Villa Serenissima is a very tastefully furnished restored Belle Epoque villa set in beautifully private grounds occupying a raised and secure position at the eastern point of Cap d'Ail: awesome panoramic views of the sea from Cap Ferrat to Cap Fleuri

The property is located on a very quiet cul-de-sac: entry to the grounds is by a short flight of steps from a one-car garage with an electrically-controlled door at street level or by a secure side door on a narrow side street; a very pretty front terrace is linked to the rear terrace by a long wide balustrade terrace (400SF) with seating area and a large dining table for ten; steps from the rear terrace lead down to the swimming pool area, a guest suite, and the totally independent staff quarters.

The villa comprises a living room (550SF) with archway to a cosy sitting room and a second archway to a large formal dining room with round marble table seating eight comfortably; twin French windows open onto the partially-covered marble front terrace (600SF) with extensive seating areas and views through the pines to the sea.

To the rear of the dining room, a small hall has access to the kitchen, marble staircase to the first floor, and access to a small but very charming child's single bedroom with sea view.

The large fully-equipped modern kitchen has a host of eclectic features including stained glass windows and posters: rear kitchen; glass-panelled door to the dining terrace with lovely views of the garden, the pool, the sea, and the coastline.

Guests can breakfast on the terrace and take lunch and dinner either on that terrace or poolside.

The first floor comprises: gorgeous house bathroom with marble vanity, seating, and marble walk-in shower; corridor; double "blue" bedroom with sea views, parquet floor, and arched entry to a very pretty bathroom with retro-style vanity, WC, and walk-in shower; double "white-and-blue" bedroom with parquet floor, French windows to a long wide terrace with 180-degree sea views over the tops of the umbrella pines, and en-suite full bathroom; double "rose" bedroom with French windows to the same terrace; independent bathroom with retro-style vanity, some eclectic features, and shower in the bath.

At the swimming pool level: independent large double "Morocco" bedroom with en-suite shower bathroom.

Whilst the three villa bedrooms are not large, they are all utterly charming and feature elegantly upholstered headboards as well as the "royal" capitonne decorative features.

The décor is the epitome of good taste with marble, parquet, and tile floors complemented by cream, white, and pastel-coloured walls as well as subtle lighting; the furniture is a wonderfully eclectic blend of modern and antique pieces; some remarkable trompe l'oeil give a very turn-of-the-century Italianate feeling.

This is not a "luxury home" with state-of-the-art features: rather, it is an extremely comfortable and wonderfully furnished historic villa which just exudes charm, whimsy and, above all, impeccable taste: light and colour enchant the senses.

The villa is very well equipped with very good quality dinnerware, cutlery and glasses as well as fine household linen and bathrobes; broadband connectivity; the thick stone walls provide natural cooling in summer which can be enhanced by air coolers; satellite TV, CD player, stereo system, barbecue, and good alarm system are among the many refinements of the villa.

The villa has resident staff of an attractive young Australian couple who have their own independent quarters: they look after all the housekeeping duties, make food purchases, and prepare breakfasts and lunches; their salaries are included in the rent but guests are expected to provide their food; their services are invaluable and, for an extra gratuity, they will even drive clients locally and into Monaco.

The garden comprises flower beds, rock gardens, mature pine trees, and a wide variety of exotic Mediterranean plants including some rather impressive cactus: a pathway from the rear terrace leads to a small poolhouse with covered seating area for four.

The beautiful, irregular-shaped, 47-foot green-mosaic swimming pool is child-safe and surrounded on two sides by paved and gravel sunbathing areas: on the third side, there is a high rock face with a small waterfall providing a rather exotic background; at one end, there is a sunbathing area with views down the coast to Monaco.

The postion of the villa offers an ever-changing panorama: by day, the azure blue of the sea with white yachts silently gliding by; as night falls, the twinkling lights of the coast down to Monaco---strung out like a diamond necklace---create a fairytale-like atmosphere.

Two beaches with good casual restaurants are within easy walking distance: Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu, and Villefranche with a plethora of restaurants---both casual and formal---are within easy reach; Monaco with its boutiques and Sporting Club for fabulous dinner concerts is less than 25 minutes; Nice with its international airport, daily flower market, and weekly antique market in the Cours Salaya is about half an hour by car; San Remo is an hour away; Tuscany and Venice can be reached in 4-8 hours.

Villa Serenissima is ideal for a family or a small group seeking total peace and absolute privacy in elegant and comfortable surroundings within easy reach of the many charms of this most privileged stretch of coast