Casa Delfino, San Felice Circeo

Immersed in nature, you will find it hard to leave this oasis.

The house is like a ship on the ocean, with port hole windows, sea blue tiled floors and fresh white walls, each room with its own unique but uncomplicated style, in keeping with the theme of the sea.

The sitting room is dominated by a pretty stone framed fireplace, surrounded by relaxing sofas, plenty of books and models or paintings of ships, fish and shells.

Almost every comfortable bedroom has its own tiled bathroom, some with original painted starfish or fish.

Your eye is immediately drawn through wooden framed terrace doors, across the spacious terraces, rosemary bushes, myrtle and broom, out to the inviting sea and to Ponza and the Pontine islands on the horizon, visible on a clear day.

Enjoy a seafood platter, barbeque or just soak up the sun on the south facing terraces.

Cool off with a walk down the tree lined pathway to the rocky shoreline and bathe in the natural swimming pool, which fills with sea water, then dry off in the sun on one of the many flat areas on the rocks.

Inaccessible by boat, the beach is exclusively shared between a cluster of private houses discreetly nestled in the trees.

Only a walk away from your private paradise is the Punta Rossa Hotel where you can spoil yourself in the spa, pool and famous seafood restaurant.

Venture further afield to the nearby long, sandy beach at Sabaudia and the historic centre of San Felice with its restaurants and bars.

Casa Delfino is a great discovery in a little known corner of Italy yet only an hours drive from Rome and two hours from Naples.

See the article written by Anthony McGowan in 'The Guardian' on April 5 2008.