It's hard not to be seduced by Italy, dreaming of owning a place there. It was this idea that brought us to Puglia and to Alain + Marit's in May 2019. Neither my partner nor I had explored this part of what we affectionately refer to as our homeland (he is half italian, I'm just aspiring). We thought, maybe Puglia is where we should eventually buy a place (spoiler alert - yes, and we are already booking the house for next year).
We stayed for 5 weeks, all in Il Cammino. It was nothing short of magical. The weather could have cooperated a bit more. The house felt like what we would have created if we had a house in the Puglian countryside. The house and decor is true to the region, with great stylish touches, and most importantly, it feels like someone's home. When making pasta, I kept thinking Alain + Marit would pop in, joining us for dinner, and that we'd all become great friends. I've always considered myself a great sleeper, but we had the best sleep of our lives in Il Cammino. I'm not sure what it was, but it was heavenly. The grounds are amazing, the pool perfect. You feel very removed, yet are close to Ceglie, the beaches, and so many other towns. I cried when we had to leave (and I'm not necessarily that type), and 2 weeks later I still can't shake the melancholy feeling. I wake up everyday, and when realizing where I am, back in San Francisco, I begin counting down the days til we can go back.
Ceglie Messapica, the closest town is so far my favorite in Puglia. At least in May and the first week of June, you'd rarely run into other tourists (other towns seemed swamped). At restaurants, all of the patrons knew one another, and the food was to die for. People were so friendly and helpful, even though hardly anyone spoke English, and us no Italian.
As for the basics, Alain and Colleen (local house manager), were very responsive, and incredibly helpful with local suggestions and whatnot. The house is better than the pictures, and is properly stocked with everything you could need, the beds are comfortable, and the ceramics collection is fantastic. Prepare yourself to fall madly in love with the house and Puglia.