Villa Irlanda Grand Hotel

Five separate buildings with beautiful historic architecture incorporated into modern renovations make up the Villa Irlanda. One building, the Reception, is located on the ruins of a first-century B.C. Roman villa, and another, the Convent, was built in 1930 as a spiritual retreat for novice priests. The grounds are gorgeous with stone drives, lamp posts, and original chunks of architecture framing the sea. The garden has lemon trees, and an arched topiary creates an entrance to the Olympic-size swimming pool. A rooftop terrace offers views of the nearby sea. The bright lobby is spacious and has clusters of blue seating, and a small library of books for guests to peruse.

The hotel is located across from the waterfront of the Gulf of Gaeta. Ariana Beach and Serapo Beach are within a 12-minute drive. Gaeta’s shopping, dining, and nightlife, as well as its historic district, Monte Orlando, are about a 10-minute drive away. The hotel is within a 10-minute drive to the train station with connections to Naples and Rome, and also to a pier for ferries that leave for Ponza and Ventotene. Naples Airport is less than an hour-and-a-half drive.

Rooms are spread out among the different buildings. Most are spacious with white walls and sparse decor. Features differ -- some have tile floors while others have wood flooring, and some rooms have ocean views. All rooms have wall-mounted, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, desks, mini-fridges, and Wi-Fi for a fee. Some bathrooms have stand-up showers, and others have separate showers and tubs or shower/tub combinations.

Villa Irlanda Grand has an Olympic-size outdoor pool connected to a smaller children’s pool with whirlpool jets. The hotel provides a free breakfast buffet in an area that has a bar and outdoor seating. The hotel has a large, elegant restaurant with a piano. The hotel has free parking, and Wi-Fi is free in common spaces.