Villa Miraglli is a gem

Guest: Victoria (Seattle, Washington)
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 12/12/11

Have you ever had to choose between two equally incredible things? Well, we are not sure which was more incredible-Bruno or his Villa that we stayed in. When we first walked into the villa grounds-we were amazed at how fantastic the place was. While the photos do the villa justice, they still do not quite capture the majesty of the setting and the scenic feast that the eyes never tire of. We wandered the grounds and were not sure we were ever going to leave. Then we met Bruno. What an incredible owner. Bruno was amazingly helpful with whatever we needed. We have stayed at several villas in Italy, and never have any of the owners made us feel as welcome and pampered as Bruno did. Need recommendations for restaurants? Rental cars? A boat trip to Capri? Bruno was able to take care of it all for us. The best part was the private boat tour he took us on around Capri. He was very knowledgeable about the island, and gave us nice very commentary all the way around the island. When the gentleman on the boat were ready for a little adrenaline rush, Bruno quickly provided it with some acceleration of his boat over the waves around Capri. We all agreed that Bruno is an all around great guy and gracious host who respects your privacy but capably and willingly assists with any needs that arise. The villa itself is well laid out, with a pool that you frankly don’t want to get out of. It is hard to imagine swimming in an infinity pool with a better view in all of Italy. Best of all were the sunrises and sunsets. Over morning coffee on the patio, the sun rises behind a burst of clouds over the Amalfi coast, its light reflecting off the ocean far below. Sunsets are magical, as the sky turns all different shades of orange, pink and purple. Bring your camera, as you will be snapping dozens of amazing photos over the pool to capture the evening light show mother nature puts on for you. The villa is very private, and well fenced in so there are no neighbors who can see into the grounds (not that there are really neighbors to speak of-only one house across the street and none on the ocean side of the road). The villa is also just a ten minute walk down the road from the local village where you can find plenty of groceries, baked goods at a bakery, and the local espresso shop. For those who love good food, a ten minute drive to St. Agata on the peninsula has several great restaurants (including Don Alfonso, voted one of the top 10 restaurants in Europe) and excellent shops wit

Owner response:Receive a review like this it means that I really hit in the center all my goals as owner and host! I can't ask for more! This is a great incentive to do more and more for the guests and for the villa ( if it is possible:). Scott, Victoria and friends have been a really wonderful guests, for me it has like receive at home old friends. We really enjoy the boat-trip to Capriand we had lot of fun! Thank you so much!I really hope to see you again!Ciao! Bruno

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

Villa Miragalli

Guest: Jane & Marc (Vancouver, Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/14/11

We recently had the opportunity to stay at the Villa Miragalli with a group of friends and must say that it is probably the most wonderful place we have ever stayed at. The location is perfect as there is a level property with pool deck, lawn, gazebo and an outdoor kitchen and outstanding views in both directions. The pictures on the website are nice, but the real thing is even better! We had intended to do a lot more exploring of the Amalfi Coast, but had a hard time tearing ourselves away from the villa. The house is extremely well-equipped, and it is obvious that Bruno, the owner has given a lot of thought to the appointments. Bruno was a wonderful host, who was extremely helpful with any and all of our questions. My only regret is that we didn't take him up on his offer to spend a day out on his boat. Next time for sure! The house was immaculate, and included in the fee was a mid-week visit from the cleaning staff. We will definitely return to the Villa Miragalli in the future.

Owner response:You ve totally reason the villa is better than in photos! Unfortunly we miss the boat trip because the sea conditions, next time! Thank you!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, people with disabilities, families with young children.

Villa near Sorrento

Guest: Joe (Burlington Ontario Canada)
Date of Stay: 09/09/11 Review Submitted: 10/14/11

We recently returned from 2 wonderful weeks in Italy. The highlight without question was our stay at Villa Miragali. The home sits atop a 1000 foot cliff looking directly out to sea. The outdoor area is large with numerous sitting areas including around the infinity pool on the wood deck, under the cabana, the hammock area, around the hot tub on the lower deck or around the outdoor table on the stone patio. Inside the villa is spectacular. Four bedrooms, 3 with ensuites, large kitchen with eating area, dining room and living room with all the amenities including stereo and TV The home is very well equipped for cooking and eating in or simply lounging and enjoying meals a short walk away in town. The owner is a special person who knows the area well. His thoughtfulness only added to a wonderful experience.

Owner response:Thank you so much for your nice comments, as owner I haven't the right to rate the guests, if i could i'd put a 5 stars!;) Excellent people, it has been a pleasure for me to host at the villa. All the very best!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

The 'Perfect' stay...

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

We knew we had found something special when we found this villa, the perfect host for my dads 70th birthday, surprise holiday! Pompeii was the original plan for visiting this amazing area so the villa was an added bonus. Having seen the photos of the villa, we decided to do a surprise Roman Toga Party to make the most of the villa for Dad's birthday. With the most breathtaking views, the backdrop was set, and the Villa was the perfect place to relax together in luxury, with great surroundings, and to top it off the local restaurant 'Stelluccia' supplied us with a fabulous Roman Banquet of fresh Italian food, Louisa even wearing her own Toga, and Mama making Dad fresh birthday cake! If we needed any advice, Bruno was always at the end of the phone or on email and went out of his way to ensure that our stay was the best it could be, he gave us info on times of local buses, ferry's to Capri, places to eat, to trips to go on and generally a great personality to greet us as we arrived at the villa. The rooms were all huge, with high ceilings and great furnishings and the Villa really is home from home, with that extra luxury of having a jacuzzi to soothe aching muscles after a day out at Pompeii or wherever you choose to visit, there are many places to choose from. One day we drove down the coast to Amalfi, parked up in the harbour and took a local RIB speed boat back to Positano where we stopped for lunch on the beachfront and took the boat back to Amalfi, taking in all the outstanding views of the villas and restaurants built into the cliffs. I am only sad that I am now writing this review as it seems like yesterday I was reading the other reviews in excitement about visiting Villa Miragalli. We really didn't want to leave, the villa is truly the 'Perfect' place to stay with the 'Perfect' host. The Copus Family & friends (The 'Roman' Gang) - Surrey, UK xx P.S if you can get up early for Sunrise it really is worth it!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, pet owners, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

Beautiful, Secluded Getaway on the Sorrentino Coast

Guest: Charles (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/27/11 Review Submitted: 09/14/11

This is a lovely property overlooking the Mediterranean. The setting is as beautiful as the photos show. It is a comfortable and relaxing spot. The place is very clean and well maintained, and the owner is very helpful and accessible. You can pull right into the parking spot inside the gate and walk down 6 or 7 stairs to get into the place, not like some of the places, where you have to be part mountain goat. And the property is very comfortable and away from the crowds. This is perfect for a family or two or three couples wanting to get away together. But the one word of advice: it is a bit remote; anything that you want to do, other than grabbing something quick in Calli di Fontenelle is a ways -- a drive. Not that far, but with the winding roads, it takes time even for a confident driver. That is why you want to make your own retreat here. Otherwise, you wind up doing what I did, spending too much time driving instead of enjoying the place as it is. I did not fully appreciate this in advance; that is why I rated my overall experience at the property as "good" instead of "excellent." Nothing to do with the physical condition of the property itself, which is excellent, or the responsiveness of the Owner, which is also excellent.

Owner response:From 01/2005 this is the first Review 4 stars instead of 5 stars!Yes, the villa is away from the crowded area of Sorrento center (4 miles away-10 min drive) or Positano center ( 5 miles away-10 min drive), the car is needed to stay at the villa, if you're searching nightlife out of your house door, this is not the place where to be. If you'll not drive your car from the airport, we'll be happy to book a transfer from/to Airport and suggest you a rent a car in Sorrento or a "on call" driver service. Thanks

Recommended for:

One of the best holidays that we have had

Guest: MAFE (Calgary, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/13/11 Review Submitted: 08/30/11

Of all the villas that we have stayed at, this is one that we WILL return to. What a GREAT view. The photo's where great but to see them in real life is more than what we expected. The property was very well maintained and the house, and the view form the bedrooms made it all worth while. Would like to thank the owner, first for finding us when we got lost and for being such a great host. The surrounding area had all the amenities and attractions and keep us busy. As for would I recommend it to friends - YES. See you soon.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, people with disabilities, families with young children.

GREAT TIME

Guest: MAFE (Calgary, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/29/11

We have stayed in 4 other villas around the world and this one is the best so far. The house is nice, clean and in a great location. The view is out of this world and the pool is amazing. You can drive to different places from the villa, you could also take the train. Bruno is very nice and helpful. We will be back sometime in the future. ENJOY !!!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Most beautiful setting I have ever encountered created perfect family vacation!

Guest: Amy (NYC)
Date of Stay: 06/19/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

My parents were generous to take all their kids and significant others on a vacation for THEIR 60th birthdays! We spent weeks reviewing and surfing the internet through many over-priced or impersonal villa rental options throughout Italy before landing on Villa Miragalli. We read the reviews and as beautiful as the Villa was online, what spoke to us was how highly people spoke about Bruno the owner. We are the type of people who care more about relationships and the personality of the owner than the write-up online. We rolled the dice and came up big!! We flew from Minneapolis,NYC and Detroit to Rome drove two hours to the Villa and open the gates to the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!! The property was spectacular in every way. The grounds were perfectly manicured, overlooking L'Galli islands which are two little tiny islands in the sea that are so picturesque. Many people dock their boats around them on weekends to enjoy the swimming and sunshine. We sat on the deck and watched from luxury. Upon arrival, Bruno had the fridge stocked by request with wine, beer and Italian delicacies. We opened vino, made the most incredible meat and cheese plate and began the best vacation of our lives. We had grand plans of visiting lots of sites and towns nearby but many days we opted not to leave the heaven that was the Villa. When we did go out to another town, we were well situated near Positano, Praiano, Sorrento and more. One day we took the bus to Sorrento and then hopped the train to Pompeii. Super easy and affordable. Other days Bruno was wonderful to have his friends taxi service get us from place to place in an 8-person van. Other days we did things like boat rides or wine tours and Bruno was so kind to make phone calls and help us navigate the language barrier. One day he even took us out to Capri on his own beautiful boat!! Like I said it was tough to leave the Villa - we stayed in and cooked in the great kitchen and outdoor grill 5 nights! Why leave the view, the grounds and the people you love! We slept well in our very updated, clean rooms. There was washer/dryer, cable TV - we even stayed up til 3am to watch the NBA Finals!!! When we did go out, we loved Stellalucia which is walking distance up the street, and the people who run the town market did everything to understand our English frquests and offered us free espresso shots. The town, the people, the Villa and Bruno made it the best vacation our family has ever taken!!

Owner response:There are people that you feel like friends from the first moment, this is what i felt when I met this wonderful family! I can say that probably they have been the best guests that I received on the last two years. To the future guests: Upon request, i'll be happy to organize Boat trip on my boat, of wines tour, personal chef, personal shopper, or any kind of extra service, simply ask! All th best! Thank you Ciao! Bruno

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Under the Sorrento Sun

Guest: mony (Montrela, Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/28/11 Review Submitted: 06/26/11

We were 7 women who stayed at the magical "Villa Miragali" from May 28- June 3, 2011. It was an amazing experience under the Sorrento Sun". We absolutely loved and enjoye every minute of our stay, from the moment we met Bruno to the beauty of the villa. The house is comfortable, cosy, convenient, and spacous. It easily had room for each of us to find our own little corner in the "sun." The views rendered us speechless- we kept saying " OMG " or 'ODM" in Italian. We pinched ourselves each day. The location was perfect. We had trouble leaving the villa to visit other places. We swam, read, chilled, drank and ate while looking over the vistas. it was also a perfect location for touring the coastline all the way to Ravello, Capri, and beautiful Sorrento. Great restaurants, from simple to perfect. Our favourite was home cooking wiht fresh produce from the wharf and market. Bruno, our host, was delightful and very helpful, taking care to accomodate us all. We might be back home but our hearts and mind are still at Villa Maragali I have recommended the villa to many friends and definitely intend to come back with my family and friends. One of the best holidays ever. Monette

Owner response:Monette and friends, have been a amazing hosts, they really enjoyed the villa, the infinity pool and the location, we had a wonderful boat day trip to the Island of Capri and "Li Galli" isles on my boat, really fun! Ciao Bruno

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

A relaxing retreat!

Guest: Sue (Epsom, Surrey)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 09/23/10

After 4 months of chemotherapy what my family and I really really needed was a rest. A "proper" holiday in spacious, comfortable, clean accomodation in a beautiful location. We got all this and more at Villa Miragalli.It was like a home from home only better! Even before we arrived Bruno was offering his help. The directions were spot on ( the photos helped!) so just for a change we didn't get lost! The view just takes your breath away- every day we were there I took photos of it because you don't tire of it! We had visited the area a few years previously so had already been to Capri, Pompei, Ravello, Sorrento town - all of which are well worth a visit. We ended up spending most of our time at the villa because it had almost everything we needed- stunning view, pool, table tennis, hot tub, sun beds, comfotable places to curl up with a book, shady terrace for lunch, a.c. indoors. After an initial Big Shop in Sorrento we could get topped up with lovely fresh bread, cheese, meat, veg etc at the small supermarket in the village. The people there were so friendly and helpful! Had ridiculously cheap pizza and a wonderful latte in the restaurant and coffee shop opposite. We did manage to tear ourselves away and go to the beach a few times because it was nice to have a proper swim! - Marina del Cantone was nice; pebble beach, car parking 10 euros a day, sun beds/parasols to hire. Also Marina di Puolo (mix of private and free beach- sandy) and Cala di Puolo (smarter but only private - pebbles) , parking 5 euros- on the road out of Sorrento on the way to Massa Lubrense.When we said we were going to Positano for dinner Bruno recommended the Hotel Pupetto on Fornillo beach, which was great and quite reasonably priced for Positano! We parked the car at the bottom of the town (very steep car parking prices bet 4 and 6 euros an hour!) and walked on down through the town to the beach- which looked lovely (also sandy) and then on round the headland; a short but beautiful walk especially as the sun is going down.We also has a nice and very reasonably priced meal at Los Stuzzichino ( I think that is how you spell it!) at S'Agata. Would I reccommend this property to anyone looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the world? Most definitely!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, people with disabilities.