Welcome to Puglia, a taste of the real Italy

Back in 1999, long before Jamie's Channel Four series and book, Jamie's Italy, we visited and fell in love with Puglia, Southern Italy. From that time we dreamed of owning a holiday home in Puglia. Our dream became a reality in 2005, when we achieved more than a holiday villa in Puglia, having sold up in the UK and retired to Puglia. An early retirement that we would never have been able to achieve in the UK.

After many years of working as an IT consultant, followed by starting, developing and then selling a web based accountancy business, years of over-achieving and being workaholics had taken their toll. On holiday in the spring of 2005 we again played with the idea of a vacation home in Puglia. With the budget airlines now flying into Bari and Brindisi, the idea seemed much more realistic. In August 2005 we started to look for property in Puglia and with the help of an internet property agency found not one, but two properties to buy. Our holiday home idea began to take root and grow into a complete relocation to Puglia package. We worked out that with the proceeds from the sale of our house in the UK we would be able to buy two properties. With the holiday rental income from one, a small pension and investment income we thought we would have a reasonable annual income. And as the cost of living in Puglia is much lower than the UK our income needs would be less.

Within four months we had sold our home in the UK and settled into our new home. Unfortunately although the internet property agency were initially helpful they subsequently let us down badly, in particular in relation to building works and the legality of both properties. Now in 2008 we are beginning to overcome these difficulties, but if you are thinking of buying a property in Puglia we recommend that you research your chosen property agents carefully. There are a lot of forums about Italy and Puglia where you can get information and help.

Two and half years later, we are now living in Casa Mare, 30 yards from the Adriatic Sea and enjoying the Italian Dolce Vita. We're still learning Italian (and probably will be for the rest or our lives) but our new Italian neighbours and friends applaud our efforts and help us out wherever they can. We've made some great friends, both English holiday home owners, other ex-pats like us and Italians. Sadly too we have seen some new arrivals fail to adapt to a new way of life and return to the UK. But for most life in Puglia really does offer a wonderful alternative to retirement in the UK.

We're having a great time exploring the nearby towns and villages, visiting the local panetteria (bakery), the local markets, sampling local specialities and wine. We can eat out at a fraction of the UK cost and the cost of fresh food is so much lower. Fresh fish, fruit and vegetables are in abundance and it's so easy to eat well.

Now we would like to share our taste of Italy with you. 5 kilometers from Casa Mare is Villa Rosa, our second property. Villa Rosa has been refurbished to a high standard and is your opportunity to experience the the delights of a holiday in the real Italy. Having completed building extenion and refurbishment on our own home, Casa Mare, it is also now available as a beach-side holiday villa with pool, for just a few weeks each year.

We look forward to wishing you "Ben Venuto in Italia".