Almasol

The room we had was on the second floor, fully renovated, with its own bathroom and a well-kept balcony. The evening breeze was lovely. Mrs. Alma greeted us when we arrived in Cassano delle Murge and made us feel very welcome. Her creative touch shows throughout the bed and breakfast, with its shabby chic furnishings, and everything was handled professionally. The sanitization followed anti-COVID rules, and shoe covers and masks were required in the shared areas. We came for the location, planning to explore some of Puglia’s smaller towns, and the owner left us a helpful note about popular places to visit. She also arranged a wonderful guided tour of Altamura through an association. I’ll definitely return.

Mrs. Alma and her husband gave us such a warm welcome, with cake, water, smiles, and a few words. Our cozy room had a small terrace, handy for drying laundry after a leg of the Camino Materano.

I needed a place for a stopover and booked at 4 PM. When we arrived at 7 PM, I called the lady, who hadn’t even noticed the reservation. We waited 40 minutes for her to show up, then she told us the room had already been taken. It felt like a joke to me, especially when she kept saying I should have booked earlier. Everyone has their own problems, but the website offered late check-in until 9 PM. And I’d already PAID IN ADVANCE. I’m sorry, but never again. Whether I booked late or not, there was time to let me know about the problem.

I had a wonderful overnight stay the other day. I came from Trentino, where I’ve lived, and was used to a higher standard of living than I expected in the south, so I’d braced myself for the worst. I changed my mind right away. I felt like Goethe on his travels in Italy, acclaimed and revered. I was in heaven at this B&B, thanks to a wonderful welcome from a wonderful hostess, Mrs. Alma. While staying there, I planned trips from Matera to the trulli, then on to the crystal-clear waters of Polignano and the whitewashed streets of Ostuni. Nearby, I also rediscovered the greenery of Trentino in the 1,300 hectares of Mercadante forest. All of it was made possible by Mrs. Alma’s exquisite hospitality. Thank you, I’d be delighted to return!!!