What a special way to explore this gem region of Italy! Emilio is the most gracious host, his family as well, so full of love and life! We truly felt like we were family from the moment we arrived. The residence was sparse yet charming, our rooms were comfortable & clean. We enjoyed our daily ‘aperativos’ on our private terrace, or shared the time with our neighbor guests who also became fast friends. The daily breakfasts/dinners were made in the style of local living, complete with fresh fruits & juices as well as homemade pastries. One of these, the traditional pasticciotto with its smooth custard like filling, was part of our culinary lessons. Daily excursions took us to Galipolli, Lecce, Otranto, the stunning seasides of Castro, Marina Serra, Ciolo & down to Leuca at the southern tip of Italy. We swam in the aqua blue waters of the Ionian & Adriatic seas and saw the incredible trulli houses in Alberobello, Ostuni and Cisternino, one more breathtaking than the next. We also toured a winery & had a refreshing wine tasting experience, later we had another cooking lesson to make maccheroni, which Emilio’s daughter Bianca put us to shame [playfully!] proving that it required a skill that did not come easily to us all. Gnocchi making was more our speed! It sounds like we did a lot but there was time to respite each day before dinner. Our last night was bittersweet as we knew we would have to say ‘arrivederci’ but also hopefully ‘ci vediamo presto’!
PS congrats Michele & Chiara