Villa Barca is an adults-only boutique resort on an old country estate above the Lerrone valley, in the hinterland of the Ligurian Riviera and about twenty minutes from the beaches near Alassio. The house dates from the early 1800s and stands in 15,000 square metres of Mediterranean garden and olive grove. The owners say they are part of the LGBT community rather than a gay-friendly business.
Guests stay in suites spread over two buildings. The manor has La Terrazza, the largest suite, with a living room, a fireplace and a private roof terrace, and La Campagna in the oldest wing, with old beams and a wood-burning stove. La Foresteria, the former caretaker's cottage, is reached through a honeysuckle pergola and has units with a bedroom, a kitchen and a patio. From the higher rooms the view reaches the sea.
There is a saltwater infinity pool, a plunge pool, a Finnish sauna and a grotto shower, and an old chapel on the estate has been turned into a room of stillness. B&B guests get breakfast on the terrace or in the dining room. The house runs a wellness programme for men, with four-hands oil massage by male therapists and a hammam ritual.
