Carerosa is a hidden gem situated in woodland overlooking the Mediterranean. The villa is beautifully designed, light and spacious with a natural charm and stunning views where you can relax and instantly feel at home. There are several terraces to choose from, with excellent dining areas both inside and out in the garden. Solar powered lighting turns the garden, full of colour during the day, into a twinkling magical glade at night and we especially enjoyed eating outside under the stars. As well as a small private pool in the garden there is also a much larger pool 2 minutes walk from the villa complete with sun loungers, a garden area and views over the surrounding countryside.
Piero, the owner, was extremely helpful and spoke excellent English. He was contactable throughout our stay and was happy to provide information on the area and recommend the best restaurants.
The area of Calabria is a popular destination for Italian holiday makers and whilst the beaches are crowded in July and August they were gloriously deserted at the time of our visit in September. The countryside is beautifully dramatic and dotted with villages perched precariously on the top of the hillsides. Each village has it's own character and is a labyrinth of tiny alleyways, chapels, churches and cats. Pompeii is about 3 hours drive and worth the trip and the little town of Diamante is gorgeous and only a 15 minute drive. A car is absolutely essential as is a phrase-book.