Villa Gabriella: The perfect family holiday
Picture a summer evening sipping a cool aperitif on one of the three panoramic terraces. Imagine eating dinner outside under the wisteria watching the sun sink behind the mountains. If you are looking for a relaxing holiday in a typical Italian villa surrounded by olive groves, lemon trees and rolling hills then this is the place for you. From the master bedroom balcony the view unfolds to the Latina coast. On a clear day you can glimpse the islands. Look the other way and Monte Artemisio towers over, green and inviting.
Flexible Accommodation: Perfect for family reunions!
The owners of Villa Gabriella have lived in and renovated the property over the past three years turning a house with two separate apartments into a unified, light-filled retreat with clean and modern living spaces, what is more it has been tried and tested by the owners and is a real home from home!
If you are holidaying with children, there is table football, basketball, a childrens play area with a swing and double glider, and a trampoline with safety net. The children can start burning energy while you decide whether it will be Rome, or the beach, or the mountains, or the lakes tomorrow...
Villa Gabriella is a substantial building spread over three floors with outbuildings. The ground floor consists of the main entrance, lounge with open fireplace, open plan kitchen and dining area, TV room, bedroom five (double), and a bathroom with shower. Dining and entertainment space is ample with the kitchen designed to be an area where meals can be prepared in a stylish environment whilst enjoying the company of people around you. With all new Franke appliances including a waist-high oven with built-in microwave, a corner gas hob, double sink , dishwasher and plenty of work-top and storage space you may never want to eat out!
The first floor consists of four double bedrooms (set up as two doubles, a twin and a double sized room with a set of bunkbeds) Extra beds and cots can be arranged in any of these rooms, the twin room can also be arranged as a double. There is a luxury bathroom with separate corner bath and full walk in shower.
The semi-interrato underneath the rear of the house houses the washer and dryer, beach and snow equipment as well as the boiler and heating controls.
Outside, through the kitchen, is the main summer dining terrace with barbeque. An iron gazebo supports the beautiful wisteria which provides shade for long lazy lunches and an intimate atmosphere for evening dining al fresco.
Spanning the rear of the villa is the large terrace (a real sun-trap) which houses the basketball nets, sun umbrellas, loungers and deck chairs. Included in the weekly price of the rental is the above ground pool which the renter can set up and fill. All pool chemicals are also provided.
Off the lounge is a smaller shaded terrace with table and chairs. All outside areas are lit and there is parking in front of the house for four to five cars.
Activities and Facilities
Take a left turn out of the house, walk uphill and soon the road turns into a dirt track. Continue and you will find yourself walking through ages old Chestnut woods with shaded and open walks. Foxes, wild boar and many different types of bird populate the woods. There are many tracks through the woods, some lead to water troughs and fountains, others to hidden picnic areas. Attempt the long walk to the top of Monte Artemisio, the views of the Appennines in the far distance are worth it.
Velletri has a museum and some historical buildings of note including the Cathedral of San Clemente. Velletri also has many wineries and some lovely boutiques as well as a good range of supermarkets and a daily fresh produce market . (The fish is outstanding). Velletri s market day is Thursday and is one of the largest in the area. Finally, Velletri has a rather nice but small outdoor pools complex with waterslides, but for those looking for something larger with more daring slides, Miami Beach in Cisterna is a twenty minute drive away.
A car is useful if you plan to do day trips to the beach, mountains or Rome. The Latina coast is thirty minutes away with EU Blue Beaches at Anzio. Hiking in the Simbruini range is about an hour away through picturesque mountain top villages. And of course Rome is only forty minutes away if you are brave enough to drive, or one hour by rail from Velletri.
The lakes of Albano and Nemi are a fifteen minute car journey away through stunning countryside. You can swim in both lakes and Albano is the larger where you can rent pedaloes, sunbeds and umbrellas.
The local region is called the Castelli Romani and traditionally is where Romans come to escape the summer heat in the city. The Pope has his summer residence in nearby Castel Gandolfo. Grottaferrata has a famous monastery and the small towns and villages in this area are typically Italian with churches, ancient ruins and cobbled stone piazzas.
Outlet shopping is available at Valmontone, only 15 minutes away. Of course Rome with its many diverse shopping streets is a short train journey away.
A few minutes walk from the villa brings you to two restaurants, the first, La Palomba, is the more traditional restaurant offering wholesome country cooking, the second, Da Dinos, is always busy and offers great pizzas as well as full meals.
There are many individual clothing boutiques in both Lariano and Velletri selling big name designer lables and lesser known unique ranges too. No high street chains here!
Agriturismos are working farms that sell direct to the public, on Via Di Laghi, fifteen minutes out of Velletri heading towards Rome is Villa Gabriella s closest. It is called Iachelli and they grow and sell an amazing variety of fresh produce (the peaches are the best!) as well as having a farm for children to visit.