Villa el Porto

The gardens are so spacious and private, with only palm trees overlooking them, and it’s easy to forget that the city center is still within walking distance. There are lots of different spots to relax or eat, and the villa itself is roomy, full of character, and decorated with interesting art and curiosities. It felt like a really special escape, while still being close to town. Flavia was friendly, helpful, and professional from booking until after we left. She showed us around when we arrived and was easy to reach on Whatsapp whenever we needed her. We had a wonderful time and hope to return. I’d absolutely recommend Villa el Porto to anyone looking for somewhere special. The kitchen worked well for us, with plenty of glasses and crockery, two big upright fridges, and a separate large freezer. We never ran out of dishes while waiting for the dishwasher. Some cupboard and drawer knobs kept coming off, though, and they could use a bit of refurbishment. The sun-loungers also seemed old and in need of repair or replacement, and there didn’t seem to be quite enough for everyone, although we used the two double-day-beds instead. The basement games room was a nice extra, though we didn’t use it much. There was even a rail of good quality dressing-up outfits for young children. We didn’t bring any children, but they would have loved those. We walked into town for dinner each time, with plenty of restaurants and bars for different ages and tastes. One night we took a taxi home after eating on the far side of the castle, which was quite a walk.