Lemon Grove Villa

An Insider's View Of The Amalfi Coast

This villa for rent in Italy is perched above the bay of Sorrento just outside of the small village of Priora. Built in the 18th century, it has been in the same family for generations with a treasured legacy that seeks to preserve the original lifestyle and cultural touchpoints of the area including the famous lemon groves of Sorrento.

Set within lush gardens, the three-story villa offers amazing views of the coast and the Bay of Naples and has been entirely refurbished mixing the original, old-world architecture with modern touches.

Renovated with the help of Naples based architect Maria Chiara Baldassarre, and furnished with modern design pieces, the interiors reflect both traditional and modern life.

Whitewashed inside and out, the spaces have a fresh, summery vibe with lots of natural light. The ground floor living and dining room share the space with a light and airy kitchen that opens out to the courtyard and there is a separate media/sitting room adjacent. There are two double and one children's room with bunkbeds as well as a fully finished attic space which can double as a fourth bedroom. 

The gardens and lemon groves are very characteristic of the area with orchards surrounding the courtyard and a refreshing pool overlooking the views (the pool is shared with the owners when they use the adjoining larger villa which you see in some of the pictures). 

In order to protect the lemons, grapes are grown on top of them in a typical local technique which has been maintained since they were planted. 

A shady and sheltered little enclave enclosed by the villa on one side, rock walls and the former stables on the other, the property is completely private and peaceful but with stunning Amalfi coast views.

AMALFI....

Cited as an example of outstanding Mediterranean heritage, the Amalfi Coast is a UNESCO site of legendary natural beauty and glittering coastal villages. 

The gulf of Naples and the Bay of Sorrento have been celebrated over the years by poets, writers and travelers and for centuries were part of the "grand tour" and are the gateway to the Amalfi coast and a good jumping-off point for exploring a number of nearby world-famous sites.

The vast archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius are less than half an hour away and easily reached by train.

Clinging to the dramatic vertical cliffs and backed by lush forests, the famous Positano and Amalfi, less than an hour away, draw society's elite and gawkers alike to partake in the glamor, excellent culinary scene and stunning scenery. 

The nearby mountain top town of Ravello has loads of old-world charm with grand villas and gardens dotting the hillsides and in the summer months, the famed Ravello Arts Festival.

Similarly posh Capri, is just three nautical miles away and 20 minutes by hydrofoil; its Faraglioni is one of the most celebrated landscapes in the world, and from the old Romans emperors (who build here their summer villas) to the European old-world aristocracy anyone who is someone passed by if only for a quick dip in the famous blue grotto.

Its mild climate makes it a year-round destination with only part of the hotels, shops and restaurants closing down from the beginning of January through the beginning of March.

Home to mythical legends and ancient archaeological history, Punta Campanella on the Sorrentine Peninsula along the Gulf of Naples is the land's endpoint and it was here in Homer's epic that Ulysses met the Sirens and the Greeks later built a temple in honor of Athens. The original 14th-century watchtower on the headland still stands today and is within a short drive. The promontory can be reached from the small square of Termini. 

Napoli, the capital of one of the largest and most relevant European kingdoms from the 11th till the 19th century, home to one of the most celebrated opera houses in Italy, thousands of churches, celebrated tailors and elegant shops and some of the best museums in the world may also be reached in an hour by train or by hydrofoil. 

The Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi coast today offer one of the most relevant food scene in the entire country and are home to a number of Micheline starred restaurants.

LOCATION

Sorrento, Italy. Nearest Airport: Naples International Airport (50km)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring through Fall with mild year-round weather.