The Bonifacio Golf Estate is a magnificent 350-acre security-controlled estate located a few minutes out of Bonifacio facing the strangely beautiful Cavallo, Piana, and Lavezzi islands in the Bonifacio straights between Corsica and Sardinia: all the villas in the estate have awesome sea views and are conceived to be in perfect harmony with the stunning landscape.

The estate comprises a splendid 18-hole 6 000-meter Robert Trent Jones golf course: the fairways vary in length, some are quite difficult, and the immaculately-tended greens are quite fast; the beauty and the challenge of the course have lead to its high rating.

The villas in the estate have been architect-designed to be perfect for summer living: key features are a large open living area and an expansive deck terrace with sea views, linked to a beautiful private swimming pool.

Villa Lavezzi Mare Amore is a luxurious villa (5000SF) constructed in red cedar and nestling among the trees of about an acre of natural "maquis-type" grounds below the clubhouse near the sea: sweeping views of the sea and the beach, some fairways, the Lavezzi islands, and Sardinia; the club house is less than five minutes away; five-minute walk to the beach.

The villa is on one level and comprises: an entry hall open-plan to the main living area: very extensive living room (1 000SF) with high ceiling, dining area for 8-10 in front of the kitchen bar, large seating area in front of a handsome stove, and - along most of one side - sliding glass doors to a vast semi-covered sunbathing terrace with steps down to extensive decking with the large swimming pool; open-plan fully-equipped kitchen with separate pantry and laundry room.

On the same level: card room; master bedroom with en-suite full bathroom; four en-suite double bedrooms each with shower bathroom; two dormitory bedrooms each with four single beds and sharing a shower bathroom; single staff bedroom.

The décor is extremely attractive: wood-panelled walls; high white and wood-panelled ceilings, cedar wooden floors, designer lighting, and a host of decorative refinements..

The furnishings are very high quality contemporary furniture, good artwork, and many interesting artefacts: old botanical prints and objets d'art as well as fine collectables all combining to create a wonderful atmosphere with light, colour, and beauty everywhere.

All of the rooms are light and airy with plenty of colour and splendid sea views.

The villa is superbly equipped with very good quality dinnerware, cutlery and glasses as well as fine household linen and bathrobes; satellite TV, stereo system, barbecue, teak garden furniture and good alarm system are among the refinements of this elegant summer home.

The villas in the estate all have basic cleaning services -- usually 2-3 hours a day, six days a week; however, it is slightly difficult to organise a dedicated cook or chef -- certainly arrangements would have to be made well in advance.

Guests usually bring their own cook, cook themselves, enjoy dining in the clubhouse restaurant, have food brought in, or go out to one of the Bonifacio restauarants.

The garden around the villa is mainly low maquis-type vegetation -- olive trees, arbousiers, and myrtilles -- and the villa is perfectly integrated into the surrounding landscape: the 30ft x 20ft swimming pool is conveniently located near the deck in front of the villa. .

The estate is about ten minutes drive from the iconic citadel town of Bonifacio perched high on the white and rose-coloured cliffs: in the old town, there are two very attractive and inexpensive restaurants serving very good Corsican cuisine and wines; at the foot of the town, the small stylish port offers a choice of attractive quayside restaurants, cafés, bars, and music venues for the young -- and the young at heart.

The estate has long been a refuge for the world's decision makers, presidents, and showbiz people -- "le gratin" as the French call them - who wanted a quiet and discreet venue.

It is 2-3 hours from major European capitals: only about 25 minutes from Corsica's Figari airport - ideal for private planes and, in the season commercial flights - and 45 minutes from Porto Vecchio's car ferry port.

In fact, those "in the know" have long thought of Corsica as Europe's Caribbean -- summer starts late March and ends early October: naturally then, demand for these extraordinary houses is high - very high - and we are only able to offer a small selection to our clients each year.

Here on can truly relax and spend cherished moments with a loved one or all the family, idly discuss matters of import around the swimming pool, swim in the warm emerald sea, and sail - or even play golf.

Villa Lavezzi Mare Amore is one of the great villas in the estate -- ideal for two or three families with children -- and it is certainly a wonderful villa for a very large group wanting minimalistic luxury, very spacious surroundings, easy access to the clubhouse and the beaches, and an easy drive to the nightlife of Bonifacio.