‘Villa de Maria really is a very special place. I for one most definitely hope to go back again.’
The best!
This is a magical place. The house is perfect: for a start, it’s absolutely beautiful; on top of that it has everything you could possibly want (and more) and yet still feels wonderfully calm. As the gates at the bottom of the drive close behind you, life suddenly starts to feel very very simple. The beds are unbelievably comfortable - everyone said how well they slept - and, if you want, you can sunbathe sitting at the kitchen table just by opening the shuttered doors and letting the light stream in. To be honest, I often found it hard to drag myself away from the view from the top floor sitting room and bedroom - particularly spectacular in the evening as the lights bounce off the water from the Cap d’Antibes across the bay. Try though - it’s worth the effort - even if you only get as far as the pool and garden. The pool is vast, there are plenty of sun-loungers to go round and there are heaps of towels and so forth.
Where to have lunch? In the shade of the palm trees, at the ancient stone table in the miniature grotto or on the sunlit terrace? If you’re only staying a week, it will almost be used up before you’ve exhausted the possibilities in the garden alone. I ended up staying much longer - and then went back for another week. (Don't forget to try the old stone pizza oven - it’s fantastic!)
Amazingly, you’re still only a 12 minute walk from the train station, the local shops and restaurants (a vast number to choose from) and the harbour. I had teenagers staying with me off and on and they could head off either down to the local beach (13 minutes on foot) or take the train into Cannes in one direction or Antibes in the other - both journeys only ten minutes or so. Away from the seafront there are innumerable beautiful small towns and villages to visit (Gourdon and Valbonne were two favourites), as well as hiking in the hills or along the river valley near Biot and canyoning in the gorges (another favourite with teenagers).
Villa de Maria really is a very special place. I for one most definitely hope to go back again.
Rachel, Aug 2019
‘We felt very much at home in the villa and were made to feel most welcome by Elaine and Jean Pierre. Jean Pierre met us and showed us around the villa, including the fridge with some ready chilled wine for weary travellers! He popped over a couple of times during our stay to tend to the pool, bringing us a treat of pain au chocolate for breakfast. The villa is situated just outside the town with a good selection of shops and restaurants. The train station is close by with regular and quick services to nearby resorts and towns. We loved our stay at the villa.’
Jill, Middlewich Aug 2019
“I loved my stay at Villa de Maria. The house is beautiful and the outdoor space is fabulous for relaxing and swimming. A wonderful place to stay in the South of France!.”
Annie, Sawday’s
