Villa San Gennariello
A dreamlike stay in Portici, close to Ercolano and Pompei

Villa San Gennariello, surrounded by magnificent Mediterranean shrubs, stands where Vesuvius slopes down to the sea at the heart of the Bay of Naples. It is a splendid eighteenth-century villa set in leafy grounds with palms, rare plants and trees over a hundred years old. This remarkable place, which was once part of the old Bourbon pheasant-shooting retreat connected to the Royal Palace in Portici, is still as beautiful and impressive today as it was when Portici was the favourite destination of eighteenth-century noblemen.

Villa San Gennariello is a corner of paradise. The Bed and Beakfast, part of the villa's lodge, consists of two sunny rooms - one of them with a small terrace and a view - which sleep three and include cooking facilities, plus a shower room.

In summer it is possible to have breakfast outside in the magnificent courtyard with its charming marble fountain, sit and relax or read on the benches in the grounds, or sun-bathe in a natural sun-trap.

Today the town of Portici is attractive in itself and also a good starting-point for those wishing to explore the area and visit sites of archaeological interest and great natural beauty. It is close to the ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii and to Sorrento and Naples, while the coast, dominated by the brooding Vesuvius, looks across to the enchanting islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida. .

Villa San Gennariello grants a dreamlike stay not to be missed if you wish to discover the Gulf of Naples and all its wonders.