to you.

The pool area:
Going down another 20 steps and to the right is the fruit-lined (lemon, plum and apricot) path to the pool area. At the pool, sitting under the pergola, looking out at the sea, with Capri on the horizon and Positano to the right, you will feel like you are in your own private paradise. Three elegant steel lounge chaises and six fold-able deck chairs allow you to stay under the sun or rest in the shade while enjoying the sensational view.
In the pool, the infinity side toward the sea gives the startling feeling of being able to swim straight into the sea.
A few steps past an outdoor shower, hidden behind stones and a bougainvillea-covered iron cupola, is the fourth terrace. This too faces the sea, Capri and Positano and is shaded by lemon trees. Under the pergola of lemon trees is a hand-made round ceramic table and four iron chairs. It’s a perfect spot for drinks at sunset.

Please note : Access to the Villa is from roadside along a stepped, pedestrian walkway (30 steps) to the main front gate, from here there are 20 outdoor steps down to the top floor of the villa.

Distances
Service - Beach: 3,5 Km. (La Praia) 1 Km. (La Gavitella only walk distance) - Restaurant, Bar Food shop & Bus stop: 300 m. - Motorway: 32 Km.
Cites - Amalfi: 11 Km. - Ravello: 18 Km. - Positano: 10 Km. - Sorrento: 24 Km. - Salerno: 36 Km. - Napoli: 64 Km. - Roma: 279 Km.
Attractions - Pompei Excavations: 42 Km. - Paestum Excavations: 82 Km. - Vesuvius Crater: 65 Km. - Capri Island: daily connections from Amalfi tourist port at 11 Km.
Airports - Naples Capodichino: 68 Km. - Roma Leonardo da Vinci: 296 Km. - Roma Ciampino: 270 Km. - Bari: 266 Km.
Railway Stations - Salerno: 36 Km. - Sorrento: 23 Km.

Check-in procedure
Check-in time is between 4,00 and 8,00 p.m., from Monday to Saturday. You will be met and taken to the booked accommodation, asked for a photo copy of your Id or passport, any extras and the Breakage deposit (in cash only in any currencies) € 1.500,00 – this is refunded on your departure day, less any breakages.

We strongly recommend contacting our land agents the day before or early morning of your arrival day, to let them know how you intend getting to the resort and approximate arrival time, they will in this occasion be able to advise of any local fiestas, roads closed etc...

Check-out time is between 07:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., from Monday to Saturday.
On departure the property has to be left tidy, with the kitchen clean and free from trash. Should these conditions not be respected, there will a deduction from the deposit - amount corresponding to the extra cleaning time.

Arrival and departure times can be arranged outside these times or Sunday, for this service a supplement of € 55,00 is applied.

Local Supplements
Household linen and service: Mandatory, € 300,00 per week, payable locally in cash.

City tax: Mandatory, is € 2,00 per person, per day, payable locally in cash.

Electricity and air conditioning/heating: Is included in the rental price up to 200 Kw per week. (Extra on consumption, € 0.42 per Kw).

Extra Services if required - advance notice may be required:
Baby Cot and Highchair (with linen) € 55,00 per week payable locally.
Parking: Along the roadside is for residents only, therefore if you decide to rent a car, you will be able to park it at a nearby garage 500 meters from the Villa, this must be booked in advance and the cost is € 15,00 per day.
Porter-age: Is available at € 5,00 per suitcase (please book in advance).

NOTES
Services Included :
English speaking manager on call.
Electricity (Up to 200 Kw.), gas, water.
Air Conditioning / Heating.
Bedroom and bathroom linen with weekly changes and mid-week change of towels.
Maid service: 4 Hours per day from Monday till Friday is included in the rental price.
Wi-Fi.

Location
Praiano is a small fishing village made up of houses scattered along the ridge of Monte S. Angelo which ends in the intense blue sea, at Capo Sottile. In an inlet is Marina di Praia, a small and charming beach surrounded by the houses and boats of the fishermen and by small, unpretentious restaurants that attract you with their simplicity.
It is considered Positano’s little sister with a similar beach and church, but not anything like so inundated with a flood of travelers and if you climb up or down the main coastal road you will find a natural village with incredible views, undisturbed by the rumble of coaches and cars. Lemon groves and vineyard terraces follow the irregularity of the terrain that slopes gently down to the little coves where the ancient Saracen towers stand guarding against these days improbable enemies. The favorable climate, the pure air, the beautifully blue sea, the cordiality of the people and improving tourist facilities are just few of the reasons that make Praiano an increasingly desirable place to spend one’s holiday.

How to get there
There are several ways to get to Praiano from Naples Capodichino Airport or Naples / Salerno Train station either by renting a car or by public transport. It is also possible to arrange private transfer directly to the your property.

Ask us for quotation.

Once at the property you can get around fine without the car as parking in the towns is hard to come by and expensive. Public Buses operate year-around connecting Ravello to Amalfi, where are buses to all the Amalfi Coast villages and Sorrento area. Ferries (from May to October) operate a service between Amalfi - Positano - Sorrento - Capri Island - Naples and Salerno.