Stefano's place is a pure gem of the Mediterranean. The house has been exceptionally maintained. And you have two amazing delightful outside areas to enjoy the sea/sky views. The patio at the rear of the property overlooks a delightful area of cliffs and sea. The eating area outside is shaded and we ate every meal out on the patio, even in November. And on a clear day you can see Tunisia! Bird watching was amazing and there are even binoculars.
At night, we went on top of the dammuso to view the stars. It is remarkable to see so many constellations, satellites and planets at once. Such a big sky with little light pollution. One of the best parts of Stefano's place is how quiet it is. You can hear the birds, the wind and the sea and that's about it!
The beds are super comfy, the new windows work very well (you can black out the light or leave open for a breeze). The two fans in the house were in good working condition. The shower is hot and has a tremendous amount of pressure (so much so we would turn down the shower to save on water). Nice bidet and good working bathroom fixtures. Lots of extra towels and blankets which was much appreciated!
The living room has a super nice sofa bed that is very comfortable to sit on as well as sleep on. The kitchen is spacious with a very functional dishwasher and mini oven. I was concerned we could bake bread in the oven or a chicken and both worked well ( bread we had to turn over last 15 minutes and chicken we turned over last 10 minutes). Potatoes turned out beautifully in the oven. The stovetop is gas and the abundance of cooking equipment makes it a delight to cook. Three different knives and all sharpened. WOW! unheard of in a rental. The refrigerator is large as well so you can do a big shop.
For Pantelleria itself, we fell completely in love. The landscape is other worldly and delightful. We particularly enjoyed our swim at Nica warm bay and our warm soaks over in Gadir. Gadir is a perfect place to hang with and be in conversation with locals. Visiting the Sesi's was surreal and highly recommended. We also went to the top of Montange Grande and delighted in the vast amount of trails, even venturing to the Grotta dei Briganti.
We loved it so much that we extended our stay by three days (very gracious gift from Stefano) AND there was still so much we wanted to do that we didn't do.
Stefano was extremely helpful with his tips of the island and all communications were answered thoughtfully and very timely. Maria, who lives close, was super helpful and responsive as well, delivering a good-bye present from Stefano. The resident cat was such a gift for an animal lover, coming to watch on the ledge as I cooked and was super quiet.
We will be back to this amazing island with its delightful, helpful, if reserved peoples and we will be staying at Stefano's place! My husband and I have been traveling extensively over the last 10 years and this year we have been traveling the entire year. Nothing has captured our heart in the way that Stefano's place has. Thank you for sharing this with us. We are truly honored!