Location

Casa Villatalla is situated in Liguria in north west Italy, with a commanding view of one of the river valleys that run north-south from the mountains down to the sea.

The region of western Liguria is steeped in history, largely because it has for so long been the crossing point between western and eastern Europe (between the Alps and the sea), and it is a surprise to many that the Ligurians are one of the oldest known races in the world, dating back to several thousand years BC.

Villatalla, situated at 1100 feet above sea level, looks out onto a verdant, ravishing landscape; here you can be reminded that nature really does have good taste! We are 14 kilometres by road from the sea, and 6 kilometres from Dolceacqua, which is a beautiful medieval town that lies in the Val Nervia.

There are so many places nearby for the discerning traveller to explore, from the gorgeous, sophisticated coastal towns such as Bordighera and San Remo, with their endless beaches (and great shopping!), the famous Hanbury Gardens on the French border at La Mortola, to the fascinating medieval "perched" villages of Apricale, Perinaldo, Seborga and others (see Places to Visit).

Up the Nervia valley beyond Pigna, the terrain becomes increasingly mountainous: within an hour you can be around 5,000 feet up. Also,we are less than half an hour by car from the French border, from where it is a short distance to some of the pearls of the Cote d'Azur such as Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice and Cannes, and going a little inland, the town of Grasse (the perfume capital of France), St Paul-de-Vence (a haven for artists), and. the fabulous Parc National du Mercantour which contains the prehistoric engravings (tens of thousands of them) in the Vallée des Merveilles.

The Monaco Grand Prix towards the end of May is very accessible. We are 20 minutes’ drive from Ventimiglia Rail station, from where there are frequent trains to Monaco (journey time 20-25 minutes). We can organise tailor-made packages for race days if required.

So we are lucky enough to have the best of both worlds: easy access to the Riviera coast, but also to the nearby mountains where there are any number of designated footpaths, a real treat for those who enjoy walking (see Local Activities).

The nearest airport is Nice (about an hour's drive) where from Britain there are frequent cheap flights available from BA, BMI and Easyjet (booking well in advance is usually helpful). Genoa Airport (BA and Ryanair) is just under 2 hours' drive. Car hire is easily arranged from either airport. (see Directions).

We feel privileged to occupy a small part of this truly magnificent landscape, and we (Marina and Roger) extend a warm welcome to all our guests who wish to come and share it with us, whether for a relaxing holiday break, a romantic weekend, a honeymoon, as a base for house-hunters - or perhaps as a place to recuperate after a strenuous day's walking or exploring.