This holiday home is perfect if someone is looking for a completely independent and private place, without neighbours but with a caring host. It´s in the middle of orchards and fields for a relaxing holiday, specialy if you have your dog/dogs with. The house is comfortable, has a living room with two couches and a big dining area with nice kitchen, which has a brand new 5-burner cooker+oven. All windows are equipped with mosquito net and shutters (the front door has a fly curtain) and in June it was a pleasant breeze around so we didn´t miss the AC (but there´re ceiling- and standing fans too). The big garden is fully fenced, the smallest dog couldn´t escape from it, our dogs enjoyed a lot free running and hunting for the lizards. I loved to have the meals outside at the big table on the covered terrace, and just laying in the garden, listening to the birds and cicadas while reading. It was apricot season and one side of the fence the trees are growing in where they left the fruits on so we could eat as much as we wanted, but the owner Mimmo brought us his wonderful fresh figs and peaches too and always made sure everything is fine. Another great thing is the 3-stands car port, fully covered by ivy, kept the car reasonably cool in the shade. Bernalda (very small but pretty old town, its new part has many restaurants and shops) is 17 mins drive, the nearby beaches (they were almost empty in early June but I´m sure more people come in the weekends and in the main season) 10 mins drive, with crystal clear water, getting deep slowly so it´s ideal for young children too. To reach Matera only takes half hour so we went back twice, 1st parked on the medieval side ("Parcheggio - Stazione Centrale/Tribunale") and the other morning we started on the hillside where the Sassi are, for the most beautiful view. We had some trips to the mountains around too, found very nice and well marked (!) walking paths for example in the valley of the river Sinni.

The only disadvantage (and the advantage) the place is very cut-off, the navigation of the car also suggests dirty tracks if they are shorter to drive (Google maps is better if you excluded such tracks). There´re proper concreted roads too, don´t get fooled like we did on the first night. :-D Sometimes people are working on their fields and they start the tractors early and the plants need watering too, despite you are on a holiday or not... I personally prefer to use the morning hours for programs and with the dogs we can´t stay too long on the beach either so we could have a nap in siesta time too.

Mimmo's beautiful garden and patio were the perfect oasis in the middle of hot summer weather. The breeze kept the house fresh and in the silence of the surrounding countryside we were able to sleep with all the windows open. In the house there was everything we needed for cooking. Mimmo treated us with fresh watermelons and figs, the sweetest figs ever... This was just the perfect place, so tranquil! And it is just a short ride to a lovely beach. A big thank you to the lovely host Mimmo!