Liguria, La Spezia, Portovenere, Italy

Secluded private villa located on an exclusive island in the Golfo dei Poeti (the Gulf of the Poets), on the coastline where Liguria borders Tuscany. A gem of the Mediterranean.

The house, which has been recently restored, is surrounded by a wonderful wild Mediterranean garden with olive trees, oleanders and vines. From the harbour there is a good footpath, which leads up to the house, just 200 metres away. It is possible to keep a private boat in the harbour, or there is a public 'taxi' boat which ferries between Portovenere and the island. There is a lovely restaurant overlooking the harbour.

The house is on two levels and accessed from a beautiful terraced 'al fresco' dining area, with a vine pergola, into the open plan sitting room with open fireplace, fitted kitchen and stairs leading to the lower level, with two double bedrooms and bathroom. Additional adjacent land with a small house (50 sqm) to restore is also available for sale.

The property is surrounded by olive groves and many fruit trees, with nature all around it. There is 6,000 sqm of land (about 1.5 acres), gently terraced. The climate is temperate year round.
The area offers breathtaking panoramas, peace and tranquility where it is easy to be at one with nature. There are no cars on the island and just a handful of residential houses. The island has protected status so no new building is not allowed, ensuring it will remain unspoilt. The island is criss-crossed with footpaths through wild Mediterranean flora (the 'macchia Mediterranea') to beaches, rocky coves and spectacular cliffs.

This is a rare opportunity to acquire an exclusive property as very few of these island properties have ever been available for sale.

Since 1997 the island has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Portovenere and the Cinque Terre. The island forms a protected natural habitat for a number of special plants and animals. It is accessed by boat across the narrow channel which separates it from the picturesque promontory of Portovenere. Portovenere is a picture postcard old fishing town, dominated by a castle on the hill and the Church of San Giorgio on the tip of the promontory. The tall, narrow, pastel coloured houses with traditional green shutters line the seafront and the narrow, cobbled streets, with excellent restaurants and interesting craft stalls.

The Gulf of the Poets is an enclave with a group of three islands at its tip, fishing villages with exceptional fish restaurants, as well as opportunities for sailing, canoeing, snorkelling or just relaxing on one of the beaches hidden in craggy bays around Fiascherino or Tellaro. The easiest way to get around the gulf is by boat which runs between Lerici, La Spezia and Portovenere or on to The Cinque Terre (UNESCO World Heritage site). The name Gulf of the Poets is from the literary connection as some of the world’s most famous poets including Shelley, Byron and D H Lawrence lived here at some time.

The Cinque Terre are five picturesque villages strung along the narrow coastline north of the Gulf of the Poets and La Spezia with pretty coves, beaches and are accessed on foot, boat or with the local train that shuttles between the villages. Anyone visiting the Cinque Terre should take a walk along the cliff paths which link one village to the next, stop in one of the bars or restaurants and try the anchovies marinated in olive oil and garlic, served with bread and delicate white wine made from the grapes that grow up the steep terraces above the villages.

Distances: Portovenere across the water, La Spezia 10 km, Cinque Terre 10 km, Pietrasanta 40 km, Lucca 70 km, Pisa (airport) 80 km, Florence 150 km.