La Villa

La Villa is an agriturismo and restaurant established in 1999, situated on a hill in Melfi, Basilicata, with panoramic views of Monte Vulture and the Norman Castle of Frederick II of Swabia. This family-run establishment is led by brothers Gabriele, Michele, and Vito Sonnessa. Vito oversees the kitchen with his father Michele, while Gabriele manages front-of-house duties as maitre d' and sommelier. The kitchen honors Lucanian and Melfitan culinary traditions through dishes crafted with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, grown on the estate’s own fields of olives, grains, vegetables, and fruit. These products are further transformed into homemade jams and marmalades, with the family’s cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil featured prominently. The agriturismo’s rustic setting among the surrounding cultivation fields reflects its connection to the local landscape and agricultural cycles. La Villa’s cuisine is recognized for its authenticity and quality, earning a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide. This combination of heritage, self-produced ingredients, and traditional Basilicata recipes offers a distinctive dining experience deeply rooted in the region’s flavors.