Romance and Creativity

Luce Dell'Amore has made an amazing difference to our lives and that is why we wish to share it with others.

It has made us appreciate each other, our indiviual talents and the value of love. Not just for each other but also those around us.

It has also made us value our environment, the fact that we could be self sufficient here, is very good for the soul.

So how did a simple stone house, some land and people speaking a foreign language achieve this? Difficult to answer in a few paragraphs, but here are some thoughts.

The pace of life is certainly slower here but that does not mean everything is done slowly, far from it! What it means is that the Pugliese invest time in what they consider important. Whether it is talking to friends or taking a couple of hours over lunch, they concentrate on relationships and place far less importance on material things. If your not prepared for this it can be frustrating, but work with it, appreciate it and you will be rewarded.

Some people value isolation and buy secluded properties. We thought that would be a mistake and why hide away from Puglia’s best asset – its people. So we made sure we had Italian neighbours and also the activity of being located on a quiet country lane. Well the neighbours are delightful from their warmth and generosity to their help and guidance – just make sure that if you get chatting, be prepared to write off the next hour! Sit on the wall and you will always be able to chat to a passing walker or even our local farmer - you will be amazed at what you get involved in.

We have also become very creative with our hands and with our minds. Maybe it is just having the time to think and relax but we also discovered that there is a Ley Line running from the main church in Alberobello to the church in Cisternino, and this runs straight through the middle of our property. We know little about Ley Lines apart from they are believed to be amongst other things lines of energy, but interestingly found out the following.....

"Ley, as a word, is akin to leoht (light illumination) and Middle English lea meaning "pasture land, a meadow which is open to the sun and therefore, at times, drenched with light." This connection of the word ley with light is significant on several levels. Physically, the clearing of tracks through the forest lights the way and marks the "ley of the land."

Visualize tree groves on ley lines and a clearing through the grove of trees on the ley lightway, filled with sacred cosmic light. Imagine standing on a ley lightway at dusk, seeing an aura of lighted lines passing through the darkened groves of trees glowing with soft light. A magical mystery!"

This maybe a bit fanciful BUT is it a coincidence that where the Ley Line runs through our land there is a clearing in the middle of our olive grove, that the sun sets at the far end and that the name Luce Dell'Amore translates - Love of light? Who knows, but it does 'feel' like a magical romantic place and you want to be there when the sun sets. It really is a special time.

Lastly we must not forget the nature that surrounds us. Olive trees from which we make our own oil and also many fruit trees that you can feast on when they are in season. Figs, Pears, Walnuts, Peaches ... often we have what we call a walking lunch, we just walk across the land picking and eating what is ripe. Bellissimo!

Hopefully the above has given you some idea why Luce Dell'Amore and Puglia is so special to us and maybe tempt you to come and experience a truly wonderful environment.

Luce Dell'Amore in Winter