The minute that you drive through the gates of Villa Rosi, you realise that you have found something special. The gardens are beautifully designed and well kept and the views across the surrounding countryside are glorious. The whole place was teeming with butterflies and bees.
The hosts are friendly and clearly put a lot of hard work into providing excellent holiday homes.
Villa Rosi is a small complex consisting of a main house and separate apartments carefully placed around the grounds to provide a feeling of privacy.
We rented a studio apartment for 3 people (no1). The studios are quite small, but modern, clean and well enough equipped for self catering. The bed is comfortable and the sofa bed was excellent for our son (it opens out so that the apartment can sleep 4).
The balcony is a bit small for more than 2 people, but we managed and the view is absolutely stunning. You look down the valley towards the town of Agropoli and you can see all along the coast, right up to the Amalfi Coast and on a clear day, the island of Capris.
This apartment is right next to the pool. And what a pool it is. Beautifully designed, it is a fantastic pool for all ages. It has a large shallow end which you can walk into without steps and a very deep main pool area, which is perfect for diving. The waterfall adds to the exotic feel and looks great. There is plenty of space and umbrellas/sun loungers and deck chairs. We were there in August and even with other guests around, there was always plenty of room.
Villa Rosi is ideally situated for exploring the region. Agropoli is 20 minutes away, Castellabate is 25 minutes away (good beach and the town up on the hill is well worth a visit for a wander and dinner). The temples at Paestum are 25 minutes away and it’s only an hour or so the Pompeii. Travelling south, it’s only 45 minutes to the wonderful beach at Marina Di Ascea. The only problem with day tripping from Villa Rosi is dragging yourselves away from the pool and the view!
If you are staying at Villa Rosi, try the local restaurant called Barcoc. Don’t be put off by the look of it. The place is basic and looks like the snack bar for the local sports centre, but honestly the food is great and very cheap. Excellent pizzas (and the cheapest I’ve ever eaten in Italy), lovely simple pasta dishes and meat dishes from the grill. You may even arrive on one of their karaoke nights!
One final tip.
A huge thank you to Gianfranco for a wonderful holiday.