About Me

I studied History and Art History at the University of Vienna and Ceramics at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. During my studies, I frequently traveled to Italy. The country’s cultural richness, its distinctive way of life, the vibrancy of the language, and its deep-rooted food culture captivated me from the very beginning — a fascination that has stayed with me ever since.

In the early 2000s, while traveling south, I discovered Puglia. There I met people — who later became dear friends — who helped me truly understand and connect with this remarkable region. One of them is Rosa Bozza, who introduced me to Giovanni Giordano. He invited me to join him in restoring his family’s historic masseria in Guagnano: Masseria di San Gaetano. Since then, I have continued to support Giovanni in offering the masseria as a unique and welcoming holiday residence.

My curiosity to explore the southernmost part of Puglia, the Salento, eventually led me to Gagliano del Capo. There, I discovered a small, neglected house for sale. I immediately sensed that it could become my home and began searching for ways to make its purchase possible. With the help of my sister Monika, I was able to take this step. Thanks to the support of my neighbours and many local craftsmen, that modest house was transformed into Casa Franca. Since 2008, I have spent two months there each year. During the rest of the time, I open Casa Franca to family and friends, so that they too may experience all that a small town in southern Italy has to offer — and above all, the incomparable air of Salento.

Masseria San Gaetano, Guagnano (Provinz Lecce)
Casa Franca, Gagliano del Capo (Provinz Lecce) 
Ceramics