What is the name of your accommodation?

Villa Sessana

Could you introduce yourself and share a bit about your life, such as your interests, hobbies, or background?

I’m Lisa, and together with my partner Markus and our daughter Leni, we divide our time between different places, but Puglia has truly become our second home.

We both spend much of our professional lives in the world of ideas and strategy, so we deeply value the moments that connect us back to something tangible: being outdoors, working with our hands, cooking, or simply slowing down. We share a passion for thoughtful design, nature, good food and wine, and the kind of slow living that Italy does so well. Yoga is part of my daily rhythm and keeps me grounded wherever we are.

How did your property become part of your life? When did it happen, and what inspired or motivated you to take it on?

We came across Villa Sessana by coincidence in 2024, and it was love at first sight. There was something deeply captivating about the light, the materials, and the stillness of the landscape. It instantly felt like a place that brought together everything we value: design, nature, and a slower rhythm of life.

Taking it on felt less like a decision and more like a calling. Villa Sessana embodied the balance we seek between our often fast-paced professional lives and the joy of creating, connecting, and simply being.

It felt like the perfect place to bring all of this together, a space where simplicity, beauty, and calm coexist. We’re happy to share it with others who appreciate the same, whether they come as a couple, with family, or friends, and hope it feels like their own little sanctuary for a while.

What was the process of creating your property like? Tell us about renovating, furnishing, or styling it.

Villa Sessana was designed by the Dutch architecture studio Studiotoff, whose work we had admired for a long time. When we first saw the house, it was already a masterpiece, a place where natural materials, light, and space were perfectly balanced.

It didn’t need reinvention, only a gentle touch to make it feel like a home. The last few details added our personal layer to what was already an extraordinary space.

For us, it was less about changing anything and more about continuing the story, keeping its architectural soul intact while making it warm, lived-in, and welcoming for our guests.

What makes your property truly special to you? Do you have any favorite spots, cherished memories, or personal touches that make it dear to your heart?

What makes Villa Sessana special to us is the calm it brings. We love starting the day on the terrace, surrounded by the sound of cicadas and the morning light. Most days revolve around the pool; it’s where our daughter Leni made her first attempts to swim, and where we spend hours just being together.

Sometimes we take a short drive into Ostuni for a coffee or roll out a yoga mat by the sea. But more often than not, we simply stay because it’s one of those places where you don’t feel the need to go anywhere at all.

How would you describe the atmosphere and interior of your property?

The atmosphere at Villa Sessana is very calm and grounded. It’s a house that immediately slows you down, open, light-filled, and connected to nature.

The architecture is minimal yet warm, with soft stone floors, natural textures, and a palette that mirrors the landscape outside. Everything has been made or chosen with care, from the locally crafted stone and wood to the high-quality materials and pieces that furnish the space.

Every room feels intentional but never staged. You can move barefoot from inside to outside, always surrounded by light and silence. It’s the kind of place that feels effortless, beautiful, but in a quiet way.

Are there any sustainable or eco-friendly applications associated with your property that you are proud of?

Sustainability was an important consideration for us from the beginning. Villa Sessana is powered by solar energy, which covers most of the property’s electricity needs.

We also try to keep things simple and mindful, using natural materials, reducing waste, and following local recycling standards. For us, it’s less about big gestures and more about quiet responsibility, taking care of the place and the environment that makes it so special.

What motivated or inspired you to rent your property to guests?

Villa Sessana felt too special to keep to ourselves. From the first moment, we knew it was a place meant to be shared, the kind of setting that inspires you to slow down and reconnect with what really matters.

We love seeing how different people experience it in their own way, whether it’s a couple enjoying the stillness, a family spending long days by the pool, or friends gathering around the table at night. That feeling of others finding joy and peace here is what truly motivates us.

What can guests expect when staying at your accommodation? Share the experience, the highlights, and perhaps the best compliment you’ve received from past guests.

Guests can expect a very calm and personal experience, days that unfold naturally between the terrace, the pool, and the quiet rhythm of the countryside. There are so many things to discover nearby, small towns, beaches, and local markets, but most people tell us they simply didn’t want to leave.

That’s the biggest compliment we can imagine, and it’s something we hear from almost everyone who stays. When guests find the same sense of peace and connection here that we did, it means Villa Sessana has worked its quiet magic again.

What do you hope guests will take away from their stay, and do you have any special tips or recommendations to make their holiday unforgettable?

What I hope guests take away from their stay is a little more connection to their own natural flow, that quiet, effortless rhythm that often gets lost in daily life. If Villa Sessana can help them remember how that feels, even for a moment, that’s more than enough.

We’ve created a small booklet with personal tips and recommendations for places nearby, but my best advice is to keep things simple. Follow what feels good rather than ticking boxes. Puglia has a way of revealing its beauty slowly, if you let it.