`No going back’
We are Jan and Willeke, a Dutch couple who emigrated to the middle of Italy in 2005 for a different way of life. We would like to tell you in short how Rocca di Sotto came into being.
We have completely pledged our hearts to the Abruzzo region of Italy. This is because this region has beautiful natural parks and beautiful beaches, it has a nice climate and yet has still not been discovered by too many tourists or other adventurers.
Camping vegetable garden
After working in Abruzzo for a few years in the Michelin starred restaurant La Bandiera (Willeke) and at a car body workshop (Jan), we started looking to the future. After a year and a half renting an apartment and eighty houses-views later, we found our farm at the foot of the National Park Gran Sasso in the Apennines.
Here we have a beautiful area of 10 hectares with ancient olive trees, a forest, a mountain stream, grassland, many fruit and nut trees and beautiful views on all sides. Our ambition is to become increasingly self-supporting, sustainable, for example with food and energy. It is a slow process, but very instructive. We have our own wood for various construction projects and which also provides heating via a `back boiler’. Our `camping vegetable garden’ has many fruit and nut trees, and we own chickens too.
The goal
We would like to welcome our guests to enjoy what we have found here; the beautiful rhythm of nature, a pitch black starry sky, fantastic views and warm and friendly Italians. You can enjoy delicious local products, clean air and space for yourself and each other on our terrace.
The goal is to create a place where we feel comfortable and where many others can enjoy it.
TV Oostvisiting Rocca di Sotto
In May 2014, Tv Oost visited us to make television recordings of our wonderful life in Abruzzo.