Villa Cinque Terre

The hermitage of Cinque Terre is situated in an isolated position on a hill at about 3 km. from the town of Monterosso. This complex was originally dedicated to St. Lorenzo del Terriccio, and was the home for a community of Benedictine monks, who depended on the monastery of St. Gerolamo della Cervara in Portofino, which was first mentioned back in 1244. The complex is formed of two buildings: the church to the north and the monastery to the south. It is a simple church, with a single rectangular nave which terminates in a semi-circular apse, and is built using square sandstone blocks laid in regular overlapping rows. The first reconstruction of the church is recorded as being in 1427, when the men in the community increased the height of the walls. Other work was recorded in 1800, when the facade was rebuilt three meters further back to leave space for the square in front. It seems that the apse stands on older structures, formed of smaller roughly squared blocks, which could lead us to believe that this 13th century church is in fact the reconstruction of a much older building. Adjoining the church is the monastery, a simple construction that envelops on two sides a small cloister joined to the southern side of the church, with semi-circular arches supported by brick columns. 

Originally a cryptoporticus opened to the south, with lowered arches that exploited the difference in level between the closter to the north and this side. The arches were subsequently walled up and turned into windows in a later unknown period. This area was used as a wine cellar from the 15th century; it has fantail vault ceiling supported by quadrangular pillars. On the top floor the original cells have been transformed into proper rooms with fantail vaulted ceilings. 
In 1327 the monastery was in a state of abandon and was near to ruins, therefore the Monterosso community entrusted it to Father Bartholomew from Vicenza, who created a community of hermits and became their rector. In 1478, Pope Sixtus IV, ratified the joining of the hermitage to the Benedictine congregation of St. Justine in Padua in the Cervara monastery, which it remained tied to until it finally became extinct during the 18th century. 

Villa Cinque Terre sleeps up to 12+2 people and is divided into two separate wings that are united by an internal covered courtyard. Upon entering the main wing of the house there is a small living room with a fireplace that leads into the large and fully equipped country style kitchen. To the right there is a bedroom with a queen size bed and a bathroom. Downstairs there is a very large living room where everybody may comfortably get together in front of the large fireplace. Also, on this floor are a dining room and two small bedrooms with bathroom. Passing through the covered courtyard is the entrance to the other bedroom area. Here there is one little study and one double bedroom with bathroom that has a shower. Up the small staircase to the left is a bedroom that has a queen size bed and to the right there is a small living room area that leads to the sixth bedroom and another bathroom that has a shower. In this small living room area there is also a sofa that can be turned into a bed for an extra two people in emergency situations or for two children, and a television. Just off the courtyard there is a fourth bathroom with a shower that can be used especially when coming home from the beach.

The Villa is equipped with swimming pool, washing machine, dishwasher, oven, microwaves, refrigerator, TV, telephone, iron, linen for bedrooms and bathrooms, car park in the town. 

The nearest airports are the "Cristoforo Colombo" international airport in Genoa and the "Galileo Galilei" international airport in Pisa.

FEATURES

• 6 Bedrooms (4 double, 2 twin)

• 1 Sofa bed

• 5 Bathrooms

• Garden with outdoor furniture

• Swimming pool with sun-beds

• Panoramic terrace

• Fireplaces

• Equipped kitchen with dishwasher, oven, microwaves, refrigerator

• Sat TV and telephone

• Laundry room with iron and washing machine

• Bed and bath linen

• Included in the price: utilities, garden and pool maintenance, maid service (3 hours twice a week), weekly change of linen

Amenities

ADSL Wi-Fi Internet
Country Views
Dishwasher
Heating
Ocean Views
Open fireplace
Satellite TV
Swimming Pool
Washing machine