Hotel Grotta di Tiberio

The three-floor Grotta di Tiberio is housed in a modern Mediterranean-style building surrounded by gardens, fresh flowers, and palm, olive, and Italian stone pine trees. The all-white building presents an appealing contrast with the surrounding green trees and blue of the sky on clear days. The airy, light-filled lobby is done in colors of white, beige, and yellow, and has mid-century sofas and colorful modern art. Guests gather around the seasonal outdoor pool with lounge chairs and panoramic views of the surrounding area, Sperlonga town and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The hotel also has a sauna, steam room, and restaurant with local cuisine. Rooms are simply decorated, and some have balconies with sea views. With its intimate size and few recreational activities, the atmosphere at the hotel is well-suited to couples and single adults.

The Grotta di Tiberio is located about a half-mile from Sperlonga, a small medieval village on the slopes of the San Magno mountains on the Tyrrhenian Sea -- the walk is uphill and slightly strenuous. The hotel is off the SR-213 highway about 300 yards north of the beach, and guests receive discounted rates at La Casetta, Altamarea, Lido Rocco, and La Grotta dei Delfini beaches. The ancient Villa of the Roman emperor Tiberius -- the area's main attraction -- and its grotto with Hellenic art is about one-third of a mile southeast of the hotel. The area also offers water skiing on Lago Luongo and Lago San Puoto lakes, three miles northwest. The Fondi-Sperlonga train station is eight miles north of the hotel, so it's a little pricey to get to the hotel by taxi. The nearest airport is Naples International Airport, at 64 miles northwest of the Grotta di Tiberio.

The Grotta di Tiberio has 28 (all non-smoking) rooms on three floors. The rooms aren't terribly exciting or upscale: they're simple and minimally decorated, and have wood parquet floors, red headboards, white or red bedspreads, and distinctive red-and-white tiled bathrooms. Rooms range from 160 to 320 square feet in size. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, desks, safes and minibars. Some rooms have balconies -- some have views of the sea, and others have direct access to the garden.

The focal point of the Grotta di Tiberio is its seasonal, 12-by-six-meter outdoor pool and connecting hydro-massage tub, offering views of Sperlonga, the sea, and surrounding area from the adjacent sun terrace. The hotel forbids games and loud noises at the pool, so it's not the best place for families with kids. Guests can step indoors to take a wet sauna and steam bath. The free breakfast includes various cold items: hard-boiled eggs, cold cuts, cakes, and fruit. The light-filled restaurant has pool and area views, and serves local specialties and Italian cuisine like fresh pasta and fish. There's a small cocktail bar with a cozy seating area, free on-site parking, and a computer corner with a small collection of books.