Masseria la Chiusa Delle More

Francesco and Antonella do a fantastic job running their charming hotel. The room was nicely furnished with a very comfortable bed, strong and hot shower, and black-out shutters. Breakfast is served on the patio of the main structure up some pretty stone stairs, as is dinner if you choose to partake. And you should! We didn’t plan on eating at the hotel restaurant every night, but I am glad we did! It was all prepared fresh daily by the incomparable Antonella, with a completely different menu every day, including a delicious vegetarian menu. I truly don’t know how she does it. We were well cared for in the dining room by the wonderful Nik, who seems to do everything around the property, as well as the always cheerful Natalia and the highly capable Sara - one of Francesco and Antonella’s daughters. Francesco, what can I say, is so engaging and always goes above and beyond to assist his guests in any way possible - including picking us up at the train station and taking us up to town. We had a car snafu and so were left to make do without one, but between Francesco’s helpfulness in providing transport at crucial moments, the beach being a 10 minute walk away, and the bus stop that is just down the street from the property, we felt very independent. (Note that the bus stop is not listed on posted schedules or on Google Maps, but there is a Fermata sign on either side of the main road showing you where to stand, and the bus will stop there if someone is waiting to get on or off.) In addition to visiting Peschici and Vieste, we also did a cooking class on the property one afternoon, where we learned to make stuffed eggplant and orecchiette - our friends will be so impressed!

La Chiusa delle More is a gem. This beautiful B&B looking over a vast olive grove, with a view of the hilltown of Peschici in the background, is a feast for the eyes. But what makes it truly outstanding is the care given to every guest by Francesco, Antonella and their staff, including Nick and Natalia. To say they go out of their way is an understatement. Not only did Francesco pick us up from the station about 25 minutes away and return us there, he rescued us from a sudden rainstorm, turning it into an adventure visiting an ancient monastery and giving us an historical tour. He anticipated our needs and offered assistance at every turn. The dinners, prepared by Antonella, with assistance from her daughters, were perfectly seasoned and each course was presented with taste and exquisite service.