The best villas in Puglia
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Puglia is synonymous with rustic; it is where the massari,(farmers), lived in Masserie to be close to the land at all times. Today, these agricultural dwellings have been converted into some of the most beautiful hotels in Puglia, as well as private villas. Many of these addresses still treasure the essence of the past, while others have been redesigned with a more contemporary, sleek, aesthetic approach. Either way, the region is filled with luxurious and authentic holiday homes with unique properties and characteristics. From country cottages to baroque palazzi, here are 11 villas and houses to rent for a private homestay in Puglia.
Casino Doxi Stracca, Alezio
This lavishing villa was originally an 18th-century aristocratic residence owned by the Doxi Stracca family, 10 minutes from Gallipoli and its beaches. It was recently restored by Italian architect Paolo Genta Tarnavasio in a way that creates harmony between its historical elements and its current, contemporary influences. Upon entry, marvel at the striking chapel with its ornate baroque façade that faces a sleek, 18-metre swimming pool in chessboard-patterned tiles. On the other side, an impressive arch marks the entrance to a charming inner garden flanked by two grand Mediterranean pine trees. There are two parts of the residence: a main manor house and a smaller country Maison with four and three double bedrooms each, sleeping 14 guests total. The villa offers a daily cleaning service and breakfast every morning. However, there is also a spacious kitchen for those who wish to cook their go-to meals, which can be enjoyed in the various alfresco spots. During your stay, make the most of this favourable location and visit the nearby towns of Nardò, for its compelling baroque architecture and Gallipoli, to witness insatiable sunset views and fish-based dinners.
Sleeps: 14
Price: From about £7,175 a week
Coki, Martina Franca
This classic Trulli-style villa combines a rustic aesthetic with state-of-the-art amenities, affording it the Airbnb Luxe stamp of approval. Within the charming abode are three rooms with queen beds (two that are split-queens), each with beautiful stone-adorned private ensuite bathrooms – one featuring a stand alone stone bathtub. Elsewhere, the mezzanine level has a queen bed and ensuite bathroom, while another room is equipped with a sofa bed along with an ensuite bathroom and private entrance. Guests can gather in the atmospheric kitchen, with its curved ceiling, wooden beams, a stone basin, high-end appliances and a long table with seating. The other heart of the house is the outside terrace, where a long swimming pool (which can be heated upon request) is flanked by a shaded alfresco dining area, and surrounded by various lounges and beautiful manicured gardens. Lauren Burvill
Sleeps: up to 10
Price: From about £1,493 a night, minimum seven nights
Atelier DomesticoBorgo Silentio, Ostuni
Luca and Valentina, from Lombardia and Friuli Venezia Giulia respectively, came on a group vacation to Puglia and fell in love with the romance of its countryside: the vineyards, the red earth and the bohemian lifestyle. Their first intention was to purchase a vacation villa but after purchasing Trullo Silentio in 2016, the abandoned, neighbouring Masseria stole their hearts, and from there, they decided to open their villas to guests. Masseria Silentio (sleeps eight) and Trullo Silentio (sleeps six) have all the elements of a bucolic escape in the countryside. At Trullo Silentio, bougainvillaea frames the outdoor pergola and beneath, a stone-seated living area creates an idyllic frame for reading a book or gathering together with the whole crew. Both are furnished with restored antique finds from the markets and local suppliers: copper kitchenware hanging on the walls, terracotta amphoras and ceramics placed on shelves and smaller knick-knacks to fill in the spaces. Both villas have large swimming pools, outdoor barbecues and countless seating areas to live in at various moments throughout the day. In 2024, La Selvaggia, their third villa, will also be available for rent.
Sleeps: up to eight
Price: From about £480 a night, minimum four nights (Masseria Seilentio) and about £310 a night, minimum three nights, (Trullo Silentio)
Trulli del Trappeto, Locorotondo
Within minutes of the picture-perfect Locorotondo lies Trulli del Trappeto, a charming villa where you can relish the quietude of the Itria Valley’s countryside. Olive, fig and pomegranate trees rim this smart villa with its duck grey-coloured shutters and whitewashed seven trulli cones. Architecturally, the villa indicates its history as a former olive mill but inside, there is a mix and match of styles, from rattan carpets and lighting to vintage chaise longues and ethnic style bed frames harmoniously contrasting with the contemporary artwork. It sleeps up to 11 people with three double, two twin and one single bedroom, ultimately catering for more than one family. Outside is a large saltwater pool shaded under the olive trees, with stone day beds to perch and breathe in the beauty. As the sun sets, crack open a beer or a glass of wine and get creative with the pizza oven or retreat to the ancient cellar that has been converted into a cosy, convivial area and pop on a movie on the Bimi projector.
Sleeps: 11
Price: From £620 a night, minimum five nights
Serra Fanny, Specchia
Perched upon the second highest hilltop in Salento, with a view that stretches out towards the Adriatic sea and sometimes, Albania, Serra Fanny represents an endearing family anecdote. Fausto, third generation, who lovingly restored the villa to its current state, speaks about how his grandparents Fausto and Fanny purchased the land back in the late 60s, when his father Enzo, at the age of 18, created a small plywood model for his architecture exam. This small model (still kept in the study) became the foundation of the villa today: a warm, homely environment that evokes the memories and stories of three generations. Enveloped in nature, the villa is built upon two floors, with four double bedrooms and two bathrooms above and a study, living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and a fifth single bedroom below. Most of the furnishings are left untouched, as the Gio Ponti sinks, the hand-painted British wallpapers from the 1900s, Fanny’s hand-knitted bedspreads and Fausto’s man-made wood-fire oven in the garden. The outdoors are especially pleasant: a patio that wraps around the back of the villa with various seating areas that preserve the charm of the past: the large outdoor table, for example, was made with fir tree wood and wrought-iron trestles from the 1800s, formerly used as bed supports. Amidst hammocks, olive and fruit trees lies the pool, and, in only 20 minutes, you can reach the beaches of Tricase, Pescoluse and the furthest point of the peninsula: Santa Maria di Leuca.
Sleeps: 12
Price: From about £3,850 a week, minimum seven nights
Masseria Donnagnora
This is your traditional Masseria with a chapel, located 12 minutes from the whitewashed town of Ostuni, where an aperitif at sunset is highly recommended to watch the white façades turn pink. The Masseria was restored by the Apulian architectural studio Flora e Venezia, who have maintained a touch of antiquity with a fresh, contemporary outlook. Original stone floors have been preserved, as well as 18th-century paintings – the remaining furnishings have been beautifully integrated to provide a harmonious character in the five bedrooms, living and dining room. Home cooks will love the tiled kitchen, which is spacious and well-equipped with everything you may need to dish up a lovely meal. Wellness enthusiasts can retreat to the underground SPA carved among the rocks for a hammam, jacuzzi or massage upon request. The outdoors is well presented, with a barbecue and dining area overlooking the lengthy pool. In the evenings, head up to the terrace to witness the glorious views as the sun sets on the horizon.
Sleeps: 10
Price: From about £7,650 a week
Salva LopezVilla Castelluccio, Ceglie Messapica
Jayne Henderson left the UK for the rustic country landscapes of Puglia. After circling around the region searching for their future home, Jayne fell in love with one of the few Trulli-less properties in the Valle d'Itria. At the time it was no more than a cluster of outdated furniture, but through her artistic eye, clear vision and collaboration with Andrew Trotter they gave life and soul to the space. This breezy lamia country house, managed by Moroseta Homes, is placed among a mediterranean style garden enriched with wildflowers, citrus trees, fig trees and prickly pears which also pave the way to the large, salt water swimming pool. Around is pure countryside, creating a peaceful, uninterrupted setting. The Villa has two double ensuite bedrooms, a living area and the open plan kitchen. There is also an annexe with a third double bedroom and bathroom. Each space has been carefully furnished with pieces from local antique markets, artisan-made woodworks and cosy linen sofas designed by Jayne herself. Lighting has also been carefully studied to enter throughout the entire day, from sunrise to sunset. The true heart and soul of the space is the outdoor patio, shaded under a pergola; the whitewashed stone seating area is perfect for reading a book in quietude whilst the large, artisan made dining table facing the outdoor kitchen calls for a long, lazy lunch. But, if you love a glass of wine at golden hour, head to the side of the villa where there’s a small wooden table and seating facing directly into the sunset.
Sleeps: six
Price: From about £3,490 per week, minimum three nights in low season and seven nights in high season
Il Barone, Nardò
Antonello owns a nearby Masseria, and his recent project encompassed the restoration of four abandoned, medieval and neoclassical villas for those seeking a more private vacation. Il Barone, a 15th-century watchtower and former holiday residence of the noble Baroni Tafuri family, is the latest addition to the portfolio. It took two years to renovate, carefully restoring elements that represent the heritage of the home – the 600-year-old cocciopesto floor, carparo stone carvings, the Baroni Tafuri family stem painted on the entrance wall, vaulted ceilings and ancient arches, the fireplace and an antique bread oven that is still fully functional today. Everything else is beautifully integrated with items by local artisans, like the Enza Fasano ceramic lamps and upholstered headboards. Four hectares of land surround the residence, from vineyards to a vegetable garden, almond and walnut trees, fruit orchards and a chicken coop for freshly laid eggs every morning. The best part is waking up in the countryside whilst taking a day trip to the turquoise beaches of Santa Maria al Bagno, merely 10 minutes away.
Sleeps: 10
Price: From about £5,225 a week
Salva LopezCasa Olivetta, Ostuni
Rugged dry stone walls frame the narrow country road that leads to Casa Olivetta, a villa surrounded by scattered olive trees that guarantee a sense of seclusion and privacy amidst the countryside. The charming, pale limestone brick property, part of the Moroseta Homes portfolio, houses a main building with an annexe capable of sleeping up to eight guests. It was lovingly restored by Australian fashion and interior designer Collette Dinnigan, who sought to maintain a more traditional Tuscan decor. A mix and match of reclaimed terracotta tiles, rustic wooden tables, cast iron bed frames and careful curation of antiques such as the wrought iron faldstool combine together in a pleasing composition. The well-stocked kitchen leads to the outdoor patio, comprising a large wooden table placed under a breezy vine pergola and beside a cosy seating area where you can relax for a pre-dinner aperitif. The salt-water swimming pool is located a few metres away, with chic wooden sun beds and a second shaded seating area for those who wish to retreat from the sun.
Sleeps: eight
Price: From about £3,480 per week, minimum three nights in low season and seven nights in high season
Salva LopezCasa Soleto, Soleto, Salento
Soleto, close to the seaside town of Gallipoli, is one of the towns of Grecìa salentina where some old folks still speak Griko, the local language. Here, you can feel the authentic lifestyle of the past – laundry hanging outside the windows, ape trucks and cafes, the ultimate meeting point for a game of cards and caffè Leccese. Casa Soleto is a noble 17th-century palazzotto, lovingly restored by Studio Andrew Trotter and Marcelo Martínez. It opened this year for guests to rent the two-storied palazzo and feel the charm of the past – parts of the house date back 400 years – with the comforts of the present. High vaulted ceilings and terrazzo stone floors are complimented with local artisan pieces, restored antiques and a delightful bathtub that has travelled from Barcelona. A calming neutral palette of beige, olive green, indigo and taupe matches the organic linen used as curtains, sofas, bedding and towels; nothing is left out by chance. On the top floor, Casa Soleto houses three double bedrooms (two are ensuite) and a single bedroom. On the ground floor, there are two living rooms, a kitchen, a dining room and two small courtyards; one even has a small plunge pool to splash about in the heat. Highly recommended is a trip to nearby Galatina for the best Pasticciotto Leccese in Puglia, at Pasticceria Ascalone.
Sleeps: eight
Price: From about £4,265 per week
Villa Itria, Cisternino
Jared, an artist and interior designer, left London to find a slower pace of life and found his happy place in Puglia, purchasing Villa Itria. Together with his other half, Luigi, a former creative director at a fashion house, the villa has been lovingly renovated seamlessly, combining Apulian tradition with a very creative, design-forward approach. It’s an eclectic mix of antiques collected by Jared and Luigi’s great-grandmother’s furnishings, linen materials and designer pieces, all within a very neutral, calming palette. The villa sleeps six, with three double bedrooms and two bathrooms as well as two living rooms, an open plan kitchen and a second dining room, as well as a small indoor gym equipped with weights and a power rack. What sets this villa apart is the attention to detail in every space, including the soft cotton towels, linen bed covers and pomegranate-scented room diffusers. There are also various spaces, both indoors and out, to sit and read a book or drink a glass of wine. An abundance of fig trees, cacti and rosemary bushes adorn the garden whereas the pool below, lined by fichi d’india, the typical Apuglian cacti, is perfect for swimming a few lengths. Upon arrival, Luigi will be your point of reference, providing not only a very rich document with things to do and places to eat but will also organise, upon request, wine tasting, cooking classes, private chefs and personal trainers – your own personal, local concierge for a stress-free homestay.
Sleeps: six
Price: From £8,000 a week