Villa Sorriso

Refined Pastel Beauty Overlooking the Mediterranean

Named “the house of reflection” for its panoramic position above Tuscany’s Tyrrhenian Sea and for its sun-drenched interior spaces in soft shades of pastel, this refined seaview manor in the seaside village of Castiglioncello can host up to 12 guests. The home was fully renovated in 2021.

A modern kitchen is set with a farm table, oversized hearth and a bank of arching windows that perfectly frames the sea. A classic indoor dining room offers a touch of vintage glamour, while the décor throughout the home is comfortable and cozy, a mix of modern and antique pieces.

The front of the home features a wide patio space shaded by pines, with two large outdoor tables for dining and aperitivos. A large pool out back is insulated by Mediterranean vegetation, and there are ample outdoor spaces in which to unwind, read and take in striking vistas where the sea meets the blue Tuscan skies.

Layout

There are eight bedrooms, including four double rooms and four singles upstairs, each one classically designed in a subtle pastel palette with oversized windows. Each newly refurbished bedroom has a private bathroom with a tub, shower and toilet.

Around

Castiglioncello is a pretty, seaside Tuscan town on a rock-dotted section of the Etruscan coast, a favorite spot for swimmers and snorkelers. An early 19th-century seaside resort, the village is filled with stately manors and waterfront villas in Art Nouveau style, and marked by a small castle, Castello Pasquini, with a flowering park that is the site of musical and theatrical events. An umbrella pine forest extends for miles along the coastline, creating a sense of seclusion and exclusivity. The town’s popular beach is the sandy stretch known as Quercetano, reached via a steep staircase at the bottom of a dramatic cliff. There are beach clubs and free sands alike. Additional sea access and swimming can be found at Bagni Miramare or Bagni Ausonia on the opposite side of town from Quercetano. This is a bit more family-friendly, and the waters are clear and shallow for snorkelers. The seaside benefits from a promenade leading to “La Barrachina,” a local landmark with a view.

Outdoor enthusiasts can swim, hike, cycle, dive, snorkel, windsurf, sail, fish and play tennis in the region, while sightseers and gastro-tourists shouldn’t miss the local market with its daily fish and seafood catches, locally grown produce, and wine tastings and cultural events at Castello Pasquini. This is scenic Tuscany, so regional coastal villages boast beautiful architecture and delicious local cafes, trattorias, and white tableclothed dining rooms as well as vineyards and fields of grain and groves of olives. There are small picturesque bays and white sandy beaches along the Etruscan coastline, and the villa stands tall, overlooking the sea, between the larger community of Livorno and nearby Cecina.

Location

Castiglioncello, Tuscany, Italy. Nearest airports: Pisa (45km), Florence (110km)

Best time to visit

April to October