We had a lovely holiday here in the hills above Formia. The house was full of character but with all the modern amenities a family could want, both main bedrooms were en-suite and there was an additional bathroom for the sleeping loft. The house has wi-fi which was a huge bonus. Clean, well stocked for those who want to self cater every day (proper cooker, hob, coffee machine, microwave, BBQ and enough crockery and cultlery to cater for a dozen). It is deceptively spacious, 4 adults and 3 children didn't feel like a crowd and there are lots of lovely outside spaces (3 terraces with dining tables and chairs) which allowed us to enjoy the weather any time of day. The pool is a real highlight, part formed out of the natural rock in the garden and enjoying a lovely view over the hills and village of Maranola. Kids need to be supervised though as it is deep in places. The owners live in an adjacent house but that didnt impact our privacy, the holiday villa is fairly self contained and it is good to know the owner is on hand if ever there was a problem. They were so friendly an welcoming and have lived and worked in the region for years so are full of tips and advice on where to go and where to eat. We were able to sample home grown tomatoes and cucumber, and home made marmalade which were all amazing. Security isnt an issue, the site is fenced with remote control gates and isnt overlooked. Maranola (where the villa is) is a lovely little medieval village with stunning views over the gulf of gaeta and the route up the the christ the redeemer statue on the mountainside above (not for the faint hearted, single car track and then walking). A great base for beaches (the stretch between Gaeta and Sperlonga is best) and an easy drive to Gaeta (go to the broken mountain), Formia (Roman Cisterns) Minturna (roman ruins), Monte Cassino, (the abbey) Pompei, the Pastena Caves, Naples and beyond, all of which we took in on our trip. A car is a must have but with it there is plenty enough to fill two weeks. Highly recommend this villa. In this region of Italy we did find it quite hard to get information about tourist sites (opening times, locations) because it just doesnt seem to be visited by many international touristis which is a shame. Make sure you prepare your days out and know exactly where you are going because the road signs wont be much help!
All in all a great trip, lovely villa, great owners which has left us with many wonderful memories.