Property 10541  – Putignano - Apulia

4 Bedrooms – Pool

Puglia is perhaps one of Italy's best kept secrets and is famous for its masserie (traditional farmhouses) hospitality, excellent wine, gastronomic delights and olive oil. In fact, nothing beats the sheer, sublime, simplicity of a toasted tomato bruschetta with fresh olive oil drizzled over the top.

The countryside around Putignano is dotted with picturesque villas, centuries old olive groves and winding lanes bordered by traditional dry stone walls. The trunks of the older olive trees tend to twist in an anticlockwise direction to form spectacular living sculptures. Locals say that this is due to the Coriolis Effect as the earth turns on its axis.

If you're looking for a taste of local culture and history, the centre of the village of Alberobello is made up entirely of trulli, the dome-shaped dwellings traditional to Puglia and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The trulli cones are built from limestone blocks, often with a spire on top and are generally formed by a central, round room with smaller, round rooms leading off it.

Polignano al Mare is a coastal gem perched high on the cliffs overlooking the sea. It was originally a Greek settlement and features alluring, medieval lanes meandering through white washed houses. The restaurants are exceptional and many have outdoor eating areas for enjoying the fresh, local produce whilst listening to the waves below. The little beach below the town is very pretty.

The fabled white city (Città Bianca) of Ostuni is a must on anyone's destination list. It rises high on a plateau overlooking the sea and you can spend hours getting lost in the pretty lanes only to find yourself back at the cathedral at the top. The nearby coastline also boasts pristine, sandy beaches and turquoise waters.

This beautifully restored masseria is in an ideal location for exploring the exceptional beaches and traditional lifestyles of Puglia.

Property 10541 is about 55 km from Bari international airport and 80 km from Brindisi international airport. The caves at Castellana Grotte are 5 km away, Alberobello 13 km, Polignano 25 km and Ostuni 50 km. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the sea.

The Property. The classically elegant Property 10541 once housed Benedictine monks and the aforementioned Knights of Malta. Today, it sleeps up to eight people in four, large double bedrooms. One of the suites even has a Jacuzzi. The property is surrounded by peaceful fields and olive groves and the muted colours of the rooms and furniture combine to give a light, airy atmosphere of tranquillity.

The spacious sitting room with its open fire is the real centre-point of the house. The sofas are designed to have you sink into them with a glass or two of exceptional local wine. There is also a dining room, a study and a fully equipped, modern kitchen.

All the rooms overlook the furnished courtyard, manicured lawn and beautifully landscaped gardens. The large, swimming pool is fully equipped with sun loungers for long lazy afternoons around the pool. There is a wood-fired stone oven near the pool area for cooking up delicious, local dishes for your al fresco dinners under the stars.

The central courtyard is covered by a portico and houses an old well and a barbecue. The gardens contain silver-tipped olive trees and holly oaks and there is a lovely grape vine winding over the arbour. The dry stone walls around the property accentuate the gardens to perfection.