An empty painting contour on the wall, the sweet aroma of fresh coffee, and a smiling Italian man were the first impressions of a place so magical, so mysterious and so majestic that even writing about it feels a little unsettling.
In April of 2023, my right-hand Francesca and I took a short trip to the heal of Italy; the enchanting, yet to be discovered, region of Puglia. The purpose of the trip was to finalize the details of our Puglia Escape small group trip taking place in October. Little did I know that we would stumble upon a place that would shape our future forever.
After we entered the gate, we were a little disoriented, unsure if we had entered Alice’s wonderland, a baron’s residence or simply discovered Puglia’s best-kept secret. The latter turned to be true, although the fascinating history of this extraordinary house needs not to go unnoticed. We were greeted by owner Roberto Ghione, whose passion for his “home” was hard to conceal. Roberto gave us a delightful tour that left us more and more astounded with every room we entered. The Architect Suite reveals ancient urns through a glass floor that were recovered during the mindful renovation. The vaulted ceilings symmetrically led our eyes to a frame on the wall, only to discover its emptiness; the lost painting never replaced to honor its history. The soothing, near monochrome décor, pleasing to the contemporary eye, yet anything but modern. The cracks on the outer walls that were carefully preserved, proudly exhibiting that “perfection is in the flaw.”
Enchanted and in love with Her, we told Roberto that we had plans to undertake a renovation project on a historic property we had just purchased on Mt. Etna in Sicily and we would love nothing more than to meet the architect behind Crita Bianca. Without blinking twice, Roberto pulled out his phone and called Antonio, who agreed to meet us that same Sunday afternoon in his studio in Gallipoli, only a 30-minute drive from Crita Bianca. And off we went to meet the man who will shape the future of our very first historic residence and boutique hotel.
Crita Bianca is not just an elegant country-house hotel; as genius architect Antonio Ferilli would put it; “she is a wise woman whose wrinkles tell the story of her beauty.”
We chose Her as one of our accommodations for our 2024 Puglia Escape small group trip!
Life Beyond the Room (LBR) is a sensorial™ travel concierge dedicated to creating custom, unique itineraries for travelers seeking authentic experiences immersed in the lifestyle, flavors, and culture of each region.