About Us
A dream born along the Camino
We met in Spain, along the Camino de Santiago.
Alex came from Abruzzo, Nina from New York. For hundreds of kilometres, we walked together, sharing days, thoughts, fears and plans for the future.
By the end of the Camino, not only had a love story begun, but also an idea: to build a life together that was closer to nature, the land, people and the simple things done well.
The name Castelli in Aria reflects exactly this. In Italian, “fare castelli in aria” means imagining something big, almost impossible. For us, that dream, born during a long walk across Spain, took shape here.
What was once only a shared idea has become a real place to live, experience, savour and share.
Returning to Abruzzo
For Alex, Abruzzo means home, roots and a deep connection with the world of wine and agriculture. His studies in winemaking and management, together with his professional experience, have taken him to some of the world’s most important wine regions.
For Nina, born and raised in New York and trained as a psychotherapist, Italy represented the possibility of choosing a different rhythm of life: one closer to nature, meaningful relationships and quality of life.
In the Calanchi di Atri Nature Reserve, between the Adriatic Sea and the Majella mountains, we found the place where these two worlds could come together.
When we arrived here, we were captivated by the silence, the views, the olive trees, the rolling hills and that rare feeling that time can finally slow down.
Our idea of hospitality
Alex brings to Castelli in Aria his experience in the world of wine, his knowledge of the local area and his connection to the land.
Nina brings her sensitivity towards people, her attention to detail and a way of welcoming guests based on care, listening and spontaneity.
Together, we want you to feel not simply like guests of a property, but part of a place that we deeply love.
We believe that true luxury is having the time to slow down.
A breakfast prepared with care. A landscape to enjoy without rushing. A glass of wine shared together. Local produce, genuine people and the peaceful silence of the countryside.
Castelli in Aria was born from our desire to share Abruzzo through its land, flavours, traditions and hospitality.
It is a project that continues to grow, one step at a time.
We started with a dream.
We are building it, one harvest at a time.
Alex & Nina
