Masseria Il Trullo

This beautiful country house sits on the southern tip of Puglia, at the bottom of the heel of Italy’s ‘boot’. The five-bedroom luxury villa was recently built using traditional materials and methods, giving it the ambience of an authentic Pugliese masseria, as well as all modern comforts for family and couples’ holidays.

Masseria Il Trullo is situated in the heart of the Salento countryside in south Puglia. It’s just 800 metres from the shops and restaurants of the local town, Carpignano Salentino. Take your pick of the beaches along the nearby Adriatic coastline, and make sure you include a trip to Alimini, about 20 minutes away. This is a spot of incredible natural beauty; a 5km beach of white sand, dunes lined with pine forests and two natural lakes. This region of Italy ticks the box for culture too; its capital, Lecce, is known as ‘the Florence of the south’. This historic city is known for its own distinct take on baroque architecture. Take a stroll into the centro storico (historic centre) and marvel at the Basilica of Santa Croce, an ornate 17th-century church embellished with countless gargoyles and cherubs. Salento Airport, just north of Brindisi, is the closest to the villa, about an hour’s drive away.

As you arrive at the main gates at Masseria Il Trullo, you find yourself entering a 5-acre working olive grove. The villa was built in the traditional layout of a masseria: the U-shape building is all on one floor, with all rooms opening out onto the central courtyard. Here, you’ll find an al fresco dining terrace and private swimming pool. There are five air-conditioned bedrooms spread throughout the property. In the main house, the master bedroom connects to a twin/double bedroom, which share a large family bathroom. The annex – with a separate entrance but also accessed via the courtyard – also has two interconnecting twin/double rooms. Finally, the trullo, a small stone house 30m from the main building, has a twin/double bedroom with en suite shower, making it the ideal space for teenagers or a nanny.

The villa rental includes housekeeping three times a week, with a mid-stay linen change for stays of two weeks or more. There’s also a concierge service, and a host of extras can be arranged on request, from airport transfers to wine and olive oil tastings.

To experience authentic Italy, the countryside, culture and beaches, Salento is a superb, unspoilt destination. This exclusive villa is the ideal base from which to explore the area, a property of comfort and character to accommodate all the family.