Did you work with an architect on the restoration, and for the interior, how did you decide on the spaces and colors and selecting the furnishings? 

The first architectural sketches for Partemio were entrusted to Maria Formosi, a gifted architect based in Francavilla Fontana, whom I met through a friend. Maria is renowned for her delicate work in restoring churches and historic structures across the region. And she brought that same reverence to our project. What set Maria apart was her profound connection to the building site itself. She lived the work, moving through the spaces, making swift, intuitive decisions as the hidden character of Partemio revealed itself. Restoring an estate born in 1608 leaves little room for rigid plans; few lines are straight, and walls often surprise you. To succeed, you must listen more to the stones than to the blueprints.

Although Maria’s involvement ended early, she left a clear, thoughtful direction that remained our guiding light. Other architects who attempted to steer the project from afar quickly fell into frustration. Partemio demanded a hands-on, deeply present approach. And we found it again in Salvatore Rizzo, a local surveyor from Latiano, whose pragmatic and passionate involvement was essential to completing the restoration. To both Maria and Salvatore, I remain profoundly grateful.

With a background in architecture from Carnegie Mellon University, I have always been drawn to the language of space. At Partemio, it was clear to me from the beginning: the historic bones of the building could be opened to allow a more contemporary, flowing rhythm. I transformed the central rooms into one expansive, welcoming public space, while the old stables were reimagined as smaller, intimate studios and bedrooms. Each one unique, each one carrying its own quiet story. The palette we chose was already written into the building’s history. On the exterior walls, we uncovered traces of Pompeian red and ochre – colors we carefully revived using ancient techniques: calce paint applied over fresh stucco, enriched with natural powdered pigments. Inside the main house, beneath layers of time, we found two extraordinary ceilings painted in shades of green, yellow, and blue, hidden under centuries of whitewash. Their rediscovery became our guiding light for the interiors, allowing the past to softly dictate the present.

For the bedrooms, I wanted to honor the simple elegance of traditional Puglian homes. Soft whites and warm beiges echo the natural hues of the tufo stone found in the walls and vaulted ceilings. The floors, laid in a beige terrazzo, are a deliberate tribute: in a region where marble was often beyond reach, terrazzo – a humble mixture of marble fragments and cement – created a subtle luxury of its own. Nearly every piece of furniture at Partemio, with the exception of mattresses and linens, was sourced from antique markets across Puglia. My philosophy on this project always been one of renewal: to reuse, to recycle, to breathe new life into the beautiful and the forgotten. Just as Partemio itself has been given a second life, so too have the treasures within its walls, and the gardens beyond, where rescued trees and plants now flourish.

Is there an element, a room, or a feature of the Masseria that really made you realize that this would be your new beginning?

Many corners of Partemio feel touched by magic, but two spaces hold a special place in my heart. One is La Torretta Bar, a social retreat housed within the ancient Moorish tower. I intentionally designed the interior to serve a dual purpose: by day and evening, it is a lively bar; yet with a few simple touches, it can be transformed into an altar for intimate weddings. It has quickly become one of our most beloved spaces. As the sun dips toward the horizon, the tower blushes in shades of orange and pink, radiating a light
so vibrant it feels electric.

We've hosted live jazz concerts on the rooftop, where the music mingles with the song of cicadas, and the view stretches over a sea of centuries-old olive trees. It's a setting that feels almost suspended in time, ethereal, unforgettable. Our guests and friends often say that aperitivo on the roof is one of the highlights of their stay.

The second space that I hold dear is our Tavolo Rosso. A striking modern table, nine meters long, sculpted from vivid red concrete. It comfortably seats twenty guests for dinner.

There is nothing that brings me more joy than seeing friends and guests gathered here, sharing food, stories, and laughter. Often, we blend guests and friends around the table, creating a mix that sparks not only lively conversations but also moments of genuine connection. Time and again, we are reminded that we are all linked, separated by no more than two degrees.

          
Partemio is a home that celebrates both the past and the future. How did you strike the right balance between tradition and modernity?

The guiding principle behind the restoration of Partemio was always clear: to respect the spirit of the structure; its original construction, its finishes, its timeless palette. Our task was not to transform it, but to gently restore and open it where needed, creating a more fluid, contemporary rhythm from room to room.

Bringing Partemio into the present day meant using modern interventions with a light, thoughtful touch. We secured the historic vaults with fiberglass and discreet insulation, introduced humidity barriers to protect against winter damp, and installed air conditioning and heating systems that also regulate moisture – an invisible comfort. Steel-framed windows and doors, slender and elegant, frame the landscape beyond while offering warmth with thermoglass – technical choices made always in dialogue with beauty.

At times, we deliberately introduced contrasts that at first glance might seem at odds, but in reality, create a vibrant harmony. The gleaming stainless-steel kitchen finds a natural home beneath the soft white vaults, adding light to a space blessed with few windows.

The bold red concrete of Il Tavolo Rosso animates the antique courtyard with an unexpected modernity. And the pool, once humble feeding troughs, is now lined with red and white cementina tiles, turning the everyday into something quietly sophisticated.

One of my favorite moments is found in the grand living room, where a contemporary B&B Italia Arne Corner sofa, upholstered in soft beige, sits beneath the main arch facing the fireplace. It’s unexpected, and that is exactly the point. I find great joy in these moments of surprise, where the eye catches something new and delightful, and old and new embrace without apology.

So much room for art as well, how did you choose the works to be displayed? Did your international experience influence the atmosphere of Partemio?

"At Partemio, every piece of art tells a story, not of prestige, but of places, people, and light remembered."

At Partemio, the art that lines the walls was never chosen for its provenance or prestige, but for the way it speaks to me, for the memories it holds. Every piece captures a fragment of my life, a place I’ve lived, a moment that stayed with me. The collection is eclectic by design, a tapestry woven from travels and time. There are paintings found at street markets in South Africa, and works by contemporary photographers such as Justin Dingwall, Hendrik Kerstens, Richard Caldicott, and Christopher Beene. There are oil paintings by young graduates from the Royal College of Art in London, alongside the work of Pantaleón Piazzolla, an Argentinian artist who was also my uncle. One of my favorite pieces is a delicate paper cut-out by Adam Ball. When evening light catches its edges, the work seems to glow with a soft, neon halo, a quiet, luminous presence on the wall.

Travel has been a constant in my life, and I made it a point, wherever work carried me, to visit local galleries or street markets, to learn the soul of a place through its art. Many of the treasures now at Partemio were gathered on those journeys, each carrying a whisper of a faraway culture. Closer to home, I often find beautiful discoveries in the antique markets of Puglia, which unfold like treasure troves every Sunday across the region. Together, these works form a living story. Not curated by name or school, but by feeling, connection, and memory.

          
Is there a room, a piece of furniture, that has a special meaning for you? 

“In the wind over Partemio, I hear my mother’s voice – soft, constant, near.”

­One of the objects most dear to me at Partemio is a simple windchime, a gift from a close friend, given when my mother passed away a year and a half ago.It hangs quietly at one end of the rooftop loggia, just above Suite No. 2, a room named Dora in her honor. Every time the breeze stirs, the soft sound of the chimes fills the air, and I feel her presence close by. It is perhaps one of the simplest gifts I have ever received, and yet one of the most profound: a constant reminder that my mother, though she never had the chance to visit Partemio in life, is here in spirit every day. In the sunlight, in the wind, in the quiet music of the air.

          
Besides the physical restoration of the Masseria, how has it changed or your life and daily routine? 

Living at Partemio, and living in Italy, feels like a return to my family’s roots. My father’s family came from Alberone di Cento, near Ferrara, and after the war, my grandfather emigrated to Argentina. My father grew up in his uncle’s hotel in Mar del Plata, later building a life connected to the land through soybean, sunflower, and potato farms. In one way or another, hospitality and agriculture have always woven through my life, sometimes in practice, often through the stories that shaped our family.

Without ever fully planning it, I now find myself completing the circle. Beginning a new chapter here in Italy, blending hospitality and agriculture at Partemio. At this stage of life, I’m learning to embrace a slower rhythm. Puglia has gifted me that: a way of living more attuned to the outdoors, to the seasons, to the land itself. Of course, there are moments when life here can feel remote, and I’m grateful for the contrast of cities like London, Amsterdam, and Miami, which remain close enough for a change of pace when needed. Daily life in Puglia has changed us in the simplest, most profound ways. Our diets now follow the cycle of the seasons, shaped by the crops and treasures of local farms. I’ve learned to eat pasta with almost anything, to fall in love with the delicate pairing of fresh fish, Stracciatella, and sea urchins.

Living here is not just a return, it is a rediscovery. As you grow older, you realize that it’s not only acceptable but essential to move a little more slowly. Living in Puglia has taught me a lesson I now carry deeply: piano, piano si va lontano – slowly, slowly, you go far. It has become the motto I embrace more and more with each passing day.

How do you live Partemio? With whom do you live it? 

I share life at Partemio with my partner, Marc Nijenhuis, a Dutch brand strategist and copywriter. We met here in Puglia three years ago, when Partemio was already well underway – a dream very much in motion. From the beginning, Marc has been one of my greatest supporters, encouraging me to pursue this vision wholeheartedly.

Today, he is in the process of moving full time to Italy, embracing not only the language but also the quieter, more deliberate rhythms of life here. On his own terms, he has woven Partemio into his world. While I oversee the daily operations and future development of the estate, Marc manages our social media and brand communications, helping shape how we share Partemio with the outside world.

We are fortunate: our skills complement each other naturally, and that has become a great strength as we slowly guide Partemio’s evolution – from private family home to boutique hospitality retreat. We are not alone in this adventure. Our two Weimaraners, Ludo and Ellie, and our two cats, Sammy and Freya, are part of our daily life here, filling the gardens and courtyards with their own kind of joy. My father from afar, has also been a very strong presence at Partemio. He has invested in this project and has been my number one supporter along the way. The first time I brought him here, he looked at me and said “Son, I think you are going through a mid-life crisis.  How can you possibly want to buy a pile of rocks? Are you sure about this?”. As his love for Puglia grew and he saw the transformation of The Pink Lady, he became my number one supporter and fan.

          
Partemio is both a private place and a place open to hospitality, how do you divide spaces? 

"At Partemio, you don’t simply stay. You live, you laugh, you belong."

When we opened Partemio to the public, Marc and I agreed that it would not be a typical guesthouse, but a home-stay. We invite our guests to experience life in Puglia as if they were visiting the home of an old friend: intimate, personal, and deeply immersive.

Guests are woven into the fabric of our days. We mix friends with travelers effortlessly, and often, if a guest is dreaming of making a life here, we can open doors for them through our own trusted network. The estate offers both public and private spaces, allowing everyone to find their rhythm. To gather, to retreat, to feel both connected and free. But to make this kind of life work, you must genuinely love people, and love the art of hosting. I grew up in a home like that. My mother was a natural host, a wonderful cook. Our house was the one where all the neighborhood children gathered. Without even realizing it, I absorbed her way of welcoming, of creating spaces where people felt instantly at ease. Today, nothing brings me greater joy than seeing Partemio alive with laughter, barefoot footsteps on the old floors, and guests waking under her ancient arches, as if they had always belonged.

          
What does the future hold for Masseria Partemio? Do you have plans to further expand the property or other ideas in mind for the future?

This winter, we will begin a new chapter at Partemio: developing six additional guest rooms from the remaining stables, creating a large pool, building an amphitheater for music events, and expanding our vineyard. I am also quietly campaigning for chickens – something Marc and I continue to discuss (I am very much in favor; he is more reluctant). I love to cook, and the idea of fresh eggs on our breakfast table delights me.

Our vision for Partemio is to welcome guests year-round, offering not just relaxation but experiences that engage both heart and mind. Already, we’ve received requests for creative writing retreats, think tanks, yoga and wellness escapes, and corporate training sessions. I dream of hosting a multidisciplinary arts week, where guests could explore not just regional cooking and artisan crafts, but also fragrance-making from local flora, Italian tailoring, and even exhilarating drives at the Nardò racetrack.

But not all is easy. We also face the silent heartbreak of Xylella, the disease that has devastated the ancient olive groves of Puglia. Like so many in this region, all our beloved trees are infected. In time, they will need to be removed and replanted – a truth that is as painful as it is inevitable. When I first discovered Partemio, it was hidden within a sea of centuries-old olive trees. In less than a decade, that landscape will be forever changed. And yet, just as Partemio herself survived forty years of abandonment, I believe we too will endure. We will grieve what is lost, and then, slowly, lovingly, we will grow again.

What does your ultimate dinner party at Partemio look like?

 The setting for our communal dinners is always Il Tavolo Rosso, the long red cement table stretched across a terrace that catches the last light of sunset. As the façade of the masseria glows in its Pompeian red, candles and strings of warm light flicker above.

We like to mix guests with local friends, so the table becomes more than dinner: it becomes community, and a place where new friendships begin and grow, one shared plate at a time. Guests arrive without hurry, greeted with a glass of chilled rosato from our own Susumaniello vines or a cocktail made with whatever fruit or herbs are in season. Conversation starts easily, as naturally as the wine that flows.

The table is simple but rich: intentionally mismatched ceramics from local artisans, white linen napkins, bowls of fruits, nuts and cheeses, freshly baked focaccia, and bottles of our own olive oil. The courses arrive one by one; burrata filled with tuna or truffle, hand-rolled orecchiette pasta with slow cooked tomato sauce, lamb or fish roasted over olive wood, peaches caramelized with honey and almonds. Between each dish, there is always time: to refill glasses, admire the moon above Partemio’s tower, or slip into a new conversation.

What we are saying here: food is our love language. It’s how we share who we are, and it’s why every dish carries not just flavor, but the essence of being at Partemio, home away from home. Sharing, with longtime and new friends. Family.

Music often drifts in, a guitar or a voice from a friend. Someone dances, someone recites a poem. By midnight the table is full of crumbs and empty glasses, but the energy is still high; laughter, dancing, even someone walking the length of the table like it’s a runway. This is when memories are made.

At Masseria Partemio, dinners are never just meals. They are evenings you carry with you. Shaped by the food, the people, and the ease of a night that doesn’t follow a script. Here, you are looked after not as a guest, but as part of the family.

Nothing is rushed. Everything unfolds at its own pace, in rhythm with the countryside. That’s what makes our Tavolo Rosso dinners and nights unforgettable.

Invite our new edition of hand-made ceramics into your home.