Puglia, Italy
12 ROOMS
PRICE ON APPLICATION
Accommodation
Three hundred years ago this old farmhouse was surrounded by blossoming almond trees or mandorli. Today, the bright, white walls and towers of the masseria nudge up against the little town of Ugento, silvery olive groves on the other side.
Restored and converted into a boutique hotel, the masseria is the little sister of the magnificent Castello di Ugento in the heart of town. Luxury hotel and cultural hub, Castello di Ugento is also home to the Puglia Culinary Centre where students from the renowned Culinary Institute of America study Italian cuisine.
From April to September the 12 chic, contemporary rooms open for summer. Guests here can experience all the understated luxury and stellar sports facilities of the masseria – as well as privileged access to the Castello.
The 12 rooms have a soft colour palette: creamy cappuccino, bitter chocolate and almond milk. The cool, minimal design is uncluttered with simple, clean lines. The floors are honey-hued stone as are the golden sinks in the ensuite bathrooms, with their specially commissioned wrought iron mirrors.
The bespoke Italian bed linen is crisp and white, the smattering of rustic bedside tables, vintage table lamps and chairs add eclectic style.
Start the day with a sun salutation – on the herb-scented roof terrace. Then breeze down to breakfast. Tuck into fresh fruit, pastries and just-brewed coffee in the rustic restaurant. Then how about a few laps of the pool? Shoot some hoops on the basketball court or sign up for tennis coaching. Make a beeline for the state-of-the-art kitchen at Castello di Ugento to make Italian gelato. Or learn about traditional pasta-making. Or local wine…
Lounge in the sun or relax in the Jacuzzi while you decide. You could jump on an exercise bike in the gym – or a real bike and pedal to the beach … Just make sure you’re back for sundowners. On the roof. Gazing out towards the sea over the silvery olive groves. As the outdoor pizza oven is fired up…
Cosy Superior Rooms - Each of the five smaller rooms is light and airy in the signature palette of creamy cappuccino, rich espresso and soft almond milk with cool stone floors, walk-in monsoon shower rooms and sinks in honey-hued stone with artisan-made wrought-iron mirrors.
Comfy Deluxe Rooms - Deluxe rooms are much roomier and can sleep two or three. They feature long comfy headboards wrapped in traditional Salentino fabrics, have walk-in wet rooms and monsoon showers in honey-hued stone with artisan-made wrought-iron mirrors.
La Salentina - La Salentina is on the first floor of the main masseria building and has its own private terrace looking out over the courtyard, pool and tennis court. The king-size bed can be twinned and is made with crisp white linen while the bathroom features a walk-in wet room in honey-hued stone with a monsoon shower.
Il Tramonto - The Sunset suite in the masseria’s west wing has a balcony and gorgeous views out over the fruit orchards and olive groves towards the Ionian coast – perfect for an aperitivo as the sun sinks into the sea. The bedroom can sleep three and has a king-size double bed which can be twinned, made up with crisp white linen, cool stone floors and a walk-in wet room with monsoon shower.
Suite del Frutteto - The Orchard suite is on the ground floor of the masseria’s west wing and opens onto the courtyard near the ancient olive tree. The suite is made up of two rooms: a living room with a sofa bed and the bedroom with its king-size bed decked out with crisp, white linen and a walk-in wet room with monsoon shower. A private patio looks out onto the garden’s fruit trees and the suite can sleep up to four using the pull-out sofa bed.
RESTAURANTS
Restaurant - The magnificent restaurant, under the 18th century vaulted ceiling, has whitewashed walls with stone-flagged floors and rustic wooden tables. The bespoke wrought iron lighting adds to the room’s grandeur as does the giant chimney where a log fire crackles in the grate during winter. In summer it’s a cool spot for breakfast. Add an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven and open-air kitchen on the roof terrace for dining under the stars and menus celebrating Puglia’s cucina povera and you’ve got all the ingredients for gastronomic break.
Bar - From cappuccinos to cocktails by the pool with almonds of course, and local antipasti throughout the day, the bar is the place to hang out…
Il Tempo Nuovo - You can also reserve a table for dinner at Il Tempo Nuovo Restaurant at Castello di Ugento or take a cooking class at the Puglia Culinary Centre and feast on the dishes you’ve created in the state-of-the-art kitchens.
Location
Secret Salento: a part of Puglia once off-the-beaten-track – always the end of the road. Italy’s far south is where the land ends and two seas – the Adriatic and Ionian – meet. Explore hidden villages, magnificent castles, Baroque towns and historic ports. Flip-flop between two coasts, swim in two seas, hike dramatic clifftops, beachcomb along pure white sand…
1hrs drive from Salento Airport