Villa Sophia

A gelateria right next door came in handy for late-night cravings. Across the street, the hotel restaurant can make you dinner if you ask before 12:00, since they get fresh ingredients each day. There are also two restaurants with great views across the street and farther up the hill. The man who welcomed us was really nice. The location works well. It takes about 15 minutes to walk down to the center, shops and ferries. The bike path feels safer and more relaxing than sharing the winding road with cars, and it also leads to the wonderful Orrido del Sanagra, which is a must-see. There are larger stores about 6K up the mountain. We wanted wine every day, so we used buses instead of scooters or rental cars. They can take a while, but if you've waited 15 or 17 minutes, that doesn't mean you missed the bus. Sometimes, though, one may not show up at all. The house has a long list of maintenance issues. There seemed to be something broken in every room: loose faucets, broken handles, doors nearly wrecked from someone forcing locks, creaky floors, squeaky doors, weak water pressure when someone else was using it, an occasional sewage smell, and a broken flower planter. From other reviews, it sounds like it may not have had a handyman in 10 years. The power is on one phase, so using two ovens and the TV can trip the breaker beside the gate. The pool is about 15 degrees centigrade, and the ladder is barely attached. I don't expect an outdoor pool to be heated, but it's useful to know.