La Pergola di Minori

I am Marina Russo, and this is the house where my mother Lucia grew up. Today it has three guest rooms, a courtyard under an old grape pergola and a kitchen where I start baking at six every morning. When you come down at eight, there will be a lemon cake still warm, ricotta from the dairy up the hill, jams made by my aunt and fruit from whichever tree is in season.

The rooms are simple, quiet and spotless. Camera Limone has a double bed and a view of the lemon trees; Camera Glicine opens onto its own little terrace; the Family Suite, upstairs, is two rooms with a shared bathroom, ideal for four. Floors are original cotto, the sheets are linen and the soaps come from a farm in Tramonti. There is no lift and no reception desk, but there is always a person to ask.

The house stands on the pedestrian main street that runs from the church to the beach, so the baker, the trattorias and the sea are all a few steps away. I will give you a hand-drawn map with my favourite places, the best time to swim and which ferry to catch. In the evenings the pergola is the best table in Minori, and guests often end up sharing a bottle with the other guests.

If you want to see how we make the local lemon dessert, ask about my kitchen lesson. If you want to be left alone, that is respected too. Either way you will leave with a full stomach and probably a jar of jam.