Casa Civita

Behind Casa Civita is Valerio Romondia, an interior architect based in Rome but deeply connected to this corner of the world. Vico is where his parents were born—and where he felt the pull to return. “I was looking for a place where I could live at my own pace, reconnect with my roots, and bring new life to the village in my own way.”

Originally created for his family and close friends, the house soon became a haven for other travelers too. “People who come here are looking for something real. They’ve come from China, the U.S., Brazil… and they’ve all told me the same thing—that they found a sense of peace here they thought they’d lost.”

The renovation was anything but flashy. No fuss—just honest, solid materials. The stone walls were restored to their original state, the shutters hand-painted, and the floors redone in raw concrete, echoing the old stables.

“I wanted to keep a light touch—let the materials, the light, and the place speak for themselves.” In the kitchen and bathroom, Apricena stone—typical of the Gargano region—blends seamlessly with wood and raw iron from the staircase. At the heart of the room, a fireplace built from four large slabs cut on-site sets the tone: simple, solid, and unmistakably local.

The interior of Casa Civita tells the story of a certain vision of southern Italy—the kind of home you’d find at your grandmother’s, where life was simple, good, and full of heart. Solid wood furniture sourced locally, ceramics from Grottaglie, a white ceramic sink, embroidered dish towels… And woven through it all, a few contemporary touches that subtly refresh the space. “I wanted to capture the essence of Italian homes—that raw aesthetic that brings warmth,” says Valerio.