The silver rows of olive groves, a small pond dotted with water lilies, a vegetable garden and citrus trees. A fan of colors and scents stemming from the luxuriant countryside, a stone’s throw from the beach, welcomes you upon your arrival.

An oasis of peace and the triumphal sounds of nature, where silence is broken only by chirping cicadas and singing birds.

Tenuta Badessa is an estate with a long story to tell dating back to the early 14th century. Once owned by local monks, it was later acquired by rich French winemakers.

For over one hundred years, it has been property of the Azzolini family who, at the beginning of the 20th century, turned it into a flourishing agricultural borough, with peasants’ dwellings, stables for animals, and warehouses for tools. Cattle were raised; oil and citrus fruits were produced.

Today, Tenuta Badessa is still committed to lively agricultural activities but, much more than that, it recently opened its gates to hospitality offering accommodation in spacious apartments and rooms with lovely views, beside a restaurant where genuine cuisine will delight even the most demanding palate. A relaxing vacation is further guaranteed by the beautiful swimming pool set amidst the gardens and the spectacular views over the surrounding countryside, where you can stroll in total freedom among orange trees and century-old olive groves.

Granma Rosaria began renovation works in 2002; the project foresaw the peasants’ dwellings turned into gracious apartments, the pigsty into the Reception office and a retail store for locally grown products, the tool warehouse into a spacious restaurant, the barn into a large hall for banquets, parties and conferences, and the stables into a peasant civilization museum. The swimming pool is located where the animals were once fenced in.

Rosaria’s young granddaughter, Francesca, manages the estate with great passion, warmly welcoming their guests as if they were long time friends.