Spellbound by the Bay

Located at the centre of the Bay of Naples, the town of Torre del Greco is renowned for its history, architectural heritage and natural beauty, as well as its exclusive tradition of creating coral jewellery and cameo brooches. It was here that the great Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi spent the latter years of his life and composed some of his finest and most enduring verses, including «The Setting of the Moon» and «The Broom Flower», inspired by the vision of this flower that grows spontaneously on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. This region boasts a splendid architectural heritage. Prime examples in terms of beauty and historical value are the Vesuvian villas located in the so-called Golden Mile, the area of the province of Naples renowned for its magnificent landscapes and splendid eighteenth-century palaces, villas and gardens. Overlooking the Bay of Naples, Torre del Greco stands just a few kilometres from the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, the volcano revered and feared in equal measure by its inhabitants. Alongside its historical attractions and natural wonders, its incomparable views over the waters of the bay and lush Mediterranean vegetation, the town also offers a wide range of hotels, clubs and restaurants catering for the needs of both tourists and residents. One of these, the Villa Balke and Club Cypraea centre, has succeeded in harnessing the exuberance and «joie de vivre» of the region to create a versatile and sophisticated complex. Renowned for the exclusive receptions held in its brightly-lit rooms, in its splendid grounds and Mediterranean garden and on its large panoramic terrace with swimming pool, Villa Balke has combined the range of services it offers with those of the adjoining Cypraea private club, which features a series of sun decks overlooking the sea and access to a private beach. This modern wellness and entertainment venue is transformed in the evening into an exclusive open-air lounge. The heart of the club and the centre of daytime and evening activities is the area housing the two seawater swimming pools, where the colours and materials have been chosen to integrate perfectly into the natural surroundings. To blend in with the landscape while meeting the requirements of high technical quality, a non-slip surface and resistance to salt spray, Wire collection tiles from Tagina Ceramiche d’Arte were installed in this area. Chosen in the Natural (12 mm thickness) and Compact Out (20 mm thickness) versions, the Wire collection tiles integrate perfectly with the surrounding environment, delivering the appeal and material presence of natural stone while guaranteeing the strength and practicality of a ceramic surface. The StoneDrip tile in the Compact version and 61×61 cm size and the luminous White colour were chosen for the swimming pool surround, while the 40×80 cm size in colour Grey was used for the remaining surfaces in the area. Nine-piece strips in colour White are used to clad the surrounding low walls, defining the details of a space that reflects the magic and legendary beauty of the Bay of Naples.