Staying at Ladybug House 1 was an unique experience. Set in the storico centro of Vico del Gargano, the apartment easily gives the impression of being hewn from a single monolith. We had booked House 2 but, due to circumstances beyond Erica and Anthon’s control, it became unavailable, so they generously accommodated us in the slightly smaller apartment next door.

Very thick walls and a massive door impart a sense of great solidity and security. Once inside, the white plastered walls make the space feel light and airy, and you begin to appreciate the creative approach Erica and Anthon have taken to making a renovation that is sensitive to the history of the building and the area.

The lounge / bedroom has a pullout bed and a collapsible stretcher bed, as well as a cot. The compact kitchen is well equipped. Cookware is all good quality, heavy-bottomed stainless steel, all essential crockery and cutlery is there, as well as some spices and condiments. Polished concrete floors throughout make for easy cleaning when you leave, were not cold on bare feet, and add to the ‘feel’ of this restoration.

An equally compact bathroom gives testament to the clever use of available space. Make sure you remember to turn on the hot water before wanting to take a shower!

If you want to go walking in this part of town, first get some practice going up and down steps! Access from the closest car parking spot is a short but steep climb. We had no trouble parking in the recommended spot – there was plenty of room all day.

To get to Ladybug House, we strongly recommend that you follow Anthon’s excellent detailed map and accompanying pictures. We saved ours to Dropbox then couldn’t access it due to a data problem, so we used the car GPS device. Bad move, but we did get to see parts of town that few tourists would!

Definitely a highlight of the visit was the wonderful support we received from our hosts. Anthon responded without hesitation to all calls for assistance, and even phoned a café for us after we arrived to see if they were still open for us to have a bit of dinner. Anne suffered a small medical emergency while we were there and Anthon responded immediately with kind and generous offers of assistance.

Don’t visit Italy if you’re afraid of hills and stairs. Vico del Gargano is, like most of beautiful Italy, a bit hilly. On the upside, it has a very romantic history that you are sure to enjoy discovering.

We are happy to recommend Erica and Anthon’s apartment to those seeking accommodation in a storico centro, close to very interesting history and architecture of the locality. If you seek reliable support from your hosts, Ladybug House is for you.