Rustico

Set amongst the exclusive villas that dot the steep hills above the Italian Riviera resort of Santa Margherita you find Rustico a Ligurian farmhouse set in an olive grove. Relax on the grassy terrace and enjoy views across the olive trees to the port of Santa Margherita and towards Portofino. Barbeque in the outdoor kitchen or create a culinary masterpiece on the historic (fully restored) cooking range in the country-kitchen. Cool evenings find you relaxing by the log fireplace in the sitting room. Upstairs the 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms provide ideal accommodation for 4 adults and up to 4 children. It’s a perfect “rustic” spot from which to venture forth to explore this chic area. Walk beside the house down Salita San Agostino, a narrow pedestrian street, which leads you down to the bustling harbor. From here take a ferry (or bus) to the nearby elegant and very picturesque resort of Portofino. The ferry continues round the headland to the 11th century San Fruttuoso Abbey whose main attraction is not the abbey but a submerged statue of Christ that lies offshore. Explore the towns and coast of the Cinque Terre by taking a train from Santa Margharita or Rapallo (more parking) to Sestre Levante. Walk, ferry and train your way along the Cinque Terre then return to your hideaway in the hills in the evening. While staying at Rustico we very much enjoyed eating dinner on the terrace of Trattoria Amici, a 2 km drive from Rustico. Reservations are made through Fattoria Casa Sola, the Gambano’s winery and apartments in Tuscany.