Tenuta Stevens
rises up in the countryside of Sannicola (LE) and was Stevens' and Auverny's farmstead and hunting-ground and the members of the two families were consuls in the nearby town of Gallipoli. This was the perfect place to restore soul and body and lies in Cuti's contrada, this has been also the inspiration for the poetess Sofia Stevens, daughter of the vice-consul Henry Stevens and of the noblewoman Carolina Auvergny. In one of her poems which is entitled "Alla mia stanzetta dei Cuti" she writes:
Col tuo veron sporgente a mezzogiorno,
E la finestra aperta ad occidente,
Sempre,stanzetta, ti riveggo intorno;
Giacché ti pinge a l'anelante mente
Forte il desio di te, diletto nido,
Che m'albergasti a gioventú nascente....
Nitida stanza,quante a la mattina
M'assalser fole a gl'indecisi albori,
E quindi al soffio d'aria vespertina,
Tutta imbevuta di robusti odori,
Allor che riguardai vario screziate
Da cento e cento verecondi fiori
Del giardino le mura sollevate,
E di vilucchi audaci ricoperte,
Mi trasportar per balze imbalsamate
Le giovani ali de la mente aperte
Ed ivi gioie vidi,e vidi amore
Avvicinarsi con ridenti offerte.....
(Sofia Stevens)
Through a boulevard submerged by the greenery, you reach the typical "casino", a refined residence, behind you enter a luxuriant and evocative garden typified by an extended variety of flowering and fruit plants. The healthy air and a warm location are the peculiarities of Tenuta Stevens which offers to its guests the chance to pass their relaxing holidays.
