La Collina degli Ulivi - Casa Ulivi 1

We’d been to La Collina degli Ulivi before, including a wonderful two-week stay in 2013 with our son, and first discovered it in June 2010. That first holiday was so good we added another week. The farm is peaceful and has lemon, olive, fig, orange, clementine and almond trees, plus amazing views of the sea and the Aeolian islands. The owner’s wine and olive oil are excellent. After another four-year break, we returned with our two kids and friends who had children too. In 2017 we came back for a third time and spent another two weeks there. This visit, though, came with a shock: large fires had burned the surrounding hills. The property and garden survived, but hills on all sides were completely scorched. About 20% of the garden’s trees were lost, mostly olives and some almonds, along with the lovely cypresses behind the house and in the garden. The owner’s large garden partly screened the damage nearby. The owners seemed down, which was understandable. I hope things look better by next summer, and that the hills turn green again next spring. I’ve added some new photos.