Overview

Tucked into a hillside beneath dramatic cliffs, La Trappola is a pretty pink cottage with stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea and Monte Argentario's coastline. Crisp white walls, whitewashed beams and terracotta floors set the tone for the single storey building, furnished with comfortable contemporary furniture and artisanal work. The focus here, however, is on the beautiful garden, an expanse of irrigated lawns studded with palms and ancient olive trees that reaches to the edge of a steep cliff with a small beach and rocky cove below. Across the garden, a swimming pool has been built into the side of the cliff and edged with a wooden sundeck. Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole, both within a short drive of the property, offer wonderful waterside restaurants where you can watch the sun set while feasting on freshly caught fish and superb Tuscan wines.

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Description

Rental options

 La Trappola is available at a lower rate for smaller parties. For details see La Trappola (x 2 people).

Location

 On the slopes of a sparsely inhabited promontory at the western extreme of Monte Argentario. The nearest shops and restaurants are at Porto Santo Stefano, a very winding 4km/2.5 miles. Orbetello - and the presqu'ile's supermarket - are 15 minutes' drive. Porto Ercole, about 20 minutes. Capalbio, on the mainland, is 40 minutes away, as are the spectacular hiking trails of the Monti dell'Uccellina nature reserve. Further inland, 45 minutes, is the lovely Maremma hill town of Magliano in Toscana.

Accommodations

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On one level

 Living/dining room with a fireplace leading out to a small, vine-shaded terrace with a barbeque. Well-equipped open kitchen. Two double bedrooms. Twin bedroom. Three bathrooms, all with showers.

Grounds

 A very lovely informal garden bordered by a manicured olive grove, with rocky cliffs above and a sheer drop-off to the water below. The swimming pool, 9 x 4m /30 x 13 feet, is necessarily above-ground although this is concealed by a wooden platform for sunbathing in full view of the sea. A flight of 10 steps leads from the parking area down to the house, and a very steep path without rails leads from the garden down to the water.

Assistance

 Assistance is provided locally by the property's very affable onsite caretaker, who speaks a little English. Services included in the rental fee, and optional services available, are noted under Price and Availability.

Facilities

 Dishwasher. Portable barbeque. Washing machine. Heated towel racks. Satellite TV [No Sky channels] with DVD. CD player. Central heating. Mosquito screens on all windows. Working fireplace. Wireless ADSL internet connection [computer not provided].

Facilities notes

 No telephone.

Access

 Airports: Rome and Pisa, 2 hours. Railway station at Orbetello Scalo, 40 minutes. Monte Argentario is reached via Tuscany’s coastal road, which is excellent although not a motorway. Two long causeways stretch from the mainland to the presqu’ile, where the roads are notoriously twisting and often steep. Parking for five cars

Activities

 Tennis at Orbetello. Riding stables at Giannella, about half an hour.

Small Appliances

 1 hairdryer

Pool details

 The swimming pool, 9 x 4m /30 x 13 feet, has a constant depth of 1.3m/4.2 feet and a ladder for entry/exit.

Suitability

 The steep drop-off at the edge of the garden poses a decided risk for small children.