SunIsle Holidays

Endless sandy beaches lie within a ten minute drive of this charming farmhouse, set in an unspoilt area of Basilicata.

Set in 1.5 acres of secluded land which is farmed on a daily basis for olives, oranges and other fresh fruit, Casa Tranquilo has been lovingly restored by its English owners. It is most ideal for families with children of all ages. This area of Italy is unspoilt and picturesque.

Casa Tranquilo is detached and accessed via a private track, ensuring a high degree of privacy. There is also ample parking. All of the rooms have lovely views across the quiet valley and there is a shaded vine-covered patio, with a wood-burning pizza oven and a set of patio furniture, a small terrace and grassy area. The ground floor contains a kitchen, with gas hob, fridge and washing machine, and a living room with vaulted ceilings and a cast-iron wood-burning stove within the original fireplace. There are two sofabeds and a good music system which accepts CDs and USB sticks.

Another small, shaded patio with a pretty garden area is found on the first floor with the double bedroom. This is comfortably furnished and includes another stove within original fireplace and a set of children's bunk beds. The en-suite bathroom has a child-friendly thermostatic shower, WC and basin. For teenagers or extra guests the air-conditioned Finnish log cabin has two beds, a shower, WC, basin and a small ring hob.

Please note: cot and high chair available upon request.

Montalbano Jonico, Basilicata

Montalbano offers small shops and stalls with fresh produce, while within 20 minutes' drive you can find restaurants and cafes. There is also a larger Interspar supermarket within ten minutes' drive. Casa Tranquilo is also located within a ten minute drive of endless miles of gorgeous summer beaches on the Ionian sea, and within an hour of mountain skiing during the winter in the Pollino National Park.

Beaches include Policoro and Scanzano: lovely long stretches of soft sands, safe for little ones and perfect for days out. Many museums and historical sites, with Roman, Greek and Etruscan remains, are nearby and Mount Pollino National Park is an hour away, with cold streams, cool glades and skiing (in the winter).

The surrounding area has many old places of interest nearby. For instance, there's the Stassi of Materea, recently designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is one of Europe's oldest known human settlements, and was still inhabited up until the 1950's. Metaponto is another archaelogical site, with ruins linked to the Roman Empire and Spartucus, the slave who trained there. Alberabello is a lovely old hilltop town full of trulli and Cracco is a beautiful and haunted place, deserted after a landslide - don't miss it.

Why Holiday in Basilicata?

Basilicata is free from the tourist crowds which occupy other Italian regions during the main holiday season and therefore popular with our clients . The region still retains a wild and rustic appeal and it offers different attractions. The Dolomites of Lucania (Basilicata's ancient latin name) provide a superb landscape for walks through the mountains, in a protected natural area, the Pollino National Park. Along the coast, different seaside towns can offer visitors a full holiday experience combining the local naturalistic and artistic beauties. Maratea is particularly famous for its mysterious caves, hollowed in the rock by the sea waves.

The region does not have any airports although direct flights to Brindisi, Bari and Naples are all convenient for access.

Vivid Italy is your perfect choice for a holiday in Basilicata. In Basilicata we have villas, apartments and hotels ideal for your holiday.

How To Get There

You can take direct flights from Stansted to Bari on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays with Ryanair. From Gatwick you can take British Airways flights.

From Stansted you can also fly direct to Brindisi on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with Ryanair.

There are several airports flying direct from the UK to Naples. Thomson flies from Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, Bournemouth, Gatwick and Luton.

You can fly from Gatwick with British Airways and Monarch, who also fly from Manchester. From Stansted you can fly to Naples with Easyjet.