But what once stood before "Oliveto a Mare"?

There were Sundays at our grandparents' house, slow afternoons spent before the warmth of the fireplace…

And countless conversations about what we might build here, on this untouched land in Marina di Ascea, at the heart of the Cilento coast.


At the time, we didn’t realize it, but those discussions, filled with a deep love for our roots, were already pointing toward ethics and ecology.

There were dreams.

And, over time, those dreams transformed into projects.

When Oliveto a Mare was born in 2009, it emerged from the awareness that a different, more mindful approach to both vacation and the land itself was not only possible, but necessary.

The name derived from the toponym of this region, recalls the magnificent olive groves and Mediterranean scrub that once graced this land, and which, starting in the 1970s, began to yield to the rise of concrete.

As children, we recall it vividly: how beautiful the reed beds were, stretching out with the sea in the background. That place exuded a melancholic charm—few but bold olive trees standing tall, their leaves softly kissed by the breeze, while the constant rhythm of the waves marked the passing of time.

Who can say whether the reeds were truly that tall... or if we were simply that small?


Now, the reeds are gone.

Replanting the land with olive trees, as well as myrtle, strawberry trees, laurels, pittosporum, and oleanders, felt like the first step toward reconnecting with the enchanted world of our grandparents' stories.

Opting for local materials and workers was a conscious ethical decision.

Choosing clean energy sources was the only way we could truly care for what we held in our hands…

Which, to us, was far more than mere land for building upon.


Even after all these years, those memories continue to inspire each and every one of our actions.

For those memories are the very soul of our hospitality.