Owner – Susafa

My name is Manfredi and I am the second son of four children. Giulia is the oldest, Tommaso and Sara the youngest, and we are descendants of Gioacchino Saeli, the fifth generation of Saeli.
After our great-grandfather Gioacchino, great-grandfather Manfredo and grandfather Gino, with their respective wives, all decided to move here, my mother Maria Grazia and my father Mario decided to do the same, to return to their origins. We were still very young and, after finishing my studies, I had an obvious thirst for adventure and the need to explore the world. I moved to Canada, where I met my wife, then we moved to Belgium, and it was there, living in a less contaminated reality than the small town we were used to, that I re-evaluated our past and the opportunity for inner growth, which could only be achieved by running a magical place like Susafa.
I have always believed that in order to return, one must be free to leave. I grew up with my grandmother's stories about the Masseria; she managed to convey a sense of belonging that can only be understood by those who have left their lives here, in such a unique and uncontaminated place, where time seems to stand still, or at least slowed down by emotions, although perhaps you have to be nostalgic to understand it.
Susafa, when I started running it, making ecological, natural and environmentally friendly choices, was the sum of what four generations had done, and I, as the fifth, can finally feel proud of having been able to revive those traditions, taking a step back in our history.
I have a strong respect for the environment. I look at landscapes with reverence and find inspiration in every small detail. I think the human capacity to create beautiful environments is something extraordinary and I believe we have a duty to strive to make this happen. I am fortunate to be part of a landowning family and to have inherited the legacy of a virtuous farming community. I am fascinated by this history and I am honoured to share it with as many people as possible.