The house is a hidden oasis of peace within walking distance of the magical place which is Pantalica, with its river, waterfalls and lakes which have nothing to envy to the Hawaii could offer, but at a fraction of the distance and the cost.

The absolute silence and peacefulness of the apartment will relax even the most stressed person in the world.

Enzo and Simona, who live in the flat downstairs with their 5 children, all absolutely adorable and amazingly well behaved during the summer school holidays are the perfect hosts: welcoming you as if you were a member of the family or a long time friend from the start. While in the summer months you would share the space with this wonderful family and will be invited to share meals with them if you want, you would immediately feel like you belong. If you are feeling sociable, they will readily invite you to join their friends in town for a drink or to share a meal in a restaurant. I do not think you could ask for more. On the last day, after a late night with all their colourful friends, they all invited me to join them for a barbeque at a friends house with a feast of food fit for a king.

I missed the village celebrations for the patron saint a couple of weeks earlier, which I am told have a fantastic atmosphere with everyone on the street and great fireworks to enjoy either in town or from your private terrace.

If, on the other hand you prefer a more "isolated" retreat, book after mid-September, when you will have the whole place to yourselves. The silence, both during the day and during the night is unbelieavable as the grounds are vast, with mostly olive groves surrounding you and just a couple of neighbouring houses which you cannot actually see or hear, so I have no idea how far they were.

The views from the balcony to Sortino, a small and pretty old village of some 3000 people are breathtaking. The outside kitchen is well equipped with everything you need and the hosts are so generous in every respect that they will readily offer you to help yourself to all their drinks fridge without restriction or charge or any expectation to be repaid for them. On the contrary, I had to refill it without them noticing on the last day as they insisted that I just help myself to them.

The apartment, on the first floor, is comfortable, is slightly basic, but spotlessly clean. Even though I only booked for myself, both rooms had been made up with fresh linen and enough towels for six people. The living room is enourmous with, perhaps, the only thing slightly "wanting" was the sofa, which was probably the most uncomfortable sofa I sat on, but who wants to lie on a sofa when you have paradise on your doorstep?

I could not recommend this place more highly.