Alfonso and Livia Iaccarino have created their beautiful restaurant, guesthouse and cooking school on the site of the family home. In 1890 Alfonso Costanza Iaccarino, the grandfather of the present day Alfonso returned to S’Agata sui due Golfi after years of living in America.
The restaurant was started in 1973 and has become one of the best in southern Italy. Don Alfonso is supplied with fresh produce from their own farm, tomatoes, basil, olives, lemons etc, all organically grown. Livia, Alfonso and their sons, Ernesto and Mario serve fresh, understated, unmistakably Italian food at its best.
All this is in the most beautiful setting. This really is one of the loveliest places I have seen.
The kitchen is a dream.
As well as the restaurant Livia and Alfonso have built heavenly rooms to stay in.
The entrance to the hotel.
Each room has a different colour scheme and every piece of furniture and each item in the rooms has been carefully chosen.
Welcome to the pink room.
Waiting for you in the yellow room.
And the lavender room.
Take a look at that view!!
The gardens are gorgeous as well.
These beautiful old tiles surround the pool.
Even the outdoor oven is beautiful.
This lovely old urn sits outside the entrance to the cooking school.
I think this would have to be the best looking school I have ever seen.
Livia took me through her wonderful establishment and proudly told me how much care has been put into everything that happens at Don Alfonso. My first husband, Angelo grew up with Livia and Alfonso. I did meet them in 1973 but I had never visited the restaurant before. I was lucky to get a photo of the couple before Alfonso headed off to Milan on business.
Livia and Alfonso
I didn’t get to see the underground cellar, which was first excavated by the Etruscans. It is stocked with wines from all over the world, around 25,000 bottles. There is also a cheese aging room 25 metres underground.
I would love to be able to tell you about the food, but the restaurant was booked out with a private function when I was there. I will be going back.
Thank you Livia for showing me your beautiful place. I hope we meet again soon.