DONATELLA’S HOUSE IN GOZO
Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s hose in gozo, Malta
AN OLD STONE HOUSE WITH A BREATHTAKING VIEW OF MALTA AND AN INDOOR COURTYARD FOR DONATELLA’S HOLIDAYS. LOTS OF TRADITION, BUT ALSO WIFI AND AIR CONDITIONING.
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini, winedestination, Fattoria del Colle Trequanda, Casato Prime Donne Montalcino
Donatella’s house in Gozo boasts a breathtaking view of the strait that separates the island from Malta. This stretch of sea is frequented by ferries, cruise ships, fishermen, and yachts… sailing around the small island of Comino, with its romantic blue lagoon and the tower where The Count of Monte Cristo was filmed.
Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s hose in gozo, Malta
THREE FLOORS WITH A VIEW
From the roof terrace, the view is so beautiful that everyone stops to relax and regenerate. It was precisely this panorama that convinced Carlo, Donatella’s husband, to buy the house twenty years ago. At the time, the area was almost abandoned, and the old houses nearby along Triq il-Kuncizzjoni were in ruins. But precisely for this reason, the place seemed more authentic and less touristy. It is a small village that grew surrounding the Church of the Immaculate Conception, along the road that leads from the village of Qala to Hondoq Bay. All around are small fields, vegetable gardens, and orange groves, and the houses are built with a local yellowish stone.
Donatella and her daughter Violante’s house has a small internal courtyard with a well and plants. In the original plan, the ground floor was intended to be the “winter home,” with a kitchen, living room, study, and bathroom. On the first floor are two double bedrooms, a bathroom, and a large hallway that has become Donatella’s study. About ten years ago, the house was expanded, converting the roof into a solarium with a kitchen and bathroom. Over time, winter stays have become shorter and summer stays have become longer. So the upper floor is the actual living area of the house, and Donatella plans to install a small elevator there for when she’s older.
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ANCIENT GOZITAN ARCHITECTURE WITH ARCHES AND STONE WALLS
Thanks to the stone arches, walls, and ceilings, the floors with authentic local cement tiles, and the well-worn furniture from Carlo’s grandparents’ seaside home… there’s a special warmth and charm in Donatella’s Maltese retreat. “I’ve noticed that my choice to maintain the original features that had survived over time is common among many foreigners with homes in Gozo, especially journalists and scholars,” Donatella comments. “It’s a way of respecting the local culture but also of immersing oneself in the ancient Gozo that is slowly disappearing. When I arrived here, some of my neighbours had sheep in the cellar and others had a horse on the ground floor. A sociable animal that greeted passersby by leaning out from between the shutters.” The only bakery that bakes bread and pizzas by hand has become a tourist attraction, and it’s almost impossible to get a hold of traditional specialties.
It’s not all bad though, the roads are in better condition, and you can shop until dinnertime, whereas once upon a time, all the shops closed at five. There are many excellent restaurants, two of which are run by Italians—Scottadito and La Sciabordita—and an Italian delicatessen—Vini e Capricci—which also sells my wine.
You might ask, “But why Gozo?” All our lives, Carlo and I had been looking for a place with almost no winter, no crime, and a good healthcare system. Gozo has all these characteristics. Spending a holiday here in Gozo is like forgetting the traffic, the noise, and going back in time.