As I am writing this, it is 28° C., sky is blue and life is very comfortable.
We are reclining on our terrace taking in the sea air and recovering from an excellent lunch in a local restaurant.
The Palazzo Belmonte in Santa Maria di Castalabata is a unique place. Set in five acres of gardens on the edge of the sea, it is still the private residence of the Prince di Belmonte and part of it is now open to paying guests. Last year Trevor McDonald visited for his "Secret Mediterranean" series, and when we saw it advertised by our favourite tour company we thought "Why the hell not? You're a long time dead!"
It's a stunning place. We have a suite in the oldest part. The bedroom is large enough to play a five aside football match, the sitting room is as big as most hotel rooms, we have two bathrooms and a roof terrace with a huge umbrella, two sunbeds, a table and a couple of comfy chairs. It's so big we have four separate air conditions and a fan to keep it cool.
As part of the package we are being treated to four recitals by professional opera singers in the old courtyard which has surprisingly good acoustics as well as a special atmosphere all of its own.
Service could best be described as "idiosyncratic". You get the impression that the staff try hard and have not been especially well trained. When they are busy they forget things and frankly - as you might expect from a load of old geriatrics on an opera tour- some of the guests are even worse.
The 'decrepits', as Mrs D. has labelled the worst offenders, tend to complain a lot about not a lot and are even more forgetful than the staff so we try to make allowances.
We like the place but it did hit a bit of a low spot earlier today when the lock on the ladies loo decided to go "idiosyncratic" and not let Mrs D. out.
She was not amused...
3 comments:
Looked at the prices and was wondering what's included. Anything? Breakfast maybe?
What are prices like for the restaurant?
Or is one of those "if you have to ask the price you can't afford it" establishments.
Dunno, George. Package was 7 nights in a sea view suite half board plus three trips out, two lectures, one perormance by Virginia Ironside and four performances by an Opera Company. Dinner was a group thing with a choice of main course.
One thing I would say is that the steaks and pizzas in the restaurant in the corner of the square in the village were excellent!!
Here's the link to the same trip next spring : http://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/tour/tour.asp?tourname=passion+for+puccini&sec=3&cat=0&cou=0&tour=1363
I recommend the one bed sea view suite in the old building. We had #151 which was beuatiful.
"The bedroom is large enough to play five aside football...the staff try hard and have not been especially well trained..."
Nudge nudge, wink wink, know what I mean, Squire.
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