A different rhythm: my life in Cilento
Before I moved to Cilento, I had a busy business and a life that looked successful from the outside. My days were full. Yet I increasingly felt that the way I was living no longer suited me.
Moving to southern Italy came after a difficult period in my personal and working life. It was a substantial change, with uncertainty as well as possibility.
What I found in Cilento was space to start building a different everyday life. Selvitelle grew from that choice.
Starting again on a smaller scale
I did not want to recreate the pace I had left. I wanted work that felt worthwhile and a place where life could include more than work.
The land gave that idea something practical to grow around. There was a garden to work in, food to prepare and plenty to learn. Days could be shaped by what needed doing here, rather than by a full diary of appointments.
Starting again was not a simple solution to everything. It involved doubt and unfamiliar responsibilities. But it also gave me a sense of being more involved in the life I was choosing.
What Selvitelle has become
Today, Selvitelle is our home and a small ecolodge with two independent studios. There are animals around, vegetables growing and work that changes with the seasons.
We welcome guests who appreciate that setting: people who enjoy nature, quiet and the freedom to spend their time as they wish.
Some guests are curious about the garden or what is happening on the land. Others want their own terrace, a book and a base for exploring Cilento. Both are welcome.
There may be an invitation to share a meal or join in with something seasonal. It depends on what is happening. A stay does not come with a programme to follow.
Space without expectations
My own experience is part of Selvitelle's story, but it does not define what a guest should get from being here.
You do not need to be at a turning point or looking for a different life. You may simply want a holiday with fewer demands on your attention.
We offer a place to stay independently, with nature around you and room to decide how to spend the day. What you make of that time is yours.
A life that continues to grow
I am still learning how to live and work here. There are satisfying days and difficult ones, as there are anywhere.
What has changed is my sense of what is enough: a useful day's work, something good to cook and time with people I care about.
Read more about Selvitelle if you would like to get to know the place behind this Journal.
