Our stay at Trulli Stella really was all we wanted it to.
We followed the housekeeper from the little coffee shop and from the moment the electric gates opened we were all immediately transported to a true, private, south Italian idyll. The owners seem to have thought of everything you could possibly need for a perfect holiday, from that all essential WiFi (inside & out) to books, games, maps, guidebooks and little finishing touches like ample tea towels, pool towels, face flannels, shower puffs, citronella and candle lighters..
It will be remembered as one of the best equipped houses we have ever stayed in, where we thoroughly enjoyed the fabulous landscaped gardens, free-use of the gorgeous homegrown produce and the jewel in the crown for us, the much used-every-day outdoor kitchen. Preparing food in here was an absolute pleasure. We moved the smaller round dining table to the right hand corner of the garden, just by the pool steps, where the sun stayed the longest, for what became known as "champagne corner". A fantastic sunny spot for a relaxing and often prolonged sun downer before heading in to get ready for equally enchanting evenings.
We did venture out to the food market in Ostuni, the choice and freshness of the fruit and veg was amazing - it's well worth getting up early for. Ostuni old town is lovely, ancient cobbled streets with charming restaurants and atmospheric bars tucked away up every alleyway. The recommendations in the "villa book" are well worth following. We shared after dinner treats watching Wales in the semi-finals, the cosmopolitan mix of people coupled with an Italian commentary added to to the magic of the night, it's just a shame we didn't win.
Would we come back to Trulli Stella? Oh yes, in a heartbeat, hopefully in the not too distant future.....
