Loft apartment in Fondi Sperlonga Italy: 2008

Monday, January 14, 2008

Loft Apartment in Fondi

The Square in beautiful Sperlonga
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Relaxing area in the loft section

Sunbathing on your own private little terrace

Bedroom on first floor

Staircase leading downstairs

View of Staircase leading to upper room

Loft Terrace

View of Terrace

Kitchen

Upstairs relaxing area

Loft Bedroom

Lower floor relaxing area

Loft bedroom

Terrace Views from window

Upstairs loft area

Loft bedroom

Upstairs section

Dining area , Lower level

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Beach Information

LOCAL BEACHES !

If you are without a car, the best thing to do is go to the Sigma Supermarket and wait for the bus, it will take you to Sperlonga, which is really beautiful and you can choose the beaches that the bus takes you to, There are lots of hotels on this part and it is very good if you are traveling with small children because there is a fresh water pool which is ice cold water at the end of the beach and lots of water springs that pop out of the sand and suck your feet in, most children find this very amusing and different .

However if you walk towards the jutting castle and follow the road towards the port you will find a beautiful cove with lots of free beaches to sit on, the best part of this beach is the most famous part where all the "beautiful" people go to, It is called Rocco's and it really is quite expensive, but the restaurant is good and you can just have a snack in the bar, It also has a free beach next to it if you don't want to pay Rocco's prices. I do not usually want to go to Rocco because I moan about being dumped in the 6th row in the back, but all my friends want to go because it is the place to see and to be seen !!!!

If you are without a car and want a change, take the bus to Santa Annatasia, it is a really cheap and cheerful beach, (good for wind surfing and and kite surfing ), it is a windy beach , but children really like it and has a camping site nearby and in the evening the bar in the square has evening parties (good for teenagers who like to be on their own) Make sure you check out at what time the bus leaves to get back to Fondi as it is not as frequent as Sperlonga.

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL

If you have a car, try out the casual beach of Capratica, it is a very cheap beach and you can take your beach chairs and umbrellas and just place yourself down , there is a sign for Capratica on the road for Sperlonga before you reach the main beach road . The prices to park are much cheaper than Sperlonga and the bar at the entrance has also a good selection of music and a very cheerful place to have a gin and tonic with normal prices! This is a good beach to go to, if you get up late and just want to have a swim without getting charged for beach chairs and suchlike !

The Beach that I enjoy the most is a beach called La Chimera, it is just after the little tunnel that you pass through on the coast road, just pass the Grotto di Tibero , turn towards the right just after the tunnel and turn down a hair raising hill, you will see a sign for "Il Fortino" but if you carry on down towards the end of road you will come to La Chimera , there is a lady called Raffiela , who will look after you and you can leave the car and can order your food in the bar/restaurant which is very pleasant, it has also got grass sections if you do not like sand, you are right in front of the sea and the cove is very beautiful and not so crowded .

A little tip

Avoid the beaches on Sundays , during the high season can be pure hell, the beaches packed and lots of people in the bars , parking is a nightmare, It can be the most enjoyable time to visit the cities with the train and have the place to yourself , but don't take the car otherwise you will be stuck in the weekend traffic !

GOOD LOCAL RESTAURANTS !

My favourites are N'Dino, it is expensive but excellent, if you go, ask for the little lake shrimps (divine)!

For a romantic experience go to the Pizza Judea in the old Jewish quarters of Fondi , make sure you book and ask for an outside table right in front , not round the corner as it is a bit dark Tel. 0771513087 The owners are very friendly and the area is very romantic, everybody who comes to the loft loves this restaurant,

For cheap pizza go to Due Maurizi, it is cheap and cheerful and very popular for young people.

If you want to eat in but do not want to cook, they have marvelous roasted chicken to take away and serve with roast potatoes , it is situated at the end of the castle square , heading towards the yellow church, then turn left and carry on till you smell the chickens roasting! The place is called "POLLO DORO, Via Tonioli 25, Tel 3347304024

A lovely garden restaurant, is Frantoia, it serves pizza and lots of other food , has a great location and the prices are not too expensive , it is advisable to eat meat dishes at this place, the restaurant is very beautiful have a look around it is charming and the owner is very attentive.
If you are on a budget and have young people with you I advice you to find the pizza place called Bella Napoli next to the Hotel del Fiori, for less than 5 euros a person you can enjoy square pizza and sit outside and enjoy a very good meal, The owner is charming, does not speak English but is very quick and hard working, he will immediately sort you with a lovely table and bring you hot pizza. Locals are always there ordering take away pizza , warning is that he closes at 9.p.m, but great value , not to be missed !
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.One of my favourites is what we call, the truckers Cafè , it is where all the Lorry drivers go to eat and it is on the way Sperlonga but not the station road, (you will need a car) The restaurant is called Da Mario , Via Diversio Acquachiara , Tel 0771 502790. They do lovely pork chops and wonderful chips and it is especially good for children and cheap prices !

HOW TO DRIVE FROM ROME

You can go down the Via Appia 148 or down the A1 to Naples
To take the Via Appia, go left from junction 23 (if you are driving from Ciampino) on the ring road (Raccordo)
and off at junction 26 and take the 148, otherwise called Pontina. Head for Terracina and before Terracina, get on to the SS7 Appian Way. You go through a very long tunnel a few miles from Fondi: peel off to the left. It would be wise not to follow your sat nav, as this might take you through the hills and can be a bit of a hairy journey, always remember to head for Terracina and take the beach roads

My kind of Town Sunday Telegraph 16/3/2008 Travel Section by Charles Lambert novelist

If you are visiting Fondi this summer , I thought you might be interested in reading this article that the novelist Charles Lambert who lives in Fondi and who has just written a novel called LITTLE MONSTERS , he was interviewed in the Sunday Telegraph on the 16th March and this is the interview, about Fondi that I think would be very useful to read it gives you little tips on what to do and suchlike , hope you enjoy it , p.s. Do buy the book, the reviews are wonderful and you might get a signed copy if you come !!!!

My Kind of Town Charles Lambert.

‘Wander into the square and find friends seated outside a bar… enjoy a pre-dinner aperitif as the town walks by’

WHY FONDI? I first discovered Fondi because it shares a station with Sperlonga, the prettiest resort on the Lazio coast. I loved it immediately. Midway between Rome and Naples, it’s surrounded by mountains and is close to three lakes (centre left); some of its buildings pre-date Rome; and the Sunday market sells everything from fresh local produce to second-hand clothes.

WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST WHEN YOU ARE AWAY? In the winter, the scent of wood smoke and the orange trees in fruit, like Christmas baubles. In the summer, wandering into the main square and finding friends seated outside the Bar Castello, breakfasting with a cappuccino, or enjoying a pre-dinner aperitivo as the rest of the town walks by (top left).

WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU RETURN? I go straight to Bar Illy, in Piazza della Libertà, for the best espresso north of Naples.

WHERE’S THE BEST PLACE TO STAY? If it’s for a few days, I’d stay at a b& b called Villa Anita in Corso Italia (0039 0771 502868; www. villaanita.it; doubles from £50 per night). The villa is Fondi’s best example of Art Deco, has parking space and is only a few minutes’ walk from the castle. If you’re staying longer, Owners Direct (01372 229330; www. ownersdirect.co.uk/fondi.htm) has some great places to rent in the old centre.

WHERE WOULD YOU MEET FRIENDS FOR A DRINK? In the winter, Bar Illy. In the summer, Bar Castello, in the main square, Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia. It used to be the place the old men sat outside, in a row, like gargoyles. It’s been spruced up now, but maintains its local character. It’s friendly, cheap the G&Ts are phenomenal provides free nibbles of pistachios, local olives and cubes of local cheese, and is ideally placed to capture the slightest cooling breeze.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PLACES FOR LUNCH? Vico Caetani (Via O II Caetani; 0771 511680) is a small, family-run restaurant with a good choice of pasta dishes and main courses. The fresh fish can be expensive, particularly by weight, but the primi especially the pasta with local sausage and meat dishes are excellent.

AND FOR DINNER? Taverna Giudea (Via Olmo Perino; 0771 513087) does the best pizzas in town and, located in the old Jewish quarter, is by far the prettiest place to eat. For local specialities prepared with flair, try Casa Catullo (Via Catullo 39; 0771 532945). It’s tiny, so you’ll need to book.

WHERE WOULD YOU SEND A FIRST-TIME VISITOR? To the morning food market in Via Marconi, to buy some local fruit in the shadow of the megalithic wall, followed by a visit to the 12th-century San Pietro, built on the ruins of the Roman temple to Jupiter worth it if only for the wonderful decorated pulpit and marble throne .

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM TO AVOID? A restaurant called Vicolo d’Mblò unless you like being told what to eat by the owner.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT OR TAXI? Everything you need in Fondi is within walking distance. The bus to the station costs €1, while a taxi might set you back €10. Local buses connect Fondi to Sperlonga, and other nearby resorts like Terracina and Gaeta, for two or three euros each way.

HANDBAG OR MONEYBELT? Petty crime in Fondi is practically non-existent, though I usually exercise a little caution at the enormous Sunday market.

WHAT SHOULD I TAKE HOME? Fondi is food heaven. The buffalo mozzarella and ricotta (bottom left) are exceptional and the best place to buy them is Casabianca on Corso Appio Claudio 102/104 (you may need to order). Casabianca also has the town’s tastiest bread. The local olives, from Gaeta and Itri, are small and special. Fondi salami is rustic; the one with the white string round it is mild; the red string means hot. Whether you’ll get any of this stuff home uneaten, of course, is another matter.

AND IF I’VE ONLY TIME FOR ONE SHOP? Eurobazar on Corso Italia 144. This gem has just about every household object you can imagine, from the kitschiest of ornaments to some seriously underpriced professional kitchen equipment in a space that ought to hold half what it does. You don’t have to bargain, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you do.

Fondi

Within easy reach of the beautiful Mediterranean coastline of southern Lazio, holiday rental accommodation in Fondi not only offers you the chance to experience one of the region's finest beaches but also more history and culture than you're likely to find anywhere else this far south of Rome - holiday apartments and villas in Fondi being found in the heart of this ancient town itself where the wealth of architectural heritage, including an imposing castle, evokes a sense of the mystery and legend that seems to envelop the whole of Lazio. Holiday villas and apartments in Fondi make the ideal base from where you can discover a destination that will appeal to young and old alike, with opportunities for leisure, recreation and entertainment that range from watersports on the nearest beach to planning a tour of famous sites like Pompeii and Vesuvius in the neighbouring region of Campania, and being located midway between Naples and Rome, holiday accommodation in Fondi is perfectly situated for investigating the shopping and sightseeing potential of two of the most exciting and eclectic cities in Italy. Villa and apartment rentals in Fondi have the kind of spacious luxury that would suit anything from a quietly romantic trip for two to a fun-packed family vacation, so next time you feel the need of a break from the old routine, rent holiday accommodation in Fondi at any time of the year and you can be sure of a complete change of scenery.
Posted by maika at 3:01 AM 0 comments

SPERLONGA

is a beautiful seaside town to the south of Rome,
accessible by public transport. Whitewashed houses are clustered together
on a steep headland, the streets warren-like stairways that bring you to
unexpected terraces above the sea. The old town is compact and charming,
and a pleasure to explore.
To the north of the headland is the modern part of Sperlonga, catering
mainly for tourists keen on well-developed beaches. The real treasure lies
south of the town. Beyond the harbour stretches an exquisite length of
beach, with gorgeously clean sand and water. There are trees and greenery
along the shore, and the atmosphere is luxuriantly peaceful. Most of the
beach is taken up with beach establishments, where you pay to use the
facilities and enjoy a shaded sun bed. But there are also generous
stretches of 'spiaggia libera', free beach, where you can bring your own
towels and equipment and bathe for free. And there is plenty of space to
promenade along the water's edge without paying anything: it's fine to
wander along the entire length. This is one of the loveliest and most
inviting beaches I've seen in Italy, and I can't praise it highly enough.
If you walk along the beach from the Sperlonga headland (a lovely stroll,
especially when you splash along in the shallow waves), you reach a WWF
nature reserve by the rocky headland. You can also see through the railings
into the ruins of the Roman villa, and the Grotto of Tiberius. A little
further back along the beach you will find a lane leading inland - follow
this to the main road and you'll arrive at the entrance to the
Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale). Entrance is cheap (€2
at the time of writing). Note that you won't be allowed in wearing swimming
costumes..

A beautiful place to stay !

Fondi Sperlonga is halfway between Rome and Naples , you will find yourself plunged into "old Italy" with beautiful coastlines nearby , The main castle square if full of bars and it is fun to drink with friends and watch the locals strutt about.
Sundays there is a wonderful old clothes market, where fantastic bargains can be found ! The food is fantastic and the mozzarella is to die for!. It is surrounded by soft gentle hills that tempt you to explore and to get wonderfully lost.
I would advice a car to visit the local surrounding hill towns, and the beautiful beaches but if you want to visit Rome or Naples, take the train, (one hour,15 mins each way) , it is cheap and cheerful and much more relaxing !

Loft apartment in Fondi Sperlonga Italy

Monday, January 14, 2008