Looking for a private getaway in Italy? Italy with Enza is a B&B located in Gaeta, Italy. It consists of two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and when you stay here, you rent out the entire place. However, you still get plenty of attention from the innkeepers, including fabulous food and free cooking lessons if you stay at least two nights. Innkeeper Enza Volpe took the time to answer the following questions for us.
How did you name your B&B?
Italy with Enza has a small team made of myself, Enza, my boyfriend, Enzo, and my cousin, Enza. It's not a joke.
Why should someone choose your B&B?
The main reason why you should choose Italy with Enza is because included in the price are cooking lessons, a light welcome lunch, and things to munch on every day.
We know what Americans appreciate, and you can be sure to find true local taste. The one thing people love the most about Italy with Enza is that they feel protected and pampered, since I am always available for them. We do a lot together; I listen to their stories, we sing, laugh, we cook together, and when they tell me that I made their day, they actually made mine.
What are your food specialties?
We all love cooking and people. I make tiella gaetana, which is a special pizza dough and a filling of veggies or fish. Guests love it. The one they love the most is tiella with sausage and rapini! For breakfast, I do something a bit different: I deliver a basket of fresh eggs, homemade crostata, or other things I enjoy making. Of course everything is made strictly from scratch.
Can you tell me about your cooking lessons?
My cooking lessons are complimentary when guests book at least two days. The cooking lessons are something quite special; we make everything from Gaeta dishes to Sicilian cannoli, Tuscan tortelli, and handmade pasta. The place where we do the cooking lessons is a beautiful family property that overlooks the bay of Gaeta; sometimes we can even see Capri in a distance. After we cook and eat, I get my guitar and we start singing Neapolitan songs... it's special.
What makes Gaeta worth visiting?
Gaeta is worth visiting because of the fact that it is a Roman town, with all kinds of ruins, beautiful baroque churches, great views, and much more. At only a one-hour train ride away from Rome and even less from Naples, you visit the big city and then you get back to your home in Italy. Your Italian family (us) will pick you up at the train station, or possibly prepare a warm meal for you so you just join the kitchen table. You can visit Montecassino, the oldest and most beautiful Benedictine abbey. You can rent a car and go to The Palace of Caserta, or the Amalfi Drive.
Italy with Enza is the ideal choice especially for those who do not want to pay astronomical amounts for a cooking lesson, people who have been already on a big bus tour and don't want to be with 30- 40 people. It's for those customers who don't feel totally confident renting a car and driving it in Italy.
Your innkeeper will assist you with whatever you need; providing a cell phone, maps for big cities, booking museums, local guides, giving all kinds of assistance from A to Z. It has happened in the past where I have accompanied my customers to Rome or Naples, and I have gone to Positano with them doing a walking tour, saving them a whole lot of money.
Do you offer any specials?
I am always running specials as long as people book for at least a couple of days, so the best thing is to e-mail me and I will make sure to call back or e-mail if they prefer that.