Via Corsica, 9 55042 55042 Forte dei Marmi − Italy
JP Moser Stayed Here!
WELCOME TO VILLA ROMA IMPERIALE
YOUR BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN FORTE DEI MARMI, IN THE HEART OF VERSILIA
We do not like to refer to Villa Roma Imperiale as a Hotel, we have always felt like it is more of a home. Recently, as defined by our guests, we like to refer to it as... a pampered getaway! Villa Roma Imperiale is a small 4 star hotel, with only 31 rooms located in the most exclusive area of Forte dei Marmi, Roma Imperiale. The promenade, the beaches and the town centre are just a pleasant 10-minute walk away, or a 3 minute bicycle ride (which can be hired the same hotel). Elegance is perceived through art, fragrances, flavours and aromas, as well as in the staff and guests that blend harmonically creating an atmosphere that is perfect (perfectly simple') and never over the top.
We are happy to welcome you from April to September.
Villa Roma Imperiale is a slice of heaven, where our guests can relax while enjoying the soothing atmosphere. The frenetic pace of everyday life seems to slow down, and priorities appear to change, at least for a few days. The respect of our guests' privacy, confidentiality and peacefulness is extremely important to us. Our house (villa?) has seen our guests return every year, children have become parents, and parents have become grandparents … We love families, and welcome them with great joy. The only thing we ask, in respect of all other guests, is that you supervise your children and make sure they comply with the peaceful atmosphere of our hotel. We treasure a healthy lifestyle and make sure all our food respects this principle. For the same reason, we do not love smoking or excessive use of mobile phones.
The design of our home, reflects the magical atmosphere that characterizes it. The old themes of sea and travel are re-elaborated in a fresh, modern and cosy manner. The Villa is in fact dominated by colours like beige and cream and beautified with furniture that recalls the colonial past and long sea voyages. Hence the use of materials like rope, rattan, shells and sand and the transformation of old travel trunks into comfortable tables. The slow spinning of the blades of a ceiling fan complete the colonial picture.
As in any home you can eat anything at any time. We do not have a real restaurant, but our kitchen is always open and it's fresh ingredients are at your disposal for imaginative salads, snacks of all kinds, healthy blended fruit and vegetables smoothies, and so on. We are also happy to recommend, and book for you, many typical Versilian restaurants around Forte dei Marmi and the Apuan Alps. After all, you are in Italy, and the food in Versilia is simply delicious.
Wherever you go, when you return, herbal tea will be waiting for you, to help you relax and soothe your sleep, so that you can wake up refreshed and ready for another perfect day in Forte dei Marmi and at Villa Roma Imperiale.
These are delightful rooms, beautifully furnished, all featuring travertine floors and double beds or two twin beds. Although they the rooms are limited in size, they make for a comfortable stay, are brightly lit and in keeping with the colonial, maritime feel of our hotel.
Average size: from 19 to 21 sqm.
Capacity: 2 adults.
These rooms are the most representative of the Villa's hospitality, in their number, size and style. Many feature a romantic four-poster bed designed with a modern touch. Some are also available with twin beds. The floor is either in a warm wood or beautiful travertine. Almost all feature large private terraces with tables and chairs to relax over your breakfast — if you ordered room service — while enjoying a view of the swimming pool or garden. Two of these rooms can accommodate two adults and a child on a comfortable third bed.
Average size: from 21 to 30 sqm.
Capacity: 2 adults / Some rooms: 2 adults and 1 child.
The Villa's Prime Deluxe rooms are especially spacious and comfortable. Their details are impeccable and their furnishings were carefully designed to make for a uniquely relaxing stay. They are particularly brightly lit because they are corner rooms with large windows and French doors overlooking the garden and swimming pool. They are furnished with marble floors and soft white curtains, plus travel trunks turned into tables to suggest journeys to far away lands. Travertine marble bathrooms with bathtub or shower. Here too, large terraces furnished with tables and chairs complete the package.
Average size: aprox. 30 sqm.
Capacity: 2 adults.
Elegant and bright open space with conversation area equipped with sofa and armchair. The large travertine marble bathroom has a comfortable bath or a beautiful shower. Ideal for those who love space and elegance.
Average size: aprox. 32 sqm.
Capacity: 2 adults.
The Villas suites are the perfect setting for a luxurious, comfortable vacation spent in sophisticated spaces with special amenities. Though similar in style, each suite has its own features and interior decor that set it apart. The major features shared by all include their size, spacious furnished terraces with views of the swimming pool or garden. Some have travertine marble floors, and others have wood ones. The living room may be an open space, or a room separate from the bedroom. In either case, it is furnished with comfortable sofas and armchairs.
Average size: aprox. 40 sqm.
Capacity: 2 adults and 1 child.
The suite, covering two floors, is spacious and with a separate entrance, making it perfect for a family of two adults and two children. It can be entered from the garden, giving your family perfect privacy. On the ground floor is the lounge with two day beds that can turned into comfortable single beds and a marble bathroom with shower. A graceful spiral stairway accesses the double room with a marble bathroom with shower and a balcony furnished with tables and chairs. This suite affords a view of the garden.
Average size: aprox. 45 sqm.
Capacity: 2 adults + 2 children.
Our deluxe suites are perfect for a luxurious, comfortable vacation spent in sophisticated spaces with impeccable furnishings and details. All three of our deluxe suites afford views of the garden from large, furnished terraces. They consist of a large living room with sofa and armchairs, and a beautiful bedroom with a large king-size bed. The suites have two travertine marble bathrooms, one with a bathtub and the other with a shower.
Average size: aprox. 55 sqm.
Capacity: 2 adults + 1 children.
The beach and the sea are very close to Villa Roma Imperiale. Each beach resort has its own unique features, we will be happy to help you locate and choose the one that suits your needs.
The atmosphere in our house is so pleasant and relaxing that the guests often linger in the cool air of our the living rooms and the shade of garden. A beautiful garden of 3,400 m2, scattered with pine trees, surrounds our swimming pool, where our guests can enjoy a comfortable Jacuzzi (17 m X 8 m). A real heaven of peace, where we kindly ask parents to supervise their children. Furthermore, in order to maintain this peace and tranquillity, we kindly ask our guests to limit the use of cell phones and not smoke by the poolside.
IF YOU LOVE THE SEA, OR ARE LOOKING FOR A LOST WAY OF LIFE
Cinque Terre is a stretch of Mediterranean coastline, with a natural park and a marine park, both declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Long beloved by Italians, it has become a famed tourist destination worldwide in recent years. Forte dei Marmi makes a natural starting point for day trips to this slice of heaven. Riomaggiore is only 60 km away.
Five miles of shoreline for five villages perched on stone spurs in minuscule inlets: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Connecting them all is the Blue Trail, which is divided into four sections: the first is known around the world as the Way of Love (and joins Riomaggiore to Manarola in an lovely 30-minute stroll on flat land). The five towns are also connected by a convenient local train that can be used to get effortlessly from one to the next.
Cinque Terre is heaven for naturalists, and those who love pristine nature, with its many mountain paths of different levels and option for sea diving and sailing trips. If you want to spend the night, there are many lovely but basic accommodations in private homes and bed and breakfasts, though very few four-star hotels. There are no luxury hotels. This makes Forte dei Marmi an absolutely perfect base and great alternative to the famed Ligurian towns north of Cinque Terre.
Forte dei Marmi has the advantage over those towns, like Santa Margherita and Portofino, in its large sandy beaches (rather than mainly pebbles and rocks like in other sites), a nightlife for all tastes, five Michelin-starred restaurants in the area and an exclusive destination for the best shopping.
Though trains are the most popular way to get to Cinque Terre, we think a boat is the best way to see it, affording the finest vantage points. From a boat, you can admire the sea lapping the coast on which rocky cliffs face with its perched distinctive colorful houses and the vineyards and olive trees grown here on terraces.
During the harvest time, between mid September and early October, an interesting sight is grape bunches transported in small cable cars that connect the vineyards. Or you can walk in one of the small towns and find a shaded area where the grapes are left to dry to make the famous "sciacchetrà," a special sweet dessert wine made only in this area.
In July and August, there is a daily boat leaving from Forte dei Marmi, but for a truly unforgettable experience, we suggest a private boat trip so you can tailor your itinerary to your needs and sea conditions.
Our staff will help you choose a boat and fill out the shopping list for the galley to give the captain so he can stock up on everything you want: oysters, champagne, lobster, cool white wine, and of course bread, crackers, cheese, fruit and water.
Get picked up on the hotel in the morning and brought to the beach where a yacht tender will take you to the boat. The first stop is usually a dip on the island of Palmaria in front of Portovenere. Then continue to Vernazza to visit what we consider the most beautiful of the five towns, where you can lunch at the Belforte restaurant on a terrace perched above the sea.
You'll usually come back before dinner, with time to get ready for a magical night out in Forte.
It is no easy task to sum up Forte dei Marmi and the people who gather here to enjoy their vacations. Some have compared "Il Forte" to the Hamptons, St. Tropez and Angra dos Reis, exclusive tourist spots where fashions are born and feted. And there's no doubt about it: Forte dei Marmi is a place where you won't be bored, where there are such a multitude of things to do, so many inspirations that you can spend your days and nights full of fun, carefree times.
But there's another side to it too, another way of experiencing Forte, which is ultimately a town of two-story houses and villas, fragrant gardens, tree-lined streets and leisurely travel by bicycle. This is a way of living that makes you slow down. This is a world where what Italians call the "dolce far niente" (sweet idleness) is expressed in the luxury of affording yourself lazy afternoons with a good book or an evening of stargazing.
Another classic trait of Forte dei Marmi are its bicycles. It is the town's official means of transportation. Everyone has one. Of course, there are all kinds of bikes here. From the latest ultra-lightweight alloy model to mountain bikes. The most popular of all is the classic, comfortable city bike, with a retro flair and a wicker basket. Forte dei Marmi has a special touch here too as the baskets are often made by local artisans, giving them personal touches of shells or other things to make them unique.
Exercise fans will have a plethora of ways to have fun. Not only are there water-based sports, like sailing, canoeing, windsurfing and surfing, you can also play tennis, or take advantage of the waterfront cycling path for jogging or biking.
And don't forget that Forte dei Marmi's official mode of transportation is the bicycle — race bikes, mountain bikes, super lightweight ones or ones with a wicker basket.
We suggest a leisurely bike ride through Forte dei Marmi's pine forest or the Parco della Versiliana. Galatea organizes a very special bike tour with a guide, which you can book through our staff. This is a bit like tours of the star's homes in Los Angeles, but with a more cultural, less glamorous bent. The tour winds between the quiet streets of our neighborhood, Roma Imperiale, with the goal of discovering Italian architecture in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The meeting point is La Capannina. The tour lasts 90 minutes, covering 5 km and ending with a drink at Caffè Almarosa.
For a completely different option: the Versilia Golf Club. Nestled between the Apuan Alps and the sea, this par-71 golf green has 5,873 meters, and 18 holes, and was opened in 1990, designed by Marco Croze. More experienced players will enjoy the challenge of the 1-ranked difficulty of the 13 hole while others can learn on the driving range. Open year round but closed on non-holiday Tuesdays from November to February. It includes a driving range, putting green, carts, swimming pool, tennis courts, a pro shop, bar and restaurant.
For those looking for high altitude excitement, the Apuan Alps have over a hundred routes suitable for families or experienced walkers. There are hiking route, mountain bike routes, horseback riding trails or just guided tours for every level and degree of difficulty to discover amazing landscapes with a breathtaking view of the sea.
We suggest spending a day of fun discovering the excitement, culture and food and wine of Pisa and Lucca.
After enjoying our hearty breakfast, set off for Pisa's Piazza dei Miracoli — Miracle Square — (45 km which takes about 40 minutes), named for its beauty. Pisa's Piazza del Duomo has been declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The treasure chest of a square holds the city's most glorious jewels: the Cathedral, the baptistery, the Camposanto and the ultra-famous bell tower, or the "Leaning Tower." After the ritual of picture taking is done, you can go on to find the two other leaning towers. What are they? Come find out!
Hop back in your car for another 18 km (about 30 minutes) and you get to Lucca.
It will probably be lunchtime and you'll have a chance to eat in one of the town center's many small traditional restaurants. Many have outdoor tables. We recommend having a nice fresh spelt salad or one of the many traditional dish with a local wine (Montecarlo is excellent).
Now you're ready for a trip on the walls surrounding Lucca. Built between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, it has kept Lucca preserved within over the centuries. The walls, built to defend Lucca, are truly impressive and so wide that they were even open to vehicle traffic until 1990 and cars and even heavy trucks drove on them! The walls are now pedestrian and hold gardens, benches, excellent lighting and many nice sports to have a drink and relax.
The walls are 4,223 meters long, forming a perfect ring for a nice stroll, and you could also bike them (renting a bike there, if you like).
Lucca developed in the Middle Ages and has maintained its old charm and impressive architectural wealth. It is called "city of a hundred churches" with steeples and bell towers everywhere as well as monumental Renaissance buildings. The most interesting, important tower is, no question about it, the 44-meter high Tower of Giunigi with seven holm oaks growing on top of it.
Once you've seen Lucca, get back in your car and in 30 minutes you can drive the 35 km to take you back to your Villa Roma Imperiale.
95 km, an hour on the highway. Leave your car in the parking garage under the Santa Maria Novella railway station. Start from the nearby Piazza di Santa Maria Novella — recently totally renovated — and visit the Church, its cloisters and then stop by the brand-new Museo del 900, focused on the twentieth century.
Turn the corner onto Via della Scala and you'll find the historic pharmacy, Antica Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella, full of exclusive body care and perfumery products.
After visiting Florence and before going back to your car, enjoy a poolside drink at the new Rooftop Bar of the Grand Hotel Minerva in Piazza Santa Maria Novella. It's called Three-Sixty, named for the breathtaking view it affords.
This small medieval village is a few-minutes drive away. Belying its size, this is a major world crossroads of art and culture. And it's a gem of art and architecture itself. The town is organized around the Duomo di San Martino (13th/14th century) cathedral and the Church of S. Agostino (no longer used for religious purposes, now a site of major art exhibitions). Pietrasanta has been famed for centuries as a center for marble and bronze work and has become a place for international artists to work, train and meet. Sculpture lovers from around the world come here to visit the quarries where marble is excavated, the workshops where it is worked, the foundries where bronze is cast, and to participate in sculpture courses put on here. For good reason, two world-famous artists, Fernando Botero and Igor Mitoraj, chose Pietrasanta as their home in Italy. Their works and those of many other artists are scattered throughout Pietrasanta, making it an enormous outdoor sculpture museum. It is no coincidence that Pietrasanta is the municipality in Italy with the highest concentration of art galleries per capita.
We suggest finishing off your day or afternoon in Pietrasanta with a drink at one of the many bars around the Cathedral. Look at the restaurant section if you would like to stop for lunch or dinner.
The mountains behind Forte dei Marmi are white year round, but not with constant snow, but because this is where the famous white marble of Carrara comes from. Versilia's leading craft business is marble, and its quintessential "factory" is Pietrasanta where you can have a guided tour of many workshops.
The main business in Stazzema is marble extraction. An experience not to be missed: a tour of the marble quarries in a Land Rover. Duration: 3-4 hours. Visit the quarries — the gigantic monuments piercing the mountains with their pure whiteness — and learn how Michelangelo chose and extracted blocks of marble. The tour then climbs up the mountain roads where you will find peerless views of beauty.
For nature and hiking fans, there are two different destinations, each unique in their own way. Both can be reached within 30 minutes by car from Villa Roma Imperiale. These places are the Parco Migliarino San Rossore e Massaciuccoli and the majestic Parco delle Apuane.
Our staff can help you organize a day of hiking with CAI-certified guides, choosing the length and level of difficulty right for your capability.
For nature lovers, the Parco di Migliarino-San Rossore e Massaciuccoli has hiking and horseback routes, boat trips, kayaking and birding.
The majestic Parco delle Alpi Apuane rises in the background of Versilia's beaches. Known as the park of the "marble mountains," it extends over more than 30 km, ringed by peaks, pinnacles and rock arches. No less spectacular are the underground caves, including a total of 1,300 karst caves. Standing out among these is the Antro del Corchia, which has over 60 km of tunnels with a 1,200 m change in level, making it the deepest abyss in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. Equally impressive is the sight of the Grotta del Vento (Wind Cave) in the heart of the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Apuane. Convenient paths let you admire all the wonders of the underground world lit by spotlights. You'll see dynamic, brilliant stalactites and stalagmites, colorful lava rock, draping alabaster, crystal-studded pools, underground streams and bizarre forms of erosion.
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Hotel: Villa Roma Imperiale
Address: Via Corsica, 9 55042 55042 Forte dei Marmi
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Official website: http://www.villaromaimperiale.com/
Telephone: +39 0584 78830
Fax: +39 0584 80841
Hotel email: info@villaromaimperiale.com
After you exit at "Versilia," follow directions for "Forte dei Marmi," and at the second traffic light, turn left into Viale XX Settembre. Then turn at the second left into Viale Corsica, and after 200 meters, you'll come to Villa Roma Imperiale on the left.
Cars can park inside the Villa's property in an outdoor parking lot, which is free for guests.