Villa Mon Plaisir is situated on a unique location, right in the path of a world famous pilgrim's route to the Sanctuary of Saint Michael (Sactuario di San Michele) in Monte Sant' Angelo. Right from the gate of the villa you can walk up the hill to this place, over a gorgeous mountain path. This is just one of the thrilling day trips you can make in this area. We went for a day to Vieste, to the Foresta Umbra, to the very impressive beach of Vignanotica which has white cliffs rising straight up from 200 meters from a pebbled beach with pearly blue water (arriving there via a coastal path with astonishing sea views). The abbey and hermitages of Santa Maria di Pulsano are also wonderful to explore, there is a walking guide available in the house that explains where you should go.
So the Villa is an excellent place to explore the Gargano, its landscapes and its holy sites are breathtaking. But really, if you would want to spend the week just sitting on the terrace of the villa then you would have had a spectacular week as well. The villa is situated on a hillside amidst an olive grove. Around you there are the walls of the mountain gorge rising up, and there is the Gulf of Manfredonia stretching out in front of you, from which you can easily see Bari and a long stretch of the Puglian coast. A great way to relax your eyes and soak up the sunlight after spending way too much time in front of a screen at work, as we did.
The Gargano was a great discovery for us, the rugged beauty of the landscape, its mythical places. Villa Mon Plaisir is the perfect location from which to take it all in and Mirko's hospitality is perfect. I can only hope for you that you will book it and feel as transformed by your visit as we did.