Reviews of Villa Virginia

Self catering villa in Santa Maria di Castellabate, Cilento National Park, Italy

Carlo F.

Zurich

Switzerland

VERIFIED

We had a really good time, we hope to return soon!

October 2024 - We had a wonderful week. The villa is perfect for a group of up to 14 people. The location is quiet and many points of interest can be reached quickly by car.

We had a really good time, we hope to return soon!

Travel tips

  • You will need a car. The house car park can accommodate 3 cars.

Katrine H.

Redwood City, CA

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2024 - Amazing property! House was really functional.

Valerie S.

Trivigno

Italy

VERIFIED

Comfortable villa impeccably maintained, with stunning views, great pool and plenty of outdoor space!

July 2024 - We returned to Villa Virginia and have to say that it has held up very well through the years. It has been impeccably maintained, is comfortable and offers everything a group or family needs to have a great stay. The views are stunning (we always make sure we are home for sunset!) and having the pool right outside the door is convenient (no levels of terraces and steps to navigate, just out and plunge!).

There is plenty of outdoor space that includes terraces around the pool and upstairs off the two front bedrooms (the best views are from those rooms!). There is a nice gazebo with arbor for shady space (just use some mosquito spray or one of the citronella spirals you light). Everything is still in great shape and the caretaker was kind and attentive.

I use Summer In Italy regularly and as always, the descriptions matched perfectly, the service was available and Luca answered all our questions, made sure we were happy, and when I left two items behind, he contacted the caretaker to locate them and send them to me. That's service! :)

Travel tips

  • You'll need a car unless you like walking up and down hills. It is a pretty steep and switch-backed road to reach the villa, which can be a challenge the first couple times you do it.
  • The town of Santa Maria di Castellabate is down the hill, and easily accessed. A grocery and fishmonger is right down at the bottom of the hill along with a coffee bar, and other shops and stores are in town.

Naji N.

Chandler, AZ

United States

VERIFIED

Wonderful experience

June 2024 - Great view, nice villa and quite and peaceful surroundings. The villa was great. Overall we enjoyed our stay. Thx for the wonderful experience.

Summer In Italy was very professional and easy to get a hold of. Very helpful and caring.

Robin A.

Södertälje

Sweden

VERIFIED

Delightful place

June 2024 - We had a wonderful stay at villa Virginia. Everything was delightful.

The staff at Summer in Italy has been very helpful.

Travel tips

  • A car is needed because the villa is set high up a hill. It is possible to walk to the village but the way home is very steep.
  • Pibarò Pizzeria has very good pizza very close to the villa.

Sergei G.

Decatur, Georgia

United States

VERIFIED

Magical experience

April 2024 - This was our second stay in Villa Virginia, twelve years after the first one. Not much has changed, except maybe some electrical improvements. It is still the wonderful place we remembered, and I am very glad that we chose it for our family and friends. Santa Maria di Castellabate is wonderful, the villa is incredibly comfortable, and the views are amazing.

I want to thank Carmela [the caretaker] especially, for taking great care of the villa and of all of us, and for cooking absolutely delicious meals when requested ahead.

I hope we won't wait as long to come back again. It was a magical experience.

Communication with Summer In Italy was always easy, and their responses were prompt and informative. They took care of all our requests with a great customer service spirit. Having rented more than one property from them, I am confident of their quality, and I would not hesitate to rent from them again.

Travel tips

  • Paestum is not to be missed.
  • Castellabate is worth a visit.

Kay N.

Clarksville, VA

United States

VERIFIED

Outstanding! It’ was our second time staying there

September 2023 - Villa Virginia is outstanding! It’ was our second time staying there. Our friends that went with us this past week loved it also. Tranquil, beautiful with all the needed amenities. Lots of space in villa, 10 people were in our group and we had 2 extra bedrooms.

Elvira the housekeeper was so helpful and sweet!

We booked with Luca and Klint with Summer In Italy because of their wonderful help to us 6 years ago. They gave the same attentive service again this year. Luca and Klint were great to work with arranging the arrival meal and then a pizza dinner. The cooks were superb and delightful! Thank you Luca and Klint for making our stay wonderful again. ❤️

Travel tips

  • Franco with Antares '91 Car Rental and Transfers provided our rental cars and transport to and from Salerno train station. He was great!
  • Nicola with Masaniello Tourist once again set up our excursions to the Amalfi Coast by boat and the Buffalo Mozzarella, Wine and Fig Farms tours. Definitely recommend those two excursions.
  • Also The Excavations of Pompeii is a must!

Jackie J.

Leatherhead

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Beautiful villa

August 2023 - It was an absolutely beautiful villa and worked so well with our party of 13.

The maid coming in every day was fantastic, she was outstanding!

Really helpful and would certainly use Summer in Italy again.

Travel tips

  • The whole area was absolutely stunning and full of historic buildings.
  • We ate at many restaurants and the food was wonderful!

Ben K.

Taunton

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Really nice villa, lots of space and spectacular view

July 2023 - This is the nicest villa we have rented as three families for some years. Group ranged from 17 to 54 years. Lots of space and bathrooms for everyone, immaculately clean and kept so by Elvira [the caretaker] all week. She was lovely and so helpful as well as keeping everything clean and tidy.

The view is spectacular and the villa is a 13 min walk to the supermarket, 20 min or so into town. It is a steep walk back up the hill so not for the unfit (you cannot get that view without it) but we walked into town for dinner several nights and found the walk back did us good. We did get Marco to take us out and pick us up one evening as well.

The food in the area is superb and everyone is very friendly and helpful. It is such a pretty place with a friendly family buzzy vibe to it, lots of super shops and great choice of places to eat. We loved it and would like to come back and do more exploring. Thoroughly recommend this villa as a place to stay.

Nothing to improve - great service and good contact from Summer In Italy. Thank you.

Angela J.

Witney

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

We had a wonderful holiday!

July 2023 - Our experience with this villa holiday was all very positive.

The agents, Summer In Italy, were very friendly and helpful. The villa is beautiful, in a stunning position and well designed for an enjoyable holiday.

The maid, Elvira, was very friendly and considerate.

Our transfers from the airport and local car hire, both with Franco at Antares '91 Car Rental and Transfers, Santa Maria, was a very good choice. Franco is professional, obliging, kind and caring. Being local was a boon. He saved our bacon when one of our party, who hired their car at the airport, had a tyre blow out 6 miles before first reaching the villa, at 11pm on the Saturday night with Roadside Assistance not answering calls. We phoned him to ask for help and he was at the scene a short time later, arranged a local tow truck and transported 4 of our party the rest of the way to the villa. He also swapped one of our hire cars which we didn’t get on with, for another, a couple of days into the holiday. He offers various excursions and organised our boat trip to Punta Licosa (visible from the villa) which was very enjoyable. A man of many talents.

Travel tips

  • Do your homework on the town before you go as we didn’t find the best beach (which was gently shelving) and amenities until well into the holiday, more fool us.
  • The sea is very clean.

Nikki L.

Washington, DC

United States

VERIFIED

A little piece of heaven in a magical Italian location

June 2023 - Villa Virginia is amazing and wonderful! We were a group of 12 that enjoyed every minute of our stay there. The view is spectacular, the rooms spacious and very comfortable, the pool divine! Villa Virginia is a little piece of heaven in a magical Italian location.

I just booked my third villa with Summer In Italy! I cannot say enough about how great you are: the support, recommendations, communication, patience... I've recommended you to many friends! Santa Maria di Castellabate is a major discovery... I just worry it will be "discovered" by too many people!! I cannot praise and thank you enough for the gift you've given my family of magical trips to our beloved Italy!

Travel tips

  • We loved Santa Maria di Castellabate: great shops, wonderful people!
  • Favorites include Leucosia Bar Pizzeria for breakfast and pizza, Pibarò Pizzeria for pizza, Il Cantuccio restaurant for everything! Osteria 1861 is mind blowing, ditto Neptune. (We like to eat!) Bar DAL Capone was delightful and became our nightly stop for aperitivos, and there is a place on beach called Ristorante Lo Sparviero that is heaven on earth.
  • Beaches are sandy and gorgeous.
  • We did day trips to see mozzarella making and on a boat from San Marco di Castellabate to the nearby island (Isola Licosa) with lighthouse for snorkeling and swimming.
  • You must have a car at Villa Virginia, the town can be walked to but coming back up the steep hill to the villa is not for the faint of heart. Summer In Italy connected us with Franco (Antares '91 Car Rental and Transfers), our wonderful and patient driver/tourist guide/hero!
  • There is nothing not to like at Villa Virginia and Santa Maria di Castellabate. Very, very special!

Charlotte B.

Somercotes, Alfreton

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

A perfect stay

June 2023 - Beautiful villa in a stunning setting!!

Laurène B.

Roma

Italy

VERIFIED

Excellent

April 2023 - The villa was beautiful and really well situated. Gorgeous view. Very easy to live in for groups of friends or families because each room has its own private bathroom.

Travel tips

  • High quality fishmonger nearby.
  • You will need a car to move around in the area.

Isolda M.

Belo Horizonte

Brazil

VERIFIED

Very nice and comfortable villa

October 2022 - Villa Virginia is a very nice and comfortable villa. The view of the Tyrrhenian Sea is fantastic and the sunset is a daily spectacle. The house has all the necessary infrastructure for the guest to feel at home.

I would like to complement my assessment of Elvira's service, very friendly and attentive, she always left the house clean and tidy.

We didn't know the company Summer In Italy, but we were delighted with the professionalism, everything worked out.

Travel tips

  • We already knew other regions of Italy and wanted to know the Amalfi Coast, so we chose Santa Maria di Castellabate for being close, we loved it. The town is very interesting.
  • The town of Castellabate is also very picturesque.
  • In Santa Maria di Castellabate there is a very good restaurant, awarded by the Michelin Guide 2022, Osteria 1861, excellent.

Tor Albert E.

Stavanger

Norway

VERIFIED

We had a super holiday!

August 2022 - The villa is very spacious, outstanding view, and great facilities both indoor and outdoor. The location is very quiet just outside the town center.

Keep up the good work.

Luca at Summer In Italy provided very good service and the daily service on site was excellent. The flexibility you offered with regards to Covid was very much appreciated.

Travel tips

  • Luca organised two local cooks to make dinner for us at the villa. It was a great experience and highly recommended.

Jussi H.

Helsinki

Finland

VERIFIED

Spacious and comfortable villa, with marvellous views

July 2022 - We were a group of 11 from Finland and France spending ten days at Villa Virginia and really enjoyed it.

The views over Santa Maria di Castellabate to the Tyrrhenian Sea with Amalfi Coast in the horizon are marvellous. The house is spacious, comfortable and well air-conditioned. The large pool had just the right temperature and has a great combo of depths. Our favorite was the outdoors wood-burning pizza oven, which made the dinners at the terrace really special.

We can warmly recommend Villa Virginia to anyone looking for a private, comfortable and spacious villa. The coast of Cilento works especially well for those who prefer to venture a bit further from the tourist areas - it was really mostly locals and other Italians in the area which we quite enjoyed. You also get much more for your money compared to, e. g., Sorrento/Amalfi - but can still easily take the boat trip from San Marco di Castellabate to Amalfi or Capri if you want to explore that area.

This is a great villa with great service. The housekeeper was really friendly and helpful.

You have great service. Summer in Italy are really responsive and have a really good selection of properties. We will for sure book with you again.

Gary H.

Woodnesborough

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

A magnificent property

July 2022 - On initial arrival at Villa Virginia the property most definitely will not disappoint, particularly the patio and pool area, and the stunning panoramic view.

The villa itself is secluded, relatively modern, large, and well-appointed with a nicely planted/landscaped garden. The generous ‘exterior living’ space has plenty of furniture for sunbathing and outdoor dining, including a built-in pizza oven and barbecue, and most importantly a reasonably sized private pool which is relatively shallow - ideal for children. There is also an outdoor shower (hot/cold water) and a toilet/washroom.

The indoor living and dining area is comfortable and spacious, as is the kitchen which has its own central table and chairs – a convivial setup. All bedrooms are reasonably sized, with two larger master bedrooms, and have comfortable beds. Every bedroom has an ensuite toilet/shower facility (one bedroom also includes a bath).

Air-conditioning is present in all rooms and was a welcome reprieve from the summer heat, particularly overnight in the bedrooms. WiFi is included and this reaches all parts of the villa and most of the patio and gives reasonable speed/reliability.

The entire property was clean and tidy on arrival and was kept that way throughout our stay (thanks to Elvira: see below).

The entrance from the road is through a secure electrically operated gate and leads to a shaded parking space for two cars with additional parking available on the opposite side of the road. The road runs, effectively, behind the property but is little used and unobtrusive. In fact, noise generally is not an issue as the surroundings are very peaceful with just the occasional cow bell or distant tractor disturbing the sense of tranquility.

Elvira, the lady who attends the villa daily (except Sundays) at around lunchtime to clean, tidy the outside space and tend to the pool, is marvelous. She is very diligent, very discreet, and yet enthusiastically helpful when her help is asked for. The cleanliness and tidiness of this expansive property is a credit to her hard work. While Elvira does not speak English (our limited Italian is very rusty so now extremely limited), she is a dab hand at using Google Translate on her phone and we communicated using this medium quite successfully.

Other guests have reported that you can walk to the nearest supermarket (Conad – small but well stocked and reasonably priced) and/or restaurant, but we struggled with the hill in the summer heat - it's steep! The upside of the elevation is that it affords fabulous panoramic views over the bay - of an evening from the first-floor terrace you can watch the sun set over the Amalfi coastline.

The small nearby town of Santa Maria di Castellabate provides for most, if not all, needs and its three public beaches will satisfy those who like to feel sand between their toes. Numerous private beaches are also available in the area, but we did not sample these. The southernmost public beach of Santa Maria di Castellabate has the benefit of nearby secure shaded parking (two Euros/hour) but is not easy to find (search for ‘Via Benvenuto Cellini’ and approach from the south). This beach is relatively small, as are all the public beaches locally, so gets busy, however a shallow (waist deep) sandbank exists about a 30m swim from the shoreline and serves as an oasis from the noise and hubbub, assuming that you can swim out to it.

A ten-minute drive south from the villa gets you to the town of San Marco di Castellabate, which has little to offer over and above its neighbour except that a small ferry service runs from the marina throughout the summer months to the Isle of Capri and the towns of the Amalfi coast (via Agropoli). San Marco does have a nice little beach just off the marina which can be accessed on foot through a tunnel by the coastguard station though.

About a twenty-minute drive to the north is the town of Agropoli. We did not venture into Agropoli, but mention it as we did visit/use the Max Futura supermarket on the outskirts of the town (there are several supermarkets in/around Agropoli). Max Futura is a significantly larger store than the nearer Conad, with a much wider range of products: the pasta isle is something to behold.

In summary, overall, a lovely, well appointed, spacious villa, with great facilities, well-kept and in a lovely part of the world with stunning views. You can while away your entire stay relaxing by the pool without having to drive more than a few minutes to access shops and restaurants. Very highly recommended.

Cezar S.

Brasov

Romania

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2022 - We enjoyed every moment, it was above our expectations!

The experience with Summer In Italy was great!

Travel tips

  • Castellabate is wonderful, and the entire area is peaceful and with beautiful views.

Nigel S.

Porlock

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2022 - Brilliant holiday in a spectacular villa. Immaculately clean and very well equipped.

Summer In Italy were very helpful with our booking which we had to postpone due to COVID travel restrictions. We will definitely use them again.

Travel tips

  • You need a car.

Gaynor C.

Wirral

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2022 - This was our second time here, we loved the spacious villa and the views!

Summer In Italy kept us updated each month with their newsletter.

Travel tips

  • You need a car, the road up to the villa is so steep.
  • The town is idyllic and has everything you need.

Niek H.

The Hague

Netherlands

VERIFIED

Enjoyed a wonderful week!

May 2022 - We, as a family of 8 adults and 6 kids, have enjoyed a wonderful week in and around the villa. We appreciated the daily service very much and also the cooking facilities.

It was perfect.

Luca and his assistants are very helpful. We appreciate that.

Travel tips

  • Because we arrived at 19.30 I ordered the main shopping at the web site of Futura supermarket at Agropoli. A very good service!
  • We made a nice boat trip from the harbour of San Marco.

Lukas A.

Schönholzerswilen

Switzerland

VERIFIED

Fantastic view, perfect place to relax

April 2022 - Villa Virginia is a spacious nicely furnished house with a fantastic view and a big sunset terrace. We enjoyed staying a week in the villa with its good amenities (fully equipped kitchen, outdoor furniture, library, table tennis table, swimming pool...).

For us it was a perfect place to relax and its good geographic situation makes it easy to go for short excursions to the beach, picturesque Castellabate and also to do the shopping. The only tough thing we went through was the steep access road as we came by bike.

We had a very good experience.

Cassie J.

Napoli

Italy

VERIFIED

This was such a wonderful get away and just what we needed

February 2022 - To start, the communication with the villa and the check-in process was very easy. We had a lot of questions and they promptly answered them. We loved that every room had a bathroom and the living and dining room was very comfortable to eat and hang out in, which is not something you typically find in Italian homes. The view was gorgeous!

We came in the winter so we didn't use the pool but we would love to come back in the summer!

It's a great location to explore the beautiful area and then end your day with a gorgeous sunset and pool time!

Everything was great!

Summer In Italy made the booking and check-in process very easy. Their communication was excellent and gave us peace of mind for our trip. I knew they would respond promptly if I had any questions! Thank you for the wonderful stay and attention to detail!

Travel tips

  • We loved all the hiking near by. The beaches are beautiful!

Anne D.

London

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Fabulous place, quiet and peaceful

October 2020 - What a fabulous place. If you want quiet and peacefulness this is your place. If you want hustle, bustle, bars forget it.

This company are just brilliant. Very helpful. Their online chat facility excellent. Cannot fault them. Had many emails with questions for them. They were efficient and helpful. Luca in particular. Would highly recommend this company.

Travel tips

  • You do need a car. Supermarket down the bottom of the hill - 2 mins in car. Beach 10 mins down the road.
  • We didn't need to go out as we had everything we needed on site and were only there for 4 nights, however the local town had some lovely places to eat.

Ben S.

Leatherhead

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

The whole chalet and holiday experience was excellent

August 2020 - The pool, the table-tennis table, the BBQ, the pizza oven were all excellent and suites our group of 7 and 5 children perfectly. We liked the gates and perimeter that gave us peace of mind that the children were safe and couldn't wander off without our knowledge.

We thoroughly enjoyed the stay and couldn't have wished for anymore.

It was truly brilliant.

The ability to cancel close to arrival date was great, meant that we could book in the middle of the pandemic and not worry about losing all of our money.

Travel tips

  • Make sure you get trash fish from the local fishmonger.
  • Make sure you walk up the hill for a wander too, and not just concentrate on the main town.

Sofia E.

Lugano

Switzerland

VERIFIED

Ideal location, and very well maintained villa

July 2020 - The villa is in an ideal location and very well maintained. It is more beautiful than in the pictures! Villa Virginia is well equipped, both inside and out. We were three families and we spent a dream week!

The villa is perfect, nothing missed. We have had a wonderful stay, thanks a lot! Elvira [the caretaker] took good care of us, she is so nice and always ready to give us suggestions for places to visit and restaurants.

Compliments to Summer In Italy. Professional and qualified, they replied to any questions I had within a few hours.

Travel tips

  • Santa Maria di Castellabate offers many nice places to have lunch/dinner, but also the possibility of having a walk along the sea or in the center.
  • Beautiful beaches in the area.

Tim C.

Sandy

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Fantastic location very well equipped, beautiful views of sunset over the Mediterranean

September 2019 - We loved Villa Virginia. Fantastic location very well equipped, beautiful views of sunset over the Mediterranean.

Nothing too much trouble for Margot the lady who came in every day and kept villa so clean and tidy. We were very happy with standard of villa.

Great. We had used Summer In Italy once before and if we have villa holiday in Italy again will definitely use you. Am recommending you to lots of people.

Travel tips

  • Explore Santa Maria di Castellabate.
  • We found general supermarket but local butcher, fishmonger and bakers all very helpful.
  • Great places to eat in town or up at the castle.
  • Use the railway, it is so cheap and reliable. Pompeii is 4.90 euro.
  • Above all use Nicola of Masaniello Tourist. He is brilliant, we had two great days out. One in motorlaunch all along Amalfi Coast. Another doing wine tasting mozzarella cheese and seeing Paestum. Sounds routine but he will really spoil you.

Frederick E.

Volketswil

Switzerland

VERIFIED

A really grand holiday spot for enjoying the great Cilento region

September 2019 - It was a really grand holiday spot for enjoying the great Cilento region, so special that we plan to come back there.

The outdoor dinning area was fantastic, we enjoyed eating together under the stars. Dinner had no timetable as most did enjoy early evening swims and relax once we came back from our excursions and then cooked together using the outdoor charcoal grill. This is a paradise spot for family members to reconnect and enjoy the time spent together cooking, eating and toasting with wine glasses.

Everyone of the family did not want to leave Villa Virginia and with nine people it was great that almost everyone had their own rooms with en-suite bathrooms. The views at night, after the sunset, was magnificent.

Highly recommend Villa Virginia.

Summer In Italy offers a great service with quality places to rent, everything was great and will recommend them to others who want to enjoy the Italian life.

Travel tips

  • San Marco di Castellabate has some great restaurants (Lo Scoglio and Quasi in Porto) where you can enjoy the view and the food.
  • The local flavors and wines were great, I learned to appreciate the frizzante white wine which became a staple with every meal.
  • The supermarket down the road was a joy to have and also carried some really good grilling meat choices. Across the road you had the fresh vegetable and fruit store where you are able to obtain local products.
  • We used several tour companies which I would recommend. Especially if flying into Naples, it's worth renting the cars down in the region and having the local transport group provide a round trip package, as we were nine people we needed two vans, especially with the luggage that some were carrying.
  • Franco - account manager at Antares '91 Car Rental and Transfers in Santa Maria di Castellabate - provided round trip transfer from Naples airport to Villa Virginia.
  • Nicola of Masaniello Tourist provided tours to Pompeii and Naples including Paestum (Greek ruins) and bufalo mozzarella company tour. They can also do boat tours and excursions.
  • Rental cars with automatic transmission available in Agropoli, another town to visit nearby.
  • If you want to do a tour of Capri/Positano/Amalfi you can take an early morning ferry from Salerno and spend the day touring these places on your own. Companies operating the routes: Navigazione Libera Golfo (NLG) and TravelMar.

Jörg F.

Dielsdorf

Switzerland

VERIFIED

We had a wonderful time

July 2019 - We were 10 people and had a wonderful time in this great house.

Margot the housekeeping lady is fantastic, she has everything under control, thank you very much!

We plan to spend another week in this house next year.

Dieter S.

Möhlin

Switzerland

VERIFIED

Excellent

October 2018 - Enjoyed this week very much!

Ingemar E.

Uppsala

Sweden

VERIFIED

Fantastic

October 2018 - Great place, great service.

Good service and information. We are very satisfied and will contact Summer In Italy the next time we consider a travel to Italy.

Maciej M.

Gdańsk

Poland

VERIFIED

Absolutely fantastic stay!

September 2018 - Absolutely fantastic stay! Villa Virginia is probably the best holiday villa we have ever stayed at. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to relax by the pool and enjoy a stunning views from the terrace. Perfect place for multi-family holidays – we were a group of 4 families travelling with kids aged 0-8 and we had a superb holiday, which is not always easy when travelling in such a large group. A must visit place to which we will be definitely coming back!

Thanks to Margot who is a fantastic host you can feel almost at home with her being very helpful and well organised.

Summer In Italy was a great choice, very prompt and precise answers. Extremely helpful.

Travel tips

  • We have really enjoyed the boat trip arranged by Nicola from Masaniello Tourist. Perfect day out with Nicola being extremely thoughtful and kind making our day out a perfect event.
  • Good food, especially La Cucina di Cozzechella in Agropoli and Nonna Sceppa very near Paestum.
  • The Greek Temples of Paestum are a stunning place, would definitely consider visiting late afternoon or even in the evening (if that would be an option).

Deb W.

Crowthorne

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

A big thank you for everything!

August 2018 - Beautiful villa. Fully equipped. Stunning views. Margot [the caretaker] was delightful, very friendly and efficient.

Pool was big enough for everyone. Lovely outside sitting and eating areas. We went for my son's wedding and were not disappointed with our accommodation.

All the staff at Summer in Italy were extremely helpful, answering all my questions... even finding me the most amazing hairdresser, Angela who did a fantastic job of my hair on the day of the wedding.

A very big thank you for everything.

Travel tips

  • You definitely need a car.
  • We did go to the Paestum Ruins which were not too far away.

Angela P.

Calgary

Canada

VERIFIED

We hope to return one day

August 2018 - From the moment we arrived and began our tour of Villa Virginia we knew we were in the right place. Big comfortable bedrooms, more than enough bathrooms, spacious kitchen and very comfortable living area.

Margot (the caretaker) was wonderful, the house was very clean, cupboards stocked with a few essentials, pool was brilliant and a definite highlight as the view from the pool deck was absolutely incredible. Black out curtains in the bedrooms were great. We felt secure in the gated property, watched the sun set from the pool deck each evening and even hired a cook to come in and prepare a wonderfully traditional Italian meal for all 14 of us (6 children, 8 adults).

The Villa is located a very short drive to the grocery store (it's walkable on the way there, downhill, not back unless you want an uphill workout while carrying groceries, and about 7 min drive to the beach (which was a highlight as the sand was fine sand, not rock).

We all enjoyed our stay immensely and we hope one day to return to Santa Maria and stay at Villa Virginia!

Janis H.

Banstead

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Absolutely wonderful for me and my family

August 2018 - Villa Virginia was absolutely wonderful for me and my family (13 people ranging from 2 to 65 years), we were all very impressed from the views to the vast interior. Bathrobes and a hairdryer in every bedroom was a nice touch. The pool was wonderful and enjoyed by all. We ate at the villa most nights but did travel to the town of Santa Maria Di Castellabate which was only 5 minutes by car and has a good choice of restaurants and shops.

We arranged through Summer In Italy to have essential food provided at the villa upon our arrival. This was provided by Margot [the caretaker] who looks after the villa and was very welcome after our long journey.

I stumbled across Summer In Italy whilst searching for a villa for my family. Luca and Andrea were extremely helpful at all times and replied to any emails I sent with queries promptly and efficiently.

Travel tips

  • A car is required as the access road is quite steep.
  • We would recommend Franco from Antares '91 who was very helpful in picking us all up from Naples Airport and providing hire cars at the villa.
  • Ensure you visit to the town of Castellabate at the top of the hill as it has quite a view.

Tord R.

Kullavik

Sweden

VERIFIED

We enjoyed everything very much

July 2018 - We enjoyed everything very much. We have already recommended Villa Virginia to our neighbors who will probably rent it next year.

I’ll contact you again if we’ll visit Italy again.

Peter B.

London

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

The best villa we had ever stayed in

June 2018 - We travelled with a party of friends and family all of whom are frequent travellers and the universal opinion was that Villa Virginia was the best villa they had ever stayed in. From the spectacular views to the generous provision of sunbeds and the spacious interior, there is nothing to fault. It's just a great well-appointed villa, well looked after!

I came across Summer In Italy by accident on the web, and was impressed with the quality of layout and information on the web site, so made an enquiry which was immediately answered with this recommendation. Not only was I impressed by the responsiveness of communication, quality of information and value for money, but they were also flexible and able to offer additional services. I will be using them again and recommending them to everybody I know.

Travel tips

  • We used Nicola at Masaniello Tourist (as recommended by Summer In Italy) for a day out on a boat and had a fantastic time.
  • We felt that Paestum is a must see - go early if it is hot.
  • We're not into self-catering a lot, so we ate out on five evenings of the week. Pretty much all the restaurants we tried were good to outstanding. For a special meal out go to Osteria 1861 (Santa Maria di Castellabate). For really good pizza try Da Nello (Santa Maria di Castellabate). For the view, try Restaurant Il Parnaso or Cantina Belvedere (dearer but good seafood).
  • Eating out is pretty much always a drive unless you fancy a long steep climb at the end of the evening, so for a large party it's worth considering getting a meal catered which Summer In Italy will arrange with notice (we did this twice).

Mia A.

London

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2018 - Glorious. Loved it!

Debra W.

New Port Richey, Florida

United States

VERIFIED

We spent a marvelous week

May 2018 - We are a family of 5 adults and we spent a marvelous week in the Villa Virginia.

The beds were very comfortable and large (probably king size) and it was very convenient that each bedroom had its own bath. We only cooked 1 meal at home and found the kitchen had everything we needed. Although it was too chilly for a swim, the pool was crystal clean and we enjoyed sitting around it each night while taking in the beautiful view.

The property is immaculately maintained by the wonderful Miss Margot [the caretaker].

This is the second rental we have done with Summer In Italy and both were perfect stays. The staff at Summer In Italy were wonderful to work with and promptly answered all my questions and there were many.

Travel tips

  • We very highly recommend Nicola with Masaniello Tourist. He was so helpful picking up part of our family at the train station in Agropoli and bringing them to Villa Virginia. We also enjoyed 3 wonderful days with him going to places we never would on our own and tasting some of the regions specialties.
  • The villa is very close to town and we enjoyed many strolls through the streets of beautiful Santa Maria di Castellabate.

Gerard F.

Bofferdange

Luxembourg

VERIFIED

Enjoyed it enormously

April 2018 - We enjoyed our stay at Villa Virginia enormously.

The access road is somewhat steep, but once you enter the gates, you are taken aback with this wonderful panorama view. Everything in and about the house is just perfect. We were a party of six adults and six children, so we needed space and there was plenty of it.

The house is painstakingly clean, the lovely bedrooms are fitted each with a bathroom, the living area is generous, the seating very comfortable in front of a nice fire place. The kitchen ist large and extremely well fitted, there was room for the twelve of us at the table.

One of the glorious features of the Villa Virginia is the trusty caretaker Margot who came by every day and took care of the towels, swiped the tiled floors etc. etc. We were happy to find her full of useful information about where to eat, to shop... Always friendly, kind and discreet, she is a top asset of Villa Virginia.

Found Summer In Italy on the net. Information and service is great.

Travel tips

  • Go to Amalfi by boat from Salerno, visit a tenuta where they make mozzarella di bufala (Tenuta Vannulo in Capaccio e.g.), go to Paestum and to Ascea Vela, see Pompeii, go by train from Agropoli to Naples.
  • Don't forget to visit nearby Castelabate which you see from your terrace an the left...

Richard M.

Williamsburg, Virginia

United States

VERIFIED

A magical place for us

September 2017 - Villa Virginia will always be a magical place for us.

It is the ONLY spot, in not only Italy but entire Europe, that we have traveled over the years that we considered returning to for a second visit. Ten years ago we enjoyed it so much, that everyone (10 folks) returned. We were concerned about returning to any place of our travels for would it be the same?, different?, not as nice? Well, Villa Virginia proved to us 'You can return and rediscover that special "dolce vita" feeling'. Its location is unique, off the beaten path of the typical tourist destinations in Italy, but it is well worth the extra effort to get there.

We used the service 10 years ago and everyone appreciated the same high level of service this time as well.

Travel tips

  • Would recommend the added services. They prepared a fabulous birthday dinner for us and with all the features of a 5 star restaurant. Wonderful personal touch.
  • The day trip they provided through Nicola was tremendous and will always be the highlight of our 2017 week in Santa Maria Castellabate! He was fabulous!!! We highly recommend his service.

Karen M.

Hudson

Canada

VERIFIED

A jewel overlooking the sea

September 2017 - After months of research and planning, I had very high expectations of Villa Virginia. I was not disappointed. In fact, it felt like we were coming home. The villa is a jewel sitting up high on the hill overlooking olive groves, terra cotta roofed villas, the charming town of Santa Maria di Castellabate and the sea.

In fact, the view was almost overwhelming. Our party arrived in five groups on that first day, driving from various parts of Italy. We were met and welcomed by Margot who looks after and loves the Villa as her own. There was such excitement with each arrival, coming into the spacious, sparkling clean home, dumping our groceries in the inviting kitchen, finding our very lovely rooms and then congregating outside on the terrace, gazing at the view and looking at each other saying "Are we really here?!"

Not only was the Villa beautiful, it has a wonderful feeling about it. It is bright and airy and just exudes warmth and comfort. The sea breezes blow through the open windows, freshening and cooling the house. We used the air-conditioner only one night in our room, preferring to have the window open. I saw only two mosquitos the entire stay.

We were a party of 12 for the first three days, then 10 plus a baby, who Margot called "Starlina", and there was ample space for all of us. Outside the villa, the pool was a welcomed afternoon retreat. There is a shaded, vine-covered gazebo, a BBQ/pizza oven/food prep area, a ping pong table, the gardens and of course, the charming outside dining area where we ate together almost every night. There is even a toilet and outdoor shower for convenience!

The terrace was scrubbed clean every morning by Margot as was the pool which she kept sparkling. She worked quietly and efficiently and I must say, patiently, as often some of our party were still sleeping in and she would come back later in the day to clean the rooms and bathrooms.

The upper story has two bedrooms that share the huge balcony overlooking the pool. Another room has a small, private balcony. The room we chose opened onto another private terrace with the same, sea view, but was shady and cool during the early day. This terrace wrapped around to the street side of the villa and had a great feature - a clothes line!!!! Although the laundry room is equipped with a washer and dryer, clothes dry on the line in a fraction of the time. I just loved it!

All the rooms and bathrooms were lovely. On the ground floor there are two twin rooms and one "matrimonial" (indeed larger than a queen) each with private bathrooms, which work well if parents want to be close to where children are sleeping. The kitchen is well-equipped, homey and spacious enough for groups preparing meals together. There is a huge dining table for 14, which we used on two occasions when it rained in the evening, and the living room provided a very comfortable and relaxing space for those wanting to read or watch TV. The furnishing and finishing are top quality.

But being outside was always the highlight. Breakfast in the early mornings' gentle sun, drinks by the pool in the late afternoon, gorgeous sunsets and dining under the stars. One night there was a firework display in Castellabate as a finale to a festival and we had a bird's eye view. These fireworks were rivalled only by nature's fireworks a week later when we witnessed a most spectacular storm. Quite awesome.

The staff at Summer In Italy are wonderful. Communication was pleasant, accommodating and timely. They take care to cover every detail to make our stay memorable. I found them online, in my search for rental properties in Italy. Their offer to help via an online chat was never pushy, just simply helpful. They seem to enjoy their jobs and it shows in their excellent customer service. The booking process was seamless and follow up was reassuring. Luca, Anita and Valeria were so kind and helpful. Anita answered all of our questions and Valeria emailed us at the villa to make sure some lost luggage had been delivered safely.

I really cannot think of anything that could improve their outstanding service.

Travel tips

  • Driving in Italy is a challenge, although the drivers in our party grew to enjoy it once they learned to drive like Italians! It isn't really the drivers, it is the narrow winding roads, abrupt turns and steep inclines that require learning new driving skills for those of us who live in North America. We learned that it is not impatience, but a friendly caution to toot the horn when making a 180 degree turn on a road too narrow for two cars to pass each other!
  • A word of warning re rental cars. Unless your credit card company guarantees absolutely FULL coverage, car rental companies will try to charge added insurance costs that are far more than the rental cost. My son rented a car online and purchased what he assumed to be full coverage, only to be charged an additional 500 Euros as they claimed they didn't recognize third party insurance. We found out since that he could have refused it, but he was led to believe at the time that it was mandatory. Another in our party had to pay 800 Euros in damages after he scratched the side of his rental on a narrow lane. He had also paid what he thought was full coverage insurance. Next time, I think we would opt to travel by train and rent a car locally at Antares91.
  • Places we visited: Castellabate, Agropoli, San Marco, the caves at Castelcivita, the town of Castelcivita, Paestum, Ercolano, all wonderful.
  • We took a marvelous boat tour with Masaniello Tourist. Nicola picked us up in a bus at the Villa and drove us to Sorrento. There we met our Captain, Gerardo and "first mate" Alessandra who took the best care of us as we toured up the Amalfi coast, stopped to swim twice, spent the afternoon in Capri and visited the Green Grottos on the return trip. They provided a welcomed lunch and refreshing snacks as well as smiles and patience for our noisy group! On the return bus ride, Nicola pointed out some local places of interest, took us to a great restaurant to take out pizza and even stopped so that we could get some ice at the fish market!
  • We walked the Lungomare, hiked from San Marco to Punta Licosa, and of course along the beach in lovely Santa Maria di Castellabate. And of course, we got lost sometimes and that was fun too.
  • On our second night, Anna and her daughter came to prepare a memorable birthday dinner. Meeting them was a pleasure and the food was delicious.
  • We had some great meals at great restaurants too. Pasta e Pizza da Nello, Pizzeria Punta Dell'Inferno and L'Arcata (adjoining Le Gatte)
  • As far as landmarks and directions, I know that Summer In Italy's step by step instructions for finding the villa were perfect. The rest of the time, while driving, I had my eyes closed!

Uesi B.

Milano

Italy

VERIFIED

We had a lovely stay

August 2017 - We had a lovely stay. Villa Virginia is very cozy, nice and big for a large group. It has a big enough kitchen suitable for everyone too. The view is incredible and we loved the pool. We had a wonderful time.

Marte Mina S.

Verdal

Norway

VERIFIED

The whole family loved it!

July 2017 - The whole Family loved it - all 3 generations

Verrrry verrrry gooood :-)

Roseleen O.

Nailsworth

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Magnificent villa

June 2017 - We thought the villa was magnificent and would definitely consider returning some time in the future.

Very happy with the company we booked through. They were extremely helpful.

Travel tips

  • There were plenty of good restaurants and pretty beaches in the nearby town.

Alistair Daniel P.

Riddings

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Amazing location, perfect pool, incredible views

June 2017 - Amazing location, the pool area is perfect, views incredible. We spent 8 days here with 4 children from 5 - 10 years old and it was perfect for them. Plenty of loungers to sit on whilst the children played.

The lounge is a great size too, a great place for a break from the sun for a little while.

The area is great too, not far to Paestum, Vesuvius, Pompeii. Also the beaches at Santa Maria are brilliant.

Travel tips

  • For an amazing meal go to Restaurant Cantina Belvedere in Castellabate. Great food, local beers and incredible views.

Jake M.

Penarth

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

A great villa with amazing views

June 2017 - A great Villa with amazing views, lots of space and kept very clean and tidy. Definitely will return.

Tara F.

Seattle, Washington

United States

VERIFIED

It was everything we had imagined and more

May 2017 - Our extended family of 13 recently spent a glorious week at Villa Virginia. I had heard about Villa Virginia from a friend whose extended family had stayed there for two weeks, so I had high expectations. And Villa Virginia did not disappoint – it was everything we had imagined and more. It was spacious, very clean, and the perfect place for a large group. At no time did we feel cramped as there were so many different areas in and around the villa to spread out. The rooms were all comfortable and surprising soundproof. The kitchen was well stocked and the tables both inside and out easily sat 14. We enjoyed the ambiance of the villa so much we ended up having dinner there all but one night. And having our own private swimming pool was such a treat. The pool and surrounding grounds were cleaned every morning by the property manager, who also disposed of the garbage and cleaned the bathrooms each day. The property was kept in impeccable condition. We already plan to return, but next time for 2 weeks. Villa Virginia is truly a magical place and even better than the pictures on the web site.

There is a grocery store, a produce market and a fish market right at the bottom of the hill so finding something to cook was incredibly easy. We were amazed at how inexpensive everything was. Wonderful local wine was only 3-4 euro a bottle and cured meats and regional cheeses cost about one-quarter of the price they would have cost in the states. We never ate so well or so cheap and in such beautiful surroundings.

We heard about Summer In Italy through the friend who recommended Villa Virginia. I found they very easy to work with and would definitely use them again. They were very good at communicating and booking was a breeze.

Travel tips

  • Getting a large group to Villa Virginia is by no means easy but we hired the services of a local tour guide, Nicola Masaniello of Masaniello Tourist, who literally took care of everything – provided transportation to and from Rome, arranged for rental cars in a nearby town, took us on 3 separate tours, and much more. Nicola's services are very affordable and coupled with Villa Virginia make for a perfect-stress free vacation.
  • Be sure to check the town of Castellabate at the top of the hill by the castle. We discovered it on our last day and wish we could have spent more time there. It was so beautiful and old.
  • Enjoyed the town of Santa Maria di Castellabate.
  • We only wish we had more time to explore the Cilento area. Next trip.

Clare H.

Easton

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Stunning villa and location

September 2016 - Stunning villa, in a beautiful location. Roads up the mountain to the villa are narrow and very sharp bends, made for a few hair raising moments, especially in a people carrier!

But worth the journey for the stunning views from the villa.

Margot, the house keeper, is just lovely, so kind and helpful. She does a great job & nothing we asked was too much trouble.

We would thoroughly recommend this villa to everyone. We were a group of 11 and we all had lovely bedrooms and plenty of space. You won't be disappointed :-)

Travel tips

  • You need a car, villa is 850 ft up the mountain, be extremely cautious driving up to the villa.
  • We found the local town was very much a place for Italians to holiday and we had a few problems with the language barrier, maybe learn a few basic sentences in Italian.

Paolo S.

Rivalta di Torino

Italy

VERIFIED

A beautiful villa

August 2016 - Truly beautiful, indeed.

Dawn Z.

Winnipeg

Canada

VERIFIED

Exceptional with amazing views

July 2016 - We lived the villa! Very clean, spacious, as depicted. Outdoor space was exceptional with amazing views, great seating, and loads of space for our large group.

Vittorino M.

Roma

Italy

VERIFIED

Everything was perfect!

June 2016 - Villa Virginia is a wonderful place, everything was perfect: rooms, maid service, pool, outdoor spaces... We were 4 families and had a 4 days stay, will come back!

Travel tips

  • You will have such a wonderful time at Villa Virginia... Really hard leave to visit the amazing Cilento!

Simon C.

Bedford

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2015 - This is a fantastic villa with superb views and is a great place to get away and relax. We had a fantastic holiday here, highly recommended.

Travel tips

  • Be brave driving up the hill! We had a large people carrier and some of the hairpin bends are a bit tight.
  • The pizza oven is fatastic we had some great meals as outside in the evening.
  • There is a great fishmonger just behind the local supermarket.
  • A trip up to Castellabate is highly recommended.

David K.

Borgerhout

Belgium

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2015 - We loved Villa Virginia! Such an amazing place with beautiful pool and terraces and views.

Keep doing what you are doing! We loved your service.

Travel tips

  • Castellabate is great for its views.
  • The bakery in Santa Maria is just FANTASTIC.
  • Walk the lungomare (promenade along the sea): is great.

Mel S.

Glasgow

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2015 - We had six adults and four kids staying at Villa Virginia and had the most perfect week. The accommodation and amenities inside and out are outstanding. The views are stunning and the villa is beautiful.

Margot [the caretaker] offered fantastic discreet help each day and was lovely to have around.

It really was perfect!

We've used Summer In Italy before and this was as smooth and straightforward as before!

Travel tips

  • A car is a definite need.
  • Supermarket at the bottom of the road is great and has everything you'll need.
  • We ate in Santa Maria di Castellabate which offers lots of choice of pizzas.

Karna L.

Seattle

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2015 - Villa Virginia exceeded our expectations!! The property grounds were beautifully maintained. The staff was so friendly and helpful. It was perfect for our large family! We will recommend this property and Summer in Italy to any friends or family traveling to Italy.

Your recommendation for our private guide Nicola with Masaniello Tourist was fabulous! He organized several excursions that made our trip extra special.

This was truly a trip of a life time!!

Travel tips

  • Hire Nicola with Masaniello Tourist!
  • Visit Paestum, Capri by sea private charter, mozzarella cheese buffalo farm.
  • Go to the Sunday market to get produce, cheese, olives, etc.

Greetje R.

Oslo

Norway

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2015 - Villa Virginia was a wonderful place for our family with 6 children and eight grown ups. We especially appreciated the pool and outdoor garden and area for breakfast and other meals.

The pool was a place to be together, and was suited both to the children who couldn`t swim and those who wanted to try diving and crawling. Also the large kitchen and livingroom gave good space to all of us. The view was great as well.

We really enjoyed our vacation in Villa Virginia.

Thank you for your nice and helpful information. It was so easy to ask for help, and you answered quickly and with warmth.

I am sure we will use Summer in Italy again.

Travel tips

  • We had a nice meal in Castellabate , enjoyed Pompei and Paestum.
  • We can recommend the meal that to cooks made in Villa Virginia for us. It was a wonderful dinner, nice people and real Italian food. They even washed the dishes.

Christina J.

Gånghester

Sweden

VERIFIED

Fantastic

September 2014 - We loved it!

Travel tips

  • We had booked a nice dinner at the villa on our first evening. Good idea!

Michelina C.

Toronto

Canada

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2014 - Villa Virginia exceeded our expectations. All bedrooms are large with private baths in each. The views are spectacular and the pool is amazing.

Margot [the caretaker] took very good care of us and Anna [the cook] prepared 3 spectacular meals.

Details like the bath robes and pool towels we a nice bonus.

Travel tips

  • Be prepared for a challenging drive up the hill to reach the villa, especially in a car with manual transmission. Very steep with hairpin turns.

Lise G.

Nesbru

Norway

VERIFIED

Excellent

October 2013 - Nice house, extremely clean and neat garden. Perfect for our family vacation. Will for sure return to this nice place.

Good communication from start to the end.

Travel tips

  • A nice villa for families/friends. Quiet.
  • Bring walking shoes, there are some nice places to visit by foot.
  • Car recommended, although it is approximately a 15-minute walk from/to the beach.
  • One hour drive to Pompeii.

Cushla O.

Ringsend

Ireland

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2013 - Absolutely loved Villa Virginia. Everything about it is wonderful.

Margot [the caretaker] was great, the place was spotless and she works away quietly so you wouldn't even notice she is there.

I was really happy with the service and will definitely recommend you, your service and Villa Virginia. I found the website when I googled villas in santa maria di castellabate.

Travel tips

  • It is a bit outside the town, not within walking distance - just to be aware of. You will definitely need a car and not a small car, one with a little power as the road to the villa is steep at points... but that is how it has such wonderful views!
  • A visit to Castellabate is a must.
  • Paestum is very worthwhile.
  • The restaurant Perbacco in Santa Maria is not the cheapest but is excellent and well worth it.
  • Baffo's ice-cream - yummy.
  • Santa Maria is a wonderful place with wonderful people.

Helen S.

Wakefield

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2013 - We have just returned from Villa Virginia we miss it already.

We were a party of ten, from a four year old to two 66 year old's and there was so much room, it was amazing. It was better than the pictures can show, from the view, to the size of the rooms.

Margot, the caretaker, was fantastic. She keeps the villa immaculate and she recommended two ristorante and pizzeria to us, and she then booked our taxi's for us. Nothing was too much trouble for her. We had booked Anna the cook for our first two nights dinner, the food was beautiful and she served it outside in the shade. Amazing.

Travel tips

  • We used phones as translators and it worked very well.
  • The local butchers and fishmongers were very good.
  • We ate at a restaurant in Lago which was right next to the beach,(ask Margot) but the owners speak very little English. Food was local and excellent.

Curt L.

Kiryat Ono

Israel

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2013 - Fantastic place for family vacations.

We loved Italy, its people and the wonderful places we visited.

Travel tips

  • It's a great idea to hire the chef Anna and her daughter Maria Rosaria, who are charming and cook deliciously.

Chris S.

London

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2013 - Villa Virginia was absolutely fantastic. It was so much bigger and better than what we thought it would be. Miss Margot [the caretaker] was extremely nice and helpful, although her English was not the best, it was never an issue.

The villa was that good that we didn't leave for 3 of the 7 days we were there. It was great to relax and eat by the pool all day. It was very convenient to get around, the main supermarket was only 10 mins away too.

We did a couple of day trips to Amalfi, Positano and Pompeii which were all very easy from the villa. Apart from the Italian drivers it was never an issue to get around!

I would highly recommend renting Villa Virginia, everything was simple and easy right from the booking through to our arrival.

Travel tips

  • Rent a car in order to get up the driveway, it's a little bit difficult in a big van.

Brian D.

Fort Myers, Florida

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2013 - Spectacular! Everything we hoped it would be. Margot is an excellent caretaker and Anna and Maria Rosaria are wonderful cooks. We were very pampered, it was hard to leave.

The weather was fantastic while we were there. We had 2 very different groups of people with us, family with children the first week, then 3 adult couples the second. Everyone of them had a wonderful time.

Santa Maria di Castellabate is a lovely village and living amongst the Italians for 2 weeks was an adventure that we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Everyone from Summer in Italy was a joy to work with... very accommodating. The website was given to us by a Roman real estate person. Your directions to the villa were excellent.

Travel tips

  • Be sure to stock up on groceries before 1:00 pm as everything closes from 1 until 5:00.
  • Plan a dinner at the castle and enjoy the gorgeous views.
  • Make sure to dine at the Hotel La Pergola in the pedestrian main street. And visit Lido Geco beach in San Marco.
  • If you light sightseeing, take in the ruins at Paestum, truly better than anything you'll see outside of Rome.

Tom H.

Winkleigh

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2012 - A beautiful villa in a wonderful location with a stunning view. One week was not nearly long enough.

It was perfect!

Margarita R.

Sofia

Bulgaria

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2012 - Great villa, great service! We had wonderful time.

Will use your services again with pleasure! The information was accurate and realistic.

Travel tips

  • Amalfi coast, Agropoli, Paestum, Salerno are must see of course. We also enjoyed the trip to south - for example Acciaroli.

Sandy D.

Sherborne

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2012 - Our group of 14 people this past August (for 2 weeks) had a brilliant time at Villa Virginia.

From the time we arrived to our departure, the service from Margot [the caretaker] was more than we could have asked for, the villa is in a beautiful location with amazing view, and the area of Castellabate is a wonderful vacation spot. We had originally planned more days out, but we found ourselves spending most days and nights at the villa. The pool was great entertainment for the kids and adults and we all loved playing ping-pong at night.

The local shops (especially the fish market) had a great selection of fresh and delicious foods, we never had so much fun self-catering. The outdoor pizza oven and grill was a great place to cook to keep the indoors cool during the hot summer.

All the bedrooms were huge in size and all with their own bathrooms. Margot comes to clean each morning, working so quietly in the background. And when we needed some extra advice she was always there to help.

The villa is even better than the pictures. We would definitely go back for another holiday at Villa Virginia. We spent an amazing 2 weeks and would go back for the same amount of time. The area has so much to offer, boat trips, wineries, local heritage and great restaurants and bars. There is nothing we could complain about if we tried.

From the time I inquired, through booking, our stay and even after our departure, Summer in Italy was amazing to work with, I would surely use the company again to book another holiday. I could not give one piece of advice, you were all truly wonderful to deal with. Please continue to give such great service. Thank you!

Travel tips

  • Try to get to the villa during daylight hours. If you are unfamiliar with the roads or the Italian way of driving, it can be confusing at night. Whatever you do, don't trust the Sat-Nav! Use the directions the villa provides. We followed the Sat-Nav and it kept directing us North away from the villa when we left the airport. The directions the villa provides are easy very easy to understand.
  • Have Summer in Italy arrange for your first dinner after your arrival to be cooked by the caretakers. They make an incredible meal of whatever you ask for and it takes the stress out of having to cook once you arrive. They will also go shopping for you if you give them A short drive North is Paestum, it is well worth a trip to see the Greek temples.
  • A great restaurant is Cantina Belvedere at the top of the hill in Castellabate.
  • We drove up into the mountains to a town called Perdifumo, it has amazing views and some of the most quaint areas around.
  • There is so much to do, but just laying by the pool was one of our favorite on our trip.

Evert E.

Westmaas

Netherlands

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2012 - Villa Virgina was unbelievable and we had an marvelous time. Our kids enjoyed every moment and they found the place lovely.

Margot and her husband [the caretakers] where serious people and did their job very thoroughly. We really liked them.

We would like to come back

Lou M.

Cherry Hill, NJ

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2012 - We had an absolutely wonderful stay for a week in June 2012 at Villa Virginia. Starting with Luca and the Summer in Italy staff, they made reservation, information and instructions easy to access, understand and use. Mrs. Margot, the caretaker, and Mrs. Anna, the cook, were great. There was no need to go out when we could have a great dinner under the pergola poolside.

The Villa itself is fabulous. Spotless, modern appliances, every luxury comfort, great pool and deck and astounding views of the sea and Santa Maria di Castellabate.

We cannot wait to return.

Keep up the good work. Tremendous service and responsiveness. Hope to set up another vacation with you again soon.

Linda S.

Taunton

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2012 - We were a family party of 11 out for a wedding. The setting was fantastic, one could not tire of the view from the terraces. It was everything one had hoped for from the description.

All information was accurate, and any queries were answered promptly. I found the site on line as I was looking for accommodation for a large number.

Travel tips

  • You must have a car if only for shopping. The walk down to Santa Maria was lovely but the climb up was not!! Taxis we found quite pricey but the best one was certainly Franco of Antares 91.

Cecilia N.

Taby

Sweden

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2012 - The villa was even better that expected from the pictures and descriptions! Especially the pool area with non slip tiles and the genius design of the pool where both adults and children could swim and play. The pergola with "natural" shade was also an oasis.

Travel tips

  • The road up to the villa is very narrow and steep with sharp turns so a minivan is not to be recommended.
  • Neither it is recommended to walk to/from Santa Maria with children! Quite tough exercise in the sun!
  • We booked the chef Anna and here daughter for the whole week since we were a large group with several kids. We had one excellent dinner after the other with e.g. homemade pasta, tiramisu and delicious antipasti. They handled both shopping and cleaning up so well worth the money! They don't speak any English but we let Anna decide only giving directions of whether we wanted fish, meat or pasta. That way we got to try out a lot of local dishes and specialties we had never heard of.
  • On our request the house keeper had purchased various supplies for breakfast which was great since we arrived late from the airport.
  • Another tip is to bring cash. The only things we could pay with card was car rental and gas. They often had card cashiers but they hardly ever worked, not even at the super markets. So plan for a number of trips to the ATM in Santa Maria.

Sergei G.

Decatur, Georgia

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

October 2011 - We absolutely loved Villa Virginia. We were there for a week in October 2011 with many of our friends for my wife's birthday celebration, and she couldn't have been happier.

The bedrooms were comfortable, the dining room was big enough to sit all of us easily, the kitchen was great (and we had a chef or two among us), and we enjoyed the outdoor seating and the gorgeous view.

The people at Summer in Italy were great to work with, and they helped us arrange an arrival-night dinner cooked by a local chef - it was outstanding. We will make every effort to come back!

Travel tips

  • A car is a must.
  • Two local places to visit are the Tenuta Vannulo buffalo mozzarella farm and the Greek ruins at Paestum.

Carolyn B.

Toronto

Canada

VERIFIED

Excellent

October 2011 - Villa Virginia was beautifully positioned, had a spectacular view, was exceptionally clean and well maintained, had many amenities and far exceeded our group's expectations. It was also close to many area attractions so was a great location from which to begin day trips. it may be hard to believe, but the photos don't do it justice.

Needless to say our group of 7 adults were totally satisfied with the 2 week stay at this wonderful place.

Summer in Italy was very reliable, honest, helpful and interested in making sure that their service was top notch. I would be happy to recommend this agency to others who are planning a trip to Italy.

Geoff B.

Dublin

Ireland

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2011 - Fantastic location overlooking Santa Maria di Castellabate. Terrific sunsets. Very modern villa with everything you need.

Bedrooms are all spacious, beds comfortable and kept extremely clean thanks to the lovely Margot.

The hill up to the villa is very steep.

The villa was perfect.

Travel tips

  • Wander round Santa Maria at night, there's a large car park on the way into the village, busy from 7 pm through to past midnight but great to see people of all ages wandering around, plenty of bars and restaurants but very much a family place.
  • Pompeii is 1 hr 45 mins drive and worth it, a guided tour is highly recommended.
  • Best supermarket we found was SISA, turn left at roundabout, keep going for about 5 km, it's on the left.

Lois G.

Jupiter, FL

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2011 - This is a beautiful villa in a beautiful area. We really enjoyed it.

Roger B.

Stratford upon Avon

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2011 - Villa Virginia has 7 bedromms and 7 bathrooms (6 en-suite). All were immaculately kept. Every aspect of accommodation was perfect for our group of 12, ranging from 20 years to over 70.

The caretaker and cook were discreet, punctilious and efficient and helped us in numerous ways.

Gardens immaculate; BBQ great (did not try pizza oven); table tennis fine.

Overall - first class and great value for money.

Travel tips

  • Be prepared for a steep drive up to the villa and a tricky entrance to Villa Virginia parking (more than adequate for 3 cars, additional easy parking always available along the road).
  • Though steep we still walked down each morning to get fresh provisions for breakfast (allow 30 mins total walking time).

Johan S.

Stockholm

Sweden

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2011 - Very nice, we had a great time.

Everything was very well organised and good response from the customer service every time. I would certainly use the service again if travelling to Italy again.

Lynn R W.

Paris, TX

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

May 2011 - We had a great time at Villa Virginia. I wish we had rented two weeks! The outdoor areas in particular were really outstanding.

Travel tips

  • Our group of 12 adults had rented 4 cars, which was really one or two more than we needed once we reached the villa. There's really only room for 2 or 3 cars [additional cars can be parked on the road side at no cost, as many as six cars can be accommodated]. Next time we'll either pack 1/2 as much, or have some people take the train to Salerno or Agropoli and pick them up there.
  • Also, regarding the cars, the road to the villa is very steep, with some hairpin turns. If you aren't VERY confident driving a standard transmission, pay the extra money to rent an automatic.
  • We flew into Rome, took the train to Naples, and rented a car at the Naples airport to drive to Santa Maria di Castellabate. The train was unnecessary. The highways are great, and next time we'll rent the car in Rome and drive the entire way.
  • We found the Despar grocery in town without a problem, but had trouble finding a supermarket. We finally drove by the Maxi Futura in Agropoli, and thought it sounded as if it could be a supermarket, and it was!

Sally G.

Howth

Ireland

VERIFIED

Excellent

April 2011 - We throughly enjoyed our stay at Villa Virginia.

The setting is just beautiful and the view is stunning.

We had great weather and it would be hard to fault it.

Good web site and prompt answers to our queries.

Travel tips

  • A great place for a family holiday.
  • You definately need a car because the road is pretty steep,going down ok but coming back up takes a bit more time.
  • The beach is about ten minute walk and well worth it, lovely restaurants that didn't close during the afternoon.
  • Nearly all shops close during afternoon [from 1 pm until 4 or 5 pm, then they reopen and stay open late] so plan around that.

Jan S.

21600 Parainen

Finland

VERIFIED

Excellent

October 2010 - A perfect place for a vacationing among friends. You need a car, though.

Thank you and good luck.

Very good service, we have recommended you.

Cyril S.

London

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2010 - Excellent! We all enjoyed it very much.

Ken K.

Mallow

Ireland

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2009 - Villa Virginia was very enjoyable.

Travel tips

  • If you have children or elderly people you will need to rent a car.

Cyril S.

London

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2009 - Excellent We enjoyed it very much. We are coming again in 2010.

We were well looked after by you. Thank you!

Travel tips

  • Village shops are good. Evening stroll through the main street of Santa Maria di Castellabate is well worth doing.

Thomas B.

Oslo

Norway

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2009 - We enjoyed the stay just as much as last time!

Pia Holm R.

Solroed Strand

Denmark

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2009 - Our stay at Villa Virginia completely stood up to our (high) expectations!

The house and surroundings was absolutely magnificent.

We really enjoyed the pool, terrace and outdoor kitchen facilities.

Thank you for a super vacation. We found your services to an A+. Communication and web page is super. Thank you!!!!

Travel tips

  • Book Raffaella to come and cook for you!! Margot (housekeeper) knows how to contact her. Raffaella has, based on her own experience as a former restaurant chef, great knowledge of local authentic Italian cuisine. She is super in a kitchen and loves to share her "art".

Gary H.

Dublin

Ireland

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2008 - This is a fantastic Villa for a family holiday - every possible facility is provided. The view from the Villa is breathtaking, not surprising as the drive up to find it is incredibly steep!

The grounds are wonderful with a stunning pool, outdoor hot showers, outdoor dining area, BBQ, pizza oven, table tennis and plenty more...

It is ideal for children as the grounds are fully self-contained with electric gates providing security.

The villa itself has 7 equally lovely bedrooms, all ensuite, allowing privacy even when with a large group. We had 14 people staying and never felt under each other's feet as the living area is so large.

Wireless Internet is a fantastic feature if you want to keep in contact with the real world - very handy if you have a Laptop.

I could write for hours recommending Villa Virginia but suffice to say every single minute detail is considered and provided for... Towels for the pool, cleaning, refuse collection - everything is made easy. It is hotel standard luxury with the added bonus of your own privacy and flexibility, not many hotels will let you swim in the pool at 2 in the morning !!

In short, Villa Virginia will exceed your greatest expectations... Enjoy your holiday!

Travel tips

  • Rent a car! A car is crucial for this Villa. It is about 1.5 km from the village of Santa Maria di Castellabate but the route is steep and not for walking.
  • Besides that, all local beaches, restaurants and sights were wonderful. Visit the hilltop town of Castellabate for a fabulous view.
  • Get Annalisa to cook for you at the Villa - well worthwhile.

Nicola G.

Clonmel

Ireland

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2008 - I so enjoyed my stay here and just wish we were going again. No exaggeration I don't even think the photos do it justice.

11 adults stayed here and 3 kids. We got married in the area so it was 2 families. We had so much space and no one was on top of anyone - we spent every evening outside.

The boys and girls spent a lot of time playing ping pong and there were tournaments that passed the week!

I really can't say anything bad about this villa it was beautiful. The view is fantastic too and I had to stop sometimes and just drink it in!

Annalisa [the caretaker] was great and cooked us a lovely pizza one night I definitely recommend this. It is so worth every penny!

Castellabate is so gorgeous and the beaches are great too when we did go.

I can't speak highly enough of it really it has great amenities, is fully equipped and is pure luxury. Enjoy you lucky people who are next to go! (As I sit in rainy Ireland again!!).

You were fantastic and some prompt in replying when I had questions. Andrea was who I first dealt with and he was fantastic, and Luca then on. I googled villas in Italy and came across you. I would definitely recommend your company.

Travel tips

  • We didn't go far - Pompeii one day which was great.

Samasandrapalya K.

Grand Blanc, Michigan

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2008 - We had a wonderful time in Santa Maria di Castellabate. Villa Virginia was all it promised to be. We were a party of 13 and had a wonderful time.

The house itself was immaculate. Water pressure was great for showers. Pool was kept clean and neat.

I would definitely come back to stay in Villa Virginia again.

Great website. Keep up the good work.

Travel tips

  • You will get your money's worth.
  • Please learn a little Italian to speak with the locals or the caretaker.
  • Pompeii, Positano and Paestum were excellent day-trips for us.
  • Gelato in downtown ice cream parlour was a favourite of all of us.

Allen M.

Wilmington, DE

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2008 - Our week at Villa Virginia was the best time of our three week vacation in Italy. We had 11 people, some older, some younger, and two children. It worked well for everyone, and there was easily space for more.

The view was fantastic, the villa was clean, beautiful and up to date.

Annalisa was a great caretaker, and the only surprises were good ones.

Overall, we got much more than we really expected.

Elizabeth C.

Albuquerque, NM

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2008 - Villa Virginia was amazing -- the pictures do not do it justice. We all thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

It was wonderful to get up and have coffee on the terrace looking out at the ocean.

The bedrooms are remarkably quiet, so everyone got a good night's sleep.

Summer In Italy was wonderful. Many thanks to the staff, Luca in particular, who provided us with help and advice throughout our visit. Andrea was very helpful in all our planning beforehand as well. This was very important, since I was responsible for planning for the whole group!

Travel tips

  • Annalisa was the most amazing cook! I suggest you have her cook for you upon arrival -- we got in late on Saturday night and would have had no dinner, no groceries, and no shopping on Sunday if it weren't for her. It was so nice to end a very long travel day with a fabulous Italian meal. (And we ate the leftovers for 3 more days...)
  • Franco at Antares 91 was also very helpful in our transfers and private tours.

Mandy S.

San Diego, CA

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

April 2008 - We were fortunate to have been at Villa Virginia from 17 to 27 April this year. Following is quick summary of how we felt about our stay. After traveling for 30 hours from San Diego to Rome via Chicago, then by train to Agropoli via Naples, it was more than a relief to be greeted by Franco of Antares91 at the Agropoli station. He drove us to the Villa, describing local points of interest. There were two cars waiting for us at the Villa Franco had a portable credit card register which made paying easy, even though we had some approval problems. We met Annalisa and were overwhelmed at the accommodations. The Villa was more than we had expected.

After locking ourselves out of the Villa and enlisting Franco's help, we settled in a bit to explore all the amenities of the Villa. It was bigger than we expected, the setting was more beautiful and each of the bedroom suites was completely private. The living, dining and kitchen great area met the needs of the seven of us and gave a feel of hominess. The people were wonderfully gracious. We later found out that we were the only people living on the hill and evidently we were the only Americans within 100 kilos of Santa Maria.

Franco arranged for a driver, Leonardo, to take us to the Amalfi Coast drive via a circular route that took us through Salerno and Pompeii before coming back south across the Sorrento peninsula, stopping at Positano for lunch, and finally Ravello, before returning. An all-day trip. After sightseeing during the day, it was really great to have the Villa to come home to and just relax.

As soon as we unpacked, we went down the hill to get provisions. From the bottom of the hill, it's only 100 yards to the right to one general store and 100 yards to the left to a fresh produce store next to a fish market. A few blocks further to another general store before going to the center of town. Though we had provisions for cooking, we picked up a carryout Margherita pizza from the town center and knew immediately we were back in Italy.

Going south on 267, a few kilometers past the Turnoff to downtown Santa Maria, we went to San Marco. At the entrance to town (the three-way intersection) there is one of the best gelateria/patisserie negotios. On Liberation Day, 25 April and were treated to performances of musicians and singers and a comedian with a huge (for San Marco) crowd of people at the Church. There were fireworks and booths selling everything from pasta to beachwear. The celebration coincided with the Local Saint's Day. We watched the festivities from a wonderful restaurant with a fabulous choice of seafood.

During late afternoon of the 25th, we noticed a congregation of boats of all kinds hovering near a point on the beach north of Santa Maria. A group on the beach would launch a series of fireworks for a few minutes, then the whole contingent would move to another point further south and repeat the performance until ultimately finishing at the quay in San Marco shortly after sunset. We could watch the progression from the Villa's patio.

Further out on the point near San Marco, we found a quaint hotel, The Hermitage. Things were sort of quiet because the season really starts around 1 May. The hotel and grounds harken back to an earlier time. Further south on 267 (it becomes Strada Statale del Cilento) the road is reminiscent of a rural version of the Amalfi Coast drive. We also went up into the hills to several small hill towns. Nice roads and an easy drive.

We took an easy drive (17 km from Agropoli) to the Paestum temple ruins one day and had lunch there. We were surprised by how few people were there. It makes it easier to imagine what it might have been like 2500 years ago.

We took the train from Agropoli to Naples (about an hour) and Pompeii (just under an hour). In Naples, we wandered the streets near the Stazione, which is near the waterfront center of downtown and ate lunch at the Pizzeria de Michele, made famous by an American author, which is only a few blocks from the Stazione. A note of caution: Two of us had our passports stolen from backpacks in Naples. Non-violent petty crime is common in the crowded downtown. We made a police report at the train station, then again at Santa Maria.

Annalisa put together a fabulous dinner one evening with the typical Castellabate courses. It included an eclectic variety of pizzas, especially the tuna/onion one. We met her son who had come to help. She was very helpful with info about the area and local cuisine. Franco was a lifesaver, not to mention our lockout. We had arranged everything about the rentals and pickup in advance with him by email. I can't say enough about the quality and helpfulness of Summer In Italy before and during our stay.

Catherine M.

Warfield Bracknell

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

April 2008 - Wonderful Villa. Very comfortable with magnificent views. High standard of decor and fittings. Pool was lovely but cold in early April!

Superb service. Your advice and help could not have been better. would certainly recommend you our friends

Travel tips

  • Do ask Annalisa [the caretaker] to cook you a meal. We had a superb fish dinner and also wonderful pizzas which the children enjoyed helping with.
  • Do try and visit some of the villages such as Torchiara and Acciaroli. Paestum was very impressive and Velia was also pleasant to walk around.
  • As for restaurants we especially liked the fish restaurant near the beach in Acciaroli.
  • The Cilento is waiting to be discovered, make sure you see it before everyone else!

Joan M.

Fairfax, Virginia

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2007 - Our stay at Villa Virginia was most enjoyable. The Villa itself met and exceeded our expectations.

The view from the pool was breathtaking and we marvelled nightly at the gorgeous sunsets - made all the more special with a glass of wine and the company of good friends!

Visits to the village were always memorable and gave us a true sense of life in Italia away from the normal crowds of tourists.

The caretaker, Annalisa, is wonderful and prepared two excellent meals for our group - and took great care of us during our stay.

Travel tips

  • Be prepared for the steep driveway up to the Villa and be aware that most cars you rent there are manual transmission!
  • Contact Franco at Antares for excellent transportation services (his website is provided in the planning section of the SummerInItaly site).

Grzegorz S.

North Vancouver

Canada

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2007 - We loved every minute there. Nice and clean, very well kept.

We'll recommend to all our friends in Canada and Europe.

Travel tips

  • Reality is better than pictures.

Jim K.

Galway

Ireland

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2007 - We had a wonderful time in Villa Virginia, all 14 of us. There was plenty of space for everyone.

Spotlessly clean, loved Antonio the pool cleaner.

Loved all the different eating and seating areas, wish we could return more often.

Travel tips

  • If you need taxi service book in advance, as it might be difficult to get a taxi without advance reservation.

Tobias S.

Heidelberg

Germany

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2007 - We had a marvellous holiday.

Villa Virginia is absolutely splendid. We would love to go back !!!

Thanks SUMMER IN ITALY for a great summer in Italy.

Deborah K.

Ft Lauderdale, FL

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

August 2007 - Villa Virginia was a lovely retreat.

We enjoyed the house and the grounds immensely. It was perfect for a full family (4 generations) vacation where everyone found a corner for peace and quiet and also common areas for great moments of togetherness.

We were reluctant to even move off the Villa to sight-see.

Thank you very much Summer in Italy for a very well organized and informative website. You were always very prompt in replying to emails and the newsletters added to our understanding and enjoyment of our time in Italy.

Michael K.

Bedford

United Kingdom

VERIFIED

Excellent

July 2007 - Really excellent villa - the best I have stayed in in many respects.

 

 

Travel tips

  • The lady who cooked for us was brilliant, and very reasonable indeed.

Elizabeth M.

Baltimore, MD

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2007 - We loved Villa Virginia and Santa Maria di Castellabate. We were glad to stay in Cilento as opposed to the more popular Amalfi Coast.

The home, together with its amenities, was perfect for our family. We were delighted with the air conditioning and all other top-of-the-line luxuries.

Thanks to Summer In Italy for helping to make this a wonderful experience.

Travel tips

  • Take advantage of the towns. Santa Maria is wonderful as is Castellabate.
  • Take a day trip to the grottos at Palinuro: it is a beautiful drive and not too far away.
  • Have a meal or two cooked on-site for your group.

Albert D.

Naples, FL.

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2007 - Great! A perfect place to relax.

You have everything you need.

 

Travel tips

  • Our favorite restaurants were Taverna del Pescatore, Arlecchino, Hotel Marino (Lago district), Hotel Sonia.

Sherry J.

Chicago, IL

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

June 2007 - The Villa exceeded our expectations. Although off the 'beaten path', the location was serene, beautiful and extremely comfortable.

The Villa was spacious, luxurious and clean with most of the amenities you could think of. The views from the terrace pool were beautiful and we really enjoyed our time out there.

Having the computer there to 'check in' with our families helped out. Annalisa, the caretaker, was wonderful and we really appreciated having her cook for us. Fabulous cook!

All in all, it was a totally memorable experience!

I would recommend Summer in Italy to anybody and would definitely recommend Villa Virginia. If somebody wants to rent Villa Virginia, I would also recommend Franco at Antares 91 for transportation and excursions. He was great! Although we had originally booked Villa Milena, I think it was fate that brought us to Villa Virginia. We had the best time! Great job! We loved it!

Travel tips

  • The Villa is phenomenal, you will definitely need to rent a car. Not only did we get full round trip transport from the Rome airport, but we rented 2 small cars from Antares 91 (at the recommendation of SII) and it worked out wonderful for us.
  • We also booked 2 excursions thru Franco at Antares as well. He's a wealth of knowledge on the area and really pointed us in the right direction. The shops in town are quaint and we found quite a few 'treasures'.
  • Pizza can be found everywhere and we didn't find a bad one.
  • Try to visit the ruins in Paestum - quite nice and we really enjoyed our little trip to Pompeii.
  • The best thing we did, however, was to have Annalisa [the caretaker at the villa] cook for us on 2 evenings - one night was Pizza - Unbelievable. And when we thought it couldn't get better, she cooked a traditional Italian meal on our last evening that was amazing. Definitely try it!
  • The people in Santa Maria di Castellabate are fabulous.
  • Turn on the swimming pool lights: the switches are next to the glass door in the kitchen (the one that faces the pool).
  • Our recommendation would be to stay longer than a week if you can. Worth it!

Tom S.

Sacramento, CA

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

May 2007 - Villa Virginia offers everything a traveler could want. It is a thoroughly modern house with the latest technology, yet it captures the flavor of the Italian coast.

The views are beyond description, and the location is perfect for exploring the Amalfi Coast or Capri by ferry, Naples/Pompei/Salerno by train, or Paestum and the Cilento Coast by car.

Travel tips

  • Take it easy and enjoy your stay.
  • Be sure to have Annalisa [the caretaker] prepare a meal for you because it is both economical and excellent.
  • Take a drive down the Cilento coast and use the ferries out of Agropoli or Salerno for the Amalfi Coast or Capri.

Laura M.

New York, NY

United States

VERIFIED

Excellent

September 2006 - Villa Virginia was all that we expected and a lot more. The seascape from the house and from the deck is what you would expect in a painting… the sea, a lazy, quaint, village, the woods and the vineyards - the soccer field is a nice Italian touch, though!

There is a lot of space for everyone and the house is elegant and at the same time welcoming. We felt at home and didn't want to leave. The kitchen is well stocked, and we enjoyed having an American coffee-maker besides the usual Italian one. We have stayed in other villas in Italy before, and were pleasantly surprised by the showers at Villa Virginia: we had plenty of hot water and thanks to the large cubicles and to the excellent water pressure we got the best showering experience we ever had in Italy.

A nice boon is the Internet-enabled computer in the living room: we could research the train schedule for our trips to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast on the fly, as well as keep in touch through email (tip: park your car in Agropoli and take the train to Pompeii, it will take you there in just 1 hour; it is a 45 min ride to Salerno, where you can board the ferry to Amalfi and Positano: it makes for an amazing day trip). We had one Internet-addict in our group who never travels without his laptop, and he was able to connect to the wireless network and go online, too.

The pool was lovely and clean, and we all enjoyed the large deck and the convenience of the hot outdoor showers (greatly appreciated after the evening swim!).

We found the location of the villa quite good for our purposes: away from the crowds yet close to the village. You can walk downhill to the village and the beach (roughly one mile), but the steep uphill journey requires good legs. A car is definitely needed to stay at this place, although the young and the fit will not feel stranded without one. The villa is private, yet not isolated: to the left, above, and to the right, below, there are two other large villas. We had a lot of privacy, which was very important to us, and we could barely see anyone staying at the villa to the left, while our villa overlooks the one to the right, so no problems.

We had a fantastic time at Villa Virginia, and we would definitely return and recommend it to our friends.

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