Destination Guide

Feted as the new Tuscany in terms of popular holiday destinations, Puglia is outstandingly beautiful with its white-washed villages, hills, plains, beaches and the oldest olive trees in the Mediterranean.  It is also known for its ‘trulli’ country, an especially attractive region of little white-washed hill towns, given their character by the small, white dome-roofed houses.  With their immensely thick walls, these dwellings, dating from the 18th century,  traditionally offered protection from the summer sun, and more recently have been renovated to stunning effect into holiday villas.

One of the luxurious villas we have for rent here is situated between the delightful towns of Ostuni and Cisternino, approximately 20 minutes drive from the Adriatic coast and 40 minutes from the Ionian coast.  Both coasts boast numerous sandy beaches, although the Ionian coast is more rugged, with rocky coves and promontories.  Both offer safe swimming in crystal clear waters, sailing, windsurfing, kite surfing, scuba diving and boat hire.  

Other activities include golf, walking, cycling and horse riding. Visitors can admire the famous vineyards, century-old olive trees and appreciate Puglia’s wild flora and fauna without being confined to the main roads.  

Agriculturally rich, the region produces wheat, olive oil and wine on large estates called  ‘masserie’.  With an ancient history dating back to Roman rule, it was also heavily influenced by both Greek and Arab culture, and there is a wealth of monuments, castles and cathedrals to discover, not to mention the exceptional Mediterranean cuisine to be found in this part of Italy.  Italy’s finest olives come from this region, hence its very best olive oil,  as well as a variety of excellent wines, one of which is the Salice Salentino, a powerful red made primarily with the Negro Amaro grape.

Our other properties are a luxury villa on the southern coast near the town of Santa Maria di Leuca and a masseria in the Salento countryside, near Otranto, and 2 kilometres from the sea.

Situated on the south-eastern heel of Italy, nestled between the Ionian and Adriatic seas, Puglia enjoys the climate of the southern Mediterranean, but its position between two coastlines, ensures that summer temperatures remain comfortable.    Varied landscapes, magnificent coastline make it an unbeatable all year round destination for those in search of sun, culture, cuisine and relaxation, all within a 3 hour flight of Europe’s main cities. There are daily flights to Brindisi and Bari from Stansted, or to Bari from Gatwick.  There are also flights via Rome,  Milan, or Naples.