Few venues, even in Italy, can boast or even imagine such a mixture of sea, beach, nature, 18th century history - all on an old Roman site - Hotel Villa Ducale can - and at extremely affordable prices. Picture the bride walking down the elegant stone stairway toward lapping waves of the Mediterranean sea - then walking with violin & cello playing down a row of ruins of ancient Roman columns.

Take a deep and relaxing breath - picture the bride walking slowly from an 18th century villa, violin & cello dreamily enhancing the sun and fragrant drenched air. She is walking toward her awaiting groom and guests perfectly framed by green lawns, tropical trees, historic stone walls and a blue blue sea embroidered with the stark rocky Isola di Cirella. She walks down an elegant path lined with pre-medieval Roman columns - a path at night lined with lanterns gently illuminating the white of the reception. Few venues can boast or even imagine such a mixture of sea, beach, nature, 18th century history - all on an old Roman site - Hotel Villa Ducale can - and at extremely affordable prices.

The hotel, 1.5 miles from the rail station, sits in the heart of the ancient town of Cirella in Calabria, just south of the magnificent Coast of Maratea & Cilento, near to the the major and historic town of Diamante, near. The villa hotel has recently been renovated.