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 Villa La Corniche
 Beautiful sea views
Outdoors: Built on a steep hillside, Villa La Corniche has been well designed to ensure that the garden – and indeed the interior of the house – is on a level surface. The garden shares the same incredible view as the living area and front bedroom of the house, but a wider panorama encompasses the steep, rugged coastline of the Argentario to offset the rich shades of blue in the Tyrrhenian Sea.  The pretty terrace
The healthy lawn has a mimosa bush at its centre and is bordered by Mediterranean plants. A parasol and tiled benches afford relief from the sun while the sunlounger is ideal for those who are seeking it. Apart from the balcony of a property further up the hillside, the lawn is not overlooked and offers plenty of privacy. 
Closer to the house, a tiled terrace is shaded by canvas awnings on wooden beams. This area features a hammock and some outdoor furniture that can be moved to the lawn, as well as a barbecue. At the other end, the stone dining table combines the incredible sea view with a prime position to admire the garden and the convenience of the kitchen’s proximity. Indoors: Each of the three double bedrooms at Villa Corniche has its own unique feature. The bedroom that faces the sea not only benefits from an incredible view, but also from an en-suite bathroom with bright tiling and a shower attachment to the bath. The bedroom with the four-poster bed and sea view is arguably the smartest, featuring wrought iron furniture and heavy wooden chests to contrast with soft white cotton. The third bedroom features a beautifully painted alcove depicting a sun-drenched terrace and on the adjacent wall a shuttered window opens onto the winter garden.  The winter garden
 One of the 3 bedrooms
The Winter Garden has stone walls and wrought iron furniture, and a retractable transparent domed roof means that it can be used as an outdoor space. When the roof is shut, the sofa and indoor lamps make this a comfortable indoor area where guests can relax during the day or gaze at the stars at night. A further benefit of this room is the light it admits to the rest of the house early in the day - built on a steep hillside facing west towards the island of Giglio, Villa la Corniche would not otherwise receive sunlight until lunchtime.
The kitchen also has a window opening onto this Winter Garden and it too benefits from the light this sheds. The separate kitchen is well-equipped and British guests will appreciate the kettle and toaster, a rarity in an Italian kitchen. Large meals can be prepared here and enjoyed either outdoors or in the dining section of the living area. Next to the wooden dining table, which looks out upon the garden, a sofa faces the large fireplace and enjoys the spectacular view out to sea.  The four-poster bed
 The living room with view
Surrounding Area: Villa la Corniche is situated at Cala Piccola, where an excellent infrastructure brings modern yet unobtrusive conveniences to an area of great natural beauty. Access to the bathing area of the cove is restricted to those staying at properties within the complex and even these guests must pay for some of the facilities provided. Cala Piccola is situated on the west coast of the Argentario, and there are many other coves – including some sandy ones – that can be reached by just a short drive. A panoramic road leads all the way around the island, though in the direction of Porto Ercole this road can be treacherous for hire car deposits! In the opposite direction, towards Porto Santo Stefano, the seaside road is incredibly beautiful and a worthwhile alternative to the quicker (10 minutes) inland road, so long as the driver can be trusted to keep their eyes on the road! Both towns offer a variety of cafes, restaurants and gelaterias and the lively Porto Santo Stefano has all the shops that visitors are likely to require.  Cala Piccola
 Jump or dive off rocks
A longer drive will take guests to mainland Tuscany. In addition to rolling countryside and medieval hilltop towns, the natural, sulphurous springs at Saturnia offer a unique bathing experience. Rome is a one and a half hour journey away by car or on the train from Orbetello, and the Roman owners of Villa la Corniche can arrange accommodation in their city-centre apartment, subject to availability.  Decking, sunbeds & parasols
 The Saturnia hot springs
Sightseeing: Porto Santo Stefano, Porto Ercole, Orbetello, La Feniglia, Giglio, Giannutri, Rome, Tuscany. Italian Islands Insight: The villa is fully air conditioned and heated; add to this the infrastructure of the Cala Piccola consortium and the range of activities to pursue in Monte Argentario and its environs, and you have a good destination all year round. With three double bedrooms, the villa is well-suited to groups of friends who wish to travel together, but it could also be suitable for families with children. Those with young children should bear in mind though that while the garden is fully enclosed, the shrubs and fence facing the sea are only half a metre tall.
Cala Piccola is a very exclusive location and access to the beach and its facilities can be expensive. Since car hire is essential anyway (there is parking near the villa), guests should seek to explore the wide variety of beaches and coves that this peninsula has to offer. The Argentario promontory combines natural beauty with wonderful foods and lively nightlife, and La Corniche is the ideal place from which to appreciate all of this whilst in the comfort of a well-furnished and exquisitely decorated villa boasting spectacular views and wonderful sunsets. |
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