We had a truly wonderful stay in Mattinata. Mariagrazia was a pleasure to deal with answering all our questions and providing her recommendations for things to do and see while we were there (including those not in the guidebook, like a trip to Trani-well worth a visit). Matteo, her father, made us feel incredibly welcome, patiently waiting for us when our sat nav malfunctioned, bringing us figs and tomatoes he had grown and checking we were OK during a particularly dramatic storm that knocked out all the lights.
The cottage is perched in a secluded location on a mountain side and the generous terrace affords views of the bay below, Mattinata and the surrounding mountain range. It's a spectacular setting and our children loved the horses at the end of the garden and the ability to wander around in a stimulating yet safe environment.
The cottage has all the facilities you would expect, including a good kitchen and spotless bathroom (with shower) but also has an outside shower which was great in the hot weather and a dedicated barbeque area, with seating and external lighting which we used regularly.
The cottage also acts as an excellent base to explore the Gargano Peninsula and the Umbra Forest which is dramatically different from the rest of Puglia. In the immediate vicinity we enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of Mattinata and its beach, although our feet are still recovering from the pebbles! There is an excellent choice of beaches around the Peninsula; including Peschici and to the south of Vieste and fascinating towns like Vico del Gargano and Monte Sant'Angelo to explore however they are very demanding to drive in and the combination of an oversized hire car and a medieval street pattern led to some challenging moments. An unexpected treat was the drive between these two towns however; the fluctuating and twisting route through the Umbra Forest is as invigorating as it is beautiful.
We'd like to thank Mariagrazia and Matteo for making our stay a relaxing and enjoyable one and would thoroughly recommend others to stay at the cottage.