Where do I start...I've been all over the world, on cruises, on tours, in B&B's, yet our trip to Villa Cappelli felt like no other vacation. It felt like coming home and spending 10 days with Our family. And I think that's the highest compliment you can ever give. Paul, Steven & Casey went out of their way to make everyone feel like a relative. We really were "Italians" for 10 days.. From gathering wild mushrooms in the hills, to helping to harvest their liquid gold olive oil, to helping prepare classic meals..To even watching a late night "domino" game to biking thru ancient towns.. It was a dream come true. We will definitely return. I give it a 10 plus plus.. Mille Grazie Ville Cappelli

Thank you for such an awesome week. We LOVED it there. The kids had the best time they have ever had in the 10 years they have been doing this. The kittens blew their minds. Indeed we all had the best time. Great food, amazing drinks and really great people all in a gorgeous location. I’ll be honest, we are always a little dubious about on site owners, we’ve had some odd experiences in the past but you guys really were the stars of the show. It was really great to meet you. We all agreed there were another few nights on the getting-to-know-you-Martinis in order.

Our visit to Villa Cappelli was the highlight of our trip. We arrived on Mothers Day and were treated to an authentic Italian luncheon that included guests and family of our hosts, Paul & Steven. The homemade wine, fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden, Italian and English conversation made us feel like real Italians, not just tourists. The property dates back to the 6th century and maintains much of the original architecture but modern comforts like high end shower heads are integrated seamlessly into the setting. Villa Cappelli is on the Appian way and there is plenty to do in the area. Paul graciously escorted us to several local spots and provided tons of facts and stories about the history of this locality. It is a post card perfect location that we would recommend to anyone.

Ho conosciuto i proprietari della Villa Cappelli, Paul e Steven, per il loro impegno nella promozione turistica e la salvaguardia della Via Appia Traiana, sulla quale la Villa si affaccia. Sono stato così attratto dalla loro passione per il territorio che ho deciso di fare della Villa il set privilegiato per il mio matrimonio pugliese. Amo la Puglia, da tempo. Il clima, il cibo e l'accoglienza: Villa Cappelli ha riunito queste pregevoli virtù della tradizione del Sud Italia per poi consegnarle ai miei ospiti. Un matrimonio fantastico, ricolmo di cultura, attenzione e prodotti della terra. Ho smosso mezzo universo per farlo venire a visitare questo luogo benedetto da Madre Natura, mancavano solo gli alieni! :-) Australia, Cina, Giappone, America, India e Europa... tutti ospiti a me cari che hanno goduto dello splendore del luogo. Paul e Steven sono stati unici, capaci di rendere il mio giorno davvero speciale e stupendomi con la semplicità, il gusto e l'eleganza dell'ambiente sereno e rustico da loro creato. Ero al settimo cielo, era proprio quello che volevo, la vera terra, la vera Puglia! La cerimonia è iniziata tra gli ulivi, nella distesa di quegli alberi millenari che hanno assistito al nostro giuramento d'amore. I nostri ospiti seduti su sedie bianche di stoffa e i gentleman inglesi in piedi di spalle delle loro donne che reggendo un ombrellino bianco per ripararle dal sole. Davvero un tocco di classe! Allo scambio delle fedi tra gli applausi e l'emozione dei nostri cari, amici e colleghi, sono arrivati i suonatori di pizzica che con una fisarmonica ci hanno accompagnato all'ingresso della villa dove un catering professionale e preparato ha offerto ai miei ospiti le gioie della terra. Tutto il cibo era freschissimo e preparato a vista, sul momento. La mozzarella, il caciocavallo, i tanti tipi di panzerotti e chi più ne ha più ne metta. Era davvero una festa, e per me condividere la gioia di quel giorno e donarla anche ai miei ospiti è stato un momento importante. Potrei continuare per ore nella descrizione di quell'incredibile giorno che mi accompagnerà per tutta la vita, ma in questa recensione volevo solo scrivere che questo è stato il posto da sogno che auguro ad ogni innamorato dell'universo, anche agli extraterrestri! :-) Grazie di cuore Paul e Steven, evviva Villa Cappelli e il vostro palpabile amore per la bella terra di Puglia.

Ho conosciuto i proprietari della Villa Cappelli, Paul e Steven, per il loro impegno nella promozione turistica e la salvaguardia della Via Appia Traiana, sulla quale la Villa si affaccia. Sono stato così attratto dalla loro passione per il territorio che ho deciso di fare della Villa il set privilegiato per il mio matrimonio pugliese. Amo la Puglia, da tempo. Il clima, il cibo e l'accoglienza: Villa Cappelli ha riunito queste pregevoli virtù della tradizione del Sud Italia per poi consegnarle ai miei ospiti. Un matrimonio fantastico, ricolmo di cultura, attenzione e prodotti della terra. Ho smosso mezzo universo per farlo venire a visitare questo luogo benedetto da Madre Natura, mancavano solo gli alieni! :-) Australia, Cina, Giappone, America, India e Europa... tutti ospiti a me cari che hanno goduto dello splendore del luogo. Paul e Steven sono stati unici, capaci di rendere il mio giorno davvero speciale e stupendomi con la semplicità, il gusto e l'eleganza dell'ambiente sereno e rustico da loro creato. Ero al settimo cielo, era proprio quello che volevo, la vera terra, la vera Puglia! La cerimonia è iniziata tra gli ulivi, nella distesa di quegli alberi millenari che hanno assistito al nostro giuramento d'amore. I nostri ospiti seduti su sedie bianche di stoffa e i gentleman inglesi in piedi di spalle delle loro donne che reggendo un ombrellino bianco per ripararle dal sole. Davvero un tocco di classe! Allo scambio delle fedi tra gli applausi e l'emozione dei nostri cari, amici e colleghi, sono arrivati i suonatori di pizzica che con una fisarmonica ci hanno accompagnato all'ingresso della villa dove un catering professionale e preparato ha offerto ai miei ospiti le gioie della terra. Tutto il cibo era freschissimo e preparato a vista, sul momento. La mozzarella, il caciocavallo, i tanti tipi di panzerotti e chi più ne ha più ne metta. Era davvero una festa, e per me condividere la gioia di quel giorno e donarla anche ai miei ospiti è stato un momento importante. Potrei continuare per ore nella descrizione di quell'incredibile giorno che mi accompagnerà per tutta la vita, ma in questa recensione volevo solo scrivere che questo è stato il posto da sogno che auguro ad ogni innamorato dell'universo, anche agli extraterrestri! :-) Grazie di cuore Paul e Steven, evviva Villa Cappelli e il vostro palpabile amore per la bella terra di Puglia.

The first thing I remember when I think about Villa Cappelli are its owners, Paul and Steven. Not in memory have I ever felt so welcomed and included in the lives of these two perfect strangers. It just seemed like the moment I checked into the villa, I was part of the family, and the day to days activities that happen there: sometimes there is olive picking, other moments the lavender in the garden is being harvested or tomatoes are being dried on the terrace. This is a place for travellers to visit if they are into committed to seeing the real Italy, which is more about breaking bread with beautiful friends than seeing the coliseum or the grand canal. Paul and Steven are amazing cooks. When I visited, it sort of felt like every day was thanksgiving, or some celebration of friends and food. It goes without saying that the villa itself, positioned as it is on the ancient Roman road, Via Adriana, is an incredibly stunning and special place. The road is lined with umbrella pines, and I remember seeing a group of bikers staying at the villa, ridding it off into the acres and acres of olive groves that surround the villa in every direction. I know these guys have put great care into revealing and preserving the history and traditions of this part of the world, evident in the care they took with repairing and pouring all their energies into breathing life back into a place that they originally found in absolute ruin. Honestly, what I can say about the villa, and recommend to friends, is that if you're in the market for a vacation that actually has another dimension to it; learning about a community, its food, its history, this place ticks every box. But it also is an amazing spot if you just want to loaf by the pool, have cocktails and catch up on reading. I am not a cyclist myself, but I know that Paul organises extensive bike excursions for guests throughout greater Puglia, as I saw many of them coming and going when I stayed there. They were also planning a wedding during my visit and I watched how excited the bride to be was as she walked through the villa's courtyard out into the rose covered garden, and I thought to myself, how awesome it would be to get married here! The other cool aspect of staying at the villa was that you could make it as fancy or laid back an affair as you wanted. These guys will cook your meals, or let you run the kitchen. I will come back to see Villa Cappelli again, both for the beauty of the place and its owners.

The first thing I remember when I think about Villa Cappelli are its owners, Paul and Steven. Not in memory have I ever felt so welcomed and included in the lives of these two perfect strangers. It just seemed like the moment I checked into the villa, I was part of the family, and the day to days activities that happen there: sometimes there is olive picking, other moments the lavender in the garden is being harvested or tomatoes are being dried on the terrace. This is a place for travellers to visit if they are into committed to seeing the real Italy, which is more about breaking bread with beautiful friends than seeing the coliseum or the grand canal. Paul and Steven are amazing cooks. When I visited, it sort of felt like every day was thanksgiving, or some celebration of friends and food. It goes without saying that the villa itself, positioned as it is on the ancient Roman road, Via Adriana, is an incredibly stunning and special place. The road is lined with umbrella pines, and I remember seeing a group of bikers staying at the villa, ridding it off into the acres and acres of olive groves that surround the villa in every direction. I know these guys have put great care into revealing and preserving the history and traditions of this part of the world, evident in the care they took with repairing and pouring all their energies into breathing life back into a place that they originally found in absolute ruin. Honestly, what I can say about the villa, and recommend to friends, is that if you're in the market for a vacation that actually has another dimension to it; learning about a community, its food, its history, this place ticks every box. But it also is an amazing spot if you just want to loaf by the pool, have cocktails and catch up on reading. I am not a cyclist myself, but I know that Paul organises extensive bike excursions for guests throughout greater Puglia, as I saw many of them coming and going when I stayed there. They were also planning a wedding during my visit and I watched how excited the bride to be was as she walked through the villa's courtyard out into the rose covered garden, and I thought to myself, how awesome it would be to get married here! The other cool aspect of staying at the villa was that you could make it as fancy or laid back an affair as you wanted. These guys will cook your meals, or let you run the kitchen. I will come back to see Villa Cappelli again, both for the beauty of the place and its owners.

My husband and I stayed at Villa Cappelli with six other friends; we could not have had a better experience! This was my first time in Italy and I wanted to enjoy the historic sites, pastoral views, and of course the food and wine! Besides a meal or two that we had while touring, Steven prepared the majority of our meals including local lamb, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella (which we bought as fresh as fresh can get-directly from a dairy farm), asparagus (which we picked in a local forest alongside a 13th century castle) and of course a zesty pasta, just to name a few. Paul was an excellent tour guide, inserting little pieces of current news, events, and flavor as we made our way along the Appian Way or out to the emerald waters of the Adriatic. The accommodations were comfortable and the mattress was perfect! We slept in later than we do anywhere else. The large windows in the bedroom framed a large expanse of olive trees and it was peaceful to watch an incoming storm. We would have stayed longer, but we planned a two-day experience in Rome. Paul brought us to the local train station (only 10 minutes away) and waited for us to catch our train. I highly recommend Villa Cappelli for groups, families, adventure seekers, environmentally-minded folks, etc. Oh...and I forgot to mention-they make their own wine, olive oil, limoncello, and liquors!

My husband and I stayed at Villa Cappelli with six other friends; we could not have had a better experience! This was my first time in Italy and I wanted to enjoy the historic sites, pastoral views, and of course the food and wine! Besides a meal or two that we had while touring, Steven prepared the majority of our meals including local lamb, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella (which we bought as fresh as fresh can get-directly from a dairy farm), asparagus (which we picked in a local forest alongside a 13th century castle) and of course a zesty pasta, just to name a few. Paul was an excellent tour guide, inserting little pieces of current news, events, and flavor as we made our way along the Appian Way or out to the emerald waters of the Adriatic. The accommodations were comfortable and the mattress was perfect! We slept in later than we do anywhere else. The large windows in the bedroom framed a large expanse of olive trees and it was peaceful to watch an incoming storm. We would have stayed longer, but we planned a two-day experience in Rome. Paul brought us to the local train station (only 10 minutes away) and waited for us to catch our train. I highly recommend Villa Cappelli for groups, families, adventure seekers, environmentally-minded folks, etc. Oh...and I forgot to mention-they make their own wine, olive oil, limoncello, and liquors!

My family and I came to Villa Cappelli to spend a week with friends. What a fabulous place to spend our vacation! Our suite was quite lovely (three rooms, sitting room and a bathroom) and the other suites/rooms were just as wonderful. Old school furnishings (but comfy) in keeping with the centuries-old villa. Our hosts were truly welcoming and loads of fun. We learned a lot from Paul, Steven and Casey. AND the food was phenomenal (we arranged to have nightly group dinners at the villa). They also make their own wine, olive oil, conserves. One evening, Paul arranged for a local pizzaca band to come and entertain us. What a treat! The band was fantastic. The villa is close to picture postcard beaches and to a castle. Beautiful Lecce is three-hours away. Lounging around the villa was also terrific - they have a great pool! Our kids loved it at the villa and they loved the Villa Cappelli family (including the three dogs and countless kitties). We highly recommend Villa Cappelli! (and we miss it already)

My family just returned from a week-long stay at Villa Cappelli in the Puglia region of Italy. We were with a group of 13 people, many of us with children (ranging in age from 5 to 13), and we all agreed it was one of the best, most luxurious, most relaxing, most delicious, most interesting, most unique vacations we ever took – one that gave us a taste of authentic, unspoiled Italy that most U.S. tourists don’t experience. We flew directly from NYC to Rome, and then took a quick, inexpensive connecting flight to Bari, from which the Villa is a short, 20-minute drive (we rented a car at the Bari airport). For the trip home, when we were better rested, we chose to drive back to Rome, and that was an easy four and a half hour drive on the highway. The Villa itself and its surroundings are absolutely gorgeous and bursting with rustic charm and natural beauty. The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and handsomely furnished, with modern bathrooms. The pool and garden are beautiful, and beyond the property walls, you can see miles and miles of olive groves all around, which means there is plenty of peace, quiet, and privacy here. I should mention this is also a great vacation for families with children, as the kids can run safely throughout the property, and there is much here for them to explore and enjoy. But by far, what makes this such a special vacation, is the hospitality of the owners, Paul Cappelli, his partner Steven (both formerly of New York City), and Paul’s daughter Casey. From the moment you arrive, they go out of their way to make your stay comfortable and memorable, whether it be a welcoming glass of prosecco, an escorted shopping trip into town, or an impromptu pasta-making class in the villa kitchen. We asked them to provide dinners for our group, and these meals were a highlight of the stay for everyone. Each day, they would head to town and return with fresh fish, seafood, cheese and meat, which they would lovingly prepare with vegetables and herbs from their own garden, complimented by their home-made olive oil (essentially liquid gold—it will put you off all other olive oil for life), wine (red and easily drinkable), and liqueurs, including their own Limoncello and walnut liqueur. Each night, our group would gather for a long, leisurely meal, sitting at a candlelit table outside by the pool, as our hosts brought out course after course of delicious, home-cooked Italian food. These meals put the ones we had in Rome to shame, and were shocking

As I read all the laudatory reviews about Villa Cappelli, I found it hard to believe this was such a perfect place...surely the reviews had been written by Paul and his friends. Having just returned from two weeks at the Villa, I agree totally with all the wonderful things that have been written in prior reviews...they are NOT made up! We chose Villa Cappelli to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We had never rented sight-unseen before, and Paul responded to all my anxious e-mails in great detail and with great patience. We had 23 family members for the 1st week, and a different 22 for the second week. Ages were 2 to 75 years. From the moment Paul opened the gate to welcome us, we entered an enchanting time. Paul, Steven and Casey were the perfect hosts-always available yet never intrusive. We were delighted with every aspect of the Villa: we cooked in the marvelously equipped kitchen and swam til we were exhausted in the large pool. The children (and adults) loved exploring the garden and the olive groves. Plenty of common indoor and outdoor areas to have our large group all together, yet plenty of places to be by yourself. Paul's knowledge of and passion for the Villa and the area were never-ending, as was his willingness to share them with us. Steven cooked three superlative meals for us and Casey was helpful in so many ways. We felt like good friends, not like paying guests. Having their homemade wine and liquors and jams was really special. The pictures on the website are a true reflection of the Villa, yet can't begin to do it justice. Our family felt the same way: over and over they enthused over the Villa and couldn't believe their good fortune in being able to be there. All of us would return in a heart-beat, and we strongly, strongly recommend this wonderful place. The vrbo.com review guidelines say not to include any personally identifiable information - or else I'd include our names and e-mail address so that anyone wanting more information could contact me. Instead, we've encouraged Paul to use us for references. We LOVED every minute of our stay at Villa Cappelli and hope to return.

Our stay at Villa Cappelli was without a doubt the best vacation I have ever had. From the moment we got there we were made to feel like part of a remarkable family. The villa is unique and fascinating and beautiful. The grounds with all the beautiful plants and pool and view takes your breath away. Paul and Steven are the most hospitable and considerate hosts anyone could hope for. The bedrooms and furnishings are all amazing. And the food! Steven is a fantastic cook and the local produce, fish, etc was such a treat. The best part for me was when we would sit around the big dining table after eating and drinking for hours and joke and laugh late into the night. I felt like I was with family. I miss Villa Cappelli, Paul, Steven and Casey and cannot wait to go back again!

The beautiful accommodations were surpassed only by the warm and wonderful hosts. We were there as part of a biking Puglia tour, and it's perhaps our best vacation ever. Be sure to arrange for the hosts to prepare at least one meal; the food was fabulous.

This charming 14th century Villa provides the perfect setting to explore the beautiful region of Puglia. The owners welcome you into their quaint Villa. The food was never never ending and so good that I could hardly wait until the next meal. The evening we took over the kitchen to make our own designer pizzas in an pizza oven several hundred years old was a fantastic experience. All of this was accompanied with home made wine, olive oil and other fabulous liquors. Fortunate for us we were cycling through the countryside and along the beautiful Adriatic everyday to keep the pounds from staying on.

We were a party of 21 people ranging in age from 7 to 85, extended family celebrating my parents 60th Wedding Anniversary. What a memorable time we had from the incredibly warm welcome to our sad goodbyes. Paul, Stephen, Casey and Logan work so hard and nothing is too much trouble. The atmosphere is very relaxed, even with 11 children running around. We ate there every night, drinking homemade wine (the best) and homemade liqueurs (we brought back some limoncello) The food was delicious - course after course of the freshest Italian food served in an amazing huge room at a long table (because it was too cold to eat outside) There were many vegetarians among us but that was no problem at all - everyone was catered for. The house is on the Appian Way which means there's virtually no traffic. They had lots of bikes that the kids could ride up and down. There are lots of animals, which the kids especially liked. 3 docile, laid-back dogs and 11 cats. Paul took us out for the day - we went to a mozzarella farm and a town made up of caves. On another occasion we went shopping for food with Paul - what an experience - we were give so many things to taste by the shop-owners. The area is completely untouristy and lots to see and do. We all agreed we had such an amazing week and this had a lot to do with the hosts. We'd love to return.

Having never been to a country/ area where English is not a primary language, we decided to take an organized group tour to Puglia, Italy... staying at Villa Cappelli. We could not have asked for a better vacation! After driving through miles of olive groves, uninterrupted vistas of the Puglia countryside and beautiful towns filled with stunning architecture, we arrived at Villa Cappelli in Terlizzi. The gate to Villa Cappelli (right on the Apian Way!) opened and we realized we were staying in a piece of history... yet, in someone's home; not a "hotel". The view from the entrance gate alone is breathtaking. The cobblestone walkways, stone arches, and gateway to the pool area and gardens immediately transported us to a relaxed way of living. The owners greeted us and welcomed us with open arms. A tour of the one-of-a-kind grounds ended at our room. A few stone steps down into our accommodations and we settled in to our room... vaulted ceilings made from stone... a fireplace with a wood stove... beautiful artwork and antiques and a bathroom fit for a king! During the week we stayed at Villa Cappelli, we were able to visit other guests' rooms and saw that each one was unique; carefully restored and beautifully appointed with antiques and authentic rustic Italian details. Having a host who speaks Italian and English made a huge difference with regard to how much more we could enjoy our visit. Paul (owner) was great about accompanying the tour to translate and order at restaurants etc. And, the bike tour leaders were super about helping with the translations and making sure we got the most out of our trip with regard to learning the history of the area, where to go for shopping etc. The Terlizzi area is not a stereotypical "tourist" area in Italy and not everyone speaks English. We highly recommend a stay at Villa Cappelli. The region it is in is grogeous and easy to get around. The villa is a one of a kind experience... accomdations you will never forget.

I stayed at the Villa last May with a group of gents on a bike tour for a week. To be perfectly honest, it was an experience that I will never forget. From the moment we were picked up at the airport, we were wined, dined, and given a tour of ancient Italy that no one would usually encounter on a tour. We met, ate, and hung out with the locals...we saw, touched, and smelled what "real" Italy is like...as we relaxed, socialized, and soaked it all up with the hospitality of Paul, Steven, and the tour guides. I would say that my room was like something out of "A room with a view" - it was breath taking to say the least. In a trip for me that encompassed three other countries, the experience I had at the Villa and Terlizzi was by far the best, hands-down. I cannot wait to return next spring to the and do it all over again!

I had a fabulous two week stay at Villa Cappelli. At this 14th Century villa on the "Via Appia" one feels like stepping back in history while enjoying all the amenities of a luxury inn. I am a tour director/bike guide and brought a group of 12 bikers to the Villa to stay for a week and do bike day trips in the surrounding area visiting castles, national parks and wonderful old coastal towns. All of the bikers had rave reviews of the Villa and our host/owners Paul and Steven. The owners could not have been more accommodating. They organized the bike routes and supplied bikes, local guides, and a support van. We opted to eat many of our meals at the Villa; food was all homemade with local produce and products AND delicious. Again rave reviews from my biking clients. I am sure we will use Villa Cappelli in the future and I have already recommended it to several friends.

Behind the iron gates to the entrance of the Villa Cappelli, lies a warm, inviting and perhaps slightly magical oasis of Italian life that owner Paul has created for his visitors. The villa decor is a blend of renaissance flair and rustic charm. The bedrooms are calm and peaceful and the common areas are relaxing and inviting. The views from the upstairs bedrooms overlooking the olive groves and vineyards are lovely early of a morning. The food of the region is varied, bountiful and so delicious. If you are afforded the opportunity to go to the markets with Paul to help shop for the mid-day meal, DO IT! The local vendors are open and friendly and love introducing Paul’s visitors to new things. Paul has taken some of the best dishes of the region and made them his own.....my best days at the villa were the ones in which I played sous chef and assisted him in the kitchen. He will pour you a glass of his magic wine and the time will pass in an instance as he shares his love and passion for the Puglia region and its hidden treasures. He is a joy to be around and a wealth of knowledge about the region, the history, the culture and the cuisine. If, after the mid-day meal and a long siesta, you decide you have room enough to go into town for dinner or gelato, ask Paul for a recommendation. He never steered our group wrong. Come to the villa with an open mind, a desire to explore all that the region has to offer and embrace the warm, relaxing place that it is. Whether you intend the villa to serve as an anchor point for day trips to the many lovely town and sights in the areas or as a place to relax and unwind, you’ll find it here. Take off your heels and slip on your favorite pair of sandals and just soak it all in. Grab a book and relax on the portico, take a dip in the pool or take a long walk on the Appian Way. You’ll be the better for it and it truly can be a “La Dolce Vita” experience.