In the green Lametina plain there is a place where life is as beautiful as a novel. Only here in Pianopoliamong cork oak, holm oak, mastic forests and expanses of olive trees, it’s all true. Inside theGaetano farman ancient group of renovated buildings tells the story of this land. Wide spaces and a real plant heritage where you can find free horizons.
But also agricultural landscapes, ancient traditions and examples of historic architecture with a decidedly contemporary allure. The discovery of this Eden in the 1980s is thanks to Maria and Armando Gaetano who took over lands and buildings that were now in ruins with the idea of reviving them. Situated on a natural panoramic terrace that extends to the sea, at 250 metres above sea level, the property unites the Gabella estate in the municipality of Pianopoli – 45 hectares, of which 27 are olive groves embracing an ancient fortified building with a turret – – with the Valle del Romito estate, also with an ancient casino surrounded by 5 hectares of land cultivated with Carolea, in the territory of Feroleto Antico.
Later, in the early 1990s, the brothers Clotilde and Federico Gaetano, respecting the shapes of the existing structures and the surrounding landscape, redefined the traditional architectural model by adapting the archetype to contemporary living. In fact, today, those buildings have become a wonderful agritourism complex with the evocative name “Le Carolee” which has opened its doors to hospitality for Italian and especially foreign travellers, who want to connect with the wonders of nature and taste typical products. The main lodge, surrounded by a well-kept garden with splendid and colorful Vietri handcrafted tables, has the ancient chapel next to it, restored with accuracy and a surprisingly far-sighted approach.
The internal living path is characterized by an intriguing conceptual formulation: the living area develops on the ground floor while an important staircase leads to the upper floor with bedrooms and common areas for relaxation and study. The large dining room, originally intended as an oil mill, reveals in the furnishings the original use of olive wood while the walls aim for white balancing the strong chromatic load of the wooden beam ceiling and terracotta floors.
“The lower part is from the 19th century, there were warehouses and storage areas for harvests and tools, jars and barrels – says Tilde Gaetano – the tower with the loopholes probably had a defensive function. Today it houses, on the ground floor, pantry rooms and small openings where kitchen tools are stored with, underneath, a water tank”. Functional buildings that came to life permanently during periods of hard work in the fields cultivated with olive trees, today true historical heritage that preserves the memories of a bygone era and the beauty of a rare wooded landscape of cork oaks and holm oaks.
“The other farmhouse in Valle del Romito, which we rent as a whole – Tilde points out – had the same architectural elements. There the warehouses, which have now given way to an airy open space with the living room and kitchen, communicated with the house on the upper floor through a trap door with a hinged lid called a “cataract”. On the other hand, the thick vegetation and the scattered houses exposed the owners to risks, who adopted various defense systems”.
Today the ancient structures, thanks to careful renovation, welcome lovers of peace and Mediterranean greenery. “Giovanna Fazio takes care of the reception at Carolee – Tilde specifies – Marina Fragale, then, follows the agritourism, but also the olive campaign with the oil mill that we have in Feroleto. The olive harvest, from October to January according to the organic regulations, is taken care of by Franco Valletta after the maximum attention given to the olive groves by Antonio Vescio”.
