The Masseria is, in my opinion, the best hotels in Puglia, which is also a symbol of the region. A real holiday for aristocrats. But what is a Masseria? Masseria are former noblemen’s estates and farmhouses.
Masseria resemble a small fortified autonomous town, where life flows at its own pace around agriculture. More often than not, the main tenants of the masseria were peasants, and sometimes the massaro (the landowner himself). The noble estates, were surrounded by fortress walls, inside which there was real luxury: sculptures, luxury goods, and sometimes even chapels. The Masseria also included houses for workers, stables and storages.
The typical architecture and purpose of the buildings was changing with the development of the economy. The main changes occurred in the 18th century, when the way of rural life evolved, and by the end of the 19th century there was a clear separation between town and countryside. At this time, people began to leave the Masserias.
Today, the Masserias are bought by rich people and transformed into luxury hotels with an enchanting atmosphere! Surrounded by olive groves, stunning scenery you will find solitude and tranquility! All this is accompanied by gastronomic delights!
1. Borgo Egnazia, Savelletri Di Fasano
Do you want to feel like a star? It’s easy to do so at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia, with panoramic views of the surroundings and the San Domenico Golf Club, 4 swimming pools and a 1,800 square meter wellness center in traditional Apulian architectural style. The hotel is surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation. By the way, many celebrities stay at the Borgo, and in 2012 Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel got married.
2. Ottolire Resort, Locorotond
A great modern resort in the Valle d’Itria valley, 15 km from wonderful Alberobello, 20 km from snow-white Ostuni and 5 km from humble but stunning Locorotondo! In 1973, Michele (nicknamed “Ottolire”) and Vita, were fascinated by a group of ruined trulli and bought them. After a tremendous amount of work, the trulli were brought back to life, thanks to the experience of their grandfather and great-grandfather (who had built trulli all over Puglia). Forty-five years later Erasmo and Antonella, together with Anastasia and Angelo, have brought this wonderful place back to life.
3. Masseria Le Carrube, Ostuni
The cozy Masseria Le Carrube is only 6 km from the stunning town of Ostuni. Nearby you will also find the olive oil museum and the seaside village (20 km) of Costa Merlata.
4. Masseria Cimino, Savelletri di Fasano
Masseria Cimino is located by the sea, between the San Domenico Golf Club and the archaeological ruins of Egnatia. The farmhouse is only 1 km from Savelletri and 300 meters from the coast.
5. Masseria San Domenico, Savelletri di Fasano
Masseria San Domenico is located in a fifteenth-century building on the coast between Bari and Brindisi, 700 meters from the sea, in the territory of Savelletri di Fasano. After a careful restoration, completely respecting the ancient construction and the original materials of the building, the old house has been transformed into an elegant hotel with 40 rooms. The atmosphere recreates the history of the region and combines Eastern and Mediterranean style. The white, stone building against a background of blue sky and sea, framed by olive millennia, between which there is a picturesque pool overlooking the rocks and plants.
6. Masseria Il Frantoio, Ostuni
The beautiful Masseria Il Frantoio is located in the town of Ostuni and is famous for its organic farm. Il Frantoio is surrounded by citrus orchards and olive groves. It has an authentic 15th century mill that is still used to produce stunning olive oil. All rooms are in the main building, a bright white house built in the 19th century. There is a library with more than 1,500 books. There is also a home-like restaurant with a full menu of typical dishes of the regional cuisine. The sixteenth-century Masseria is famous among travelers for its slightly eccentric atmosphere and its hospitable owners Armando and Rosalba. Armando Balestrazzi came up with the “crazy” idea 23 years ago to leave his managerial position in a promising company, leave his stressful life and move from Bari to the countryside. It (the idea) led to the fact that Mr. Armando invested all his savings to create a “paradise place,” and his wife and children supported his passion for the land.
Armando Balestrazzi is now the source of local knowledge and manager of the estate, while his wife, passionate and creative chef Rosalba Cinnamea, holds the reins in the kitchen and in her own kitchen garden. Thanks to her, Il Frantoio has become a real find for foodies. Organic products from the farm, fruits, vegetables and herbs from the garden and olive grove are used to prepare simple but very tasty dishes for the masseria restaurant. The food is amazing, a real gastronomic marathon organized by the owner of the house, Rosalba Cinnamea. The Masseria Il Frantoio is located in the heart of the farm. The guest house is packed with antiques. An outstanding collection of furniture, memorabilia and souvenirs are housed in the living rooms and 13 lovely bedrooms within the Masseria, with a bougainvillea-lined patio at its center. The bedrooms have beds with molded headboards, and the rooms are filled with all sorts of lovely knickknacks and books. And one of the biggest pluses (in my opinion), no TVs in the rooms (that’s the main rule of Il Frantoio, only live communication)! But there is good wi-fi.
7. Masseria Torre Coccaro, Savelletri Di Fasano
The 5* Masseria Torre Coccaro is housed in an ancient 16th century watchtower on the beautiful coast of Puglia. Every element of the elegant furnishings reveals a rich past. The tower, built by members of the Maltese order to protect against Saracen invasion, offers wonderful views of the sea and picturesque sunsets. Surrounded by an 800-year-old grove of olive, almond and carob trees, the tower was formerly used as part of a line of watchtowers to protect against the Saracens. It has now been converted into a five-star country house. The Torre Coccaro Masseria has 33 rooms, each with its own small garden.
Antiques and discreetly upholstered furniture in the rooms are combined with red silk, and the living rooms are decorated with paintings from the gallery in Bari. On the terrace of the tower is an old dovecote from which messages were sent during the wars, and the huge caves contain an ancient olive press and former sheepfolds.
Masseria Torre Coccaro has a large outdoor pool, its own white sandy beach and an exclusive wellness center that all guests can access for free. The restaurant offers traditional regional specialities. They are prepared using organic vegetables and fruits grown on the hotel’s own farm, as well as selected meats, fish and cheese from local farms.
8. Masseria Torre Maizza, Savelletri Di Fasano
This 16th century fortified farmhouse was originally intended as a defense against Saracen raids. In 2005 it was bought by the Muolo family. They restored the ancient masseria, whitewashed the walls to a shine and renewed all the historic structures: a stone olive press is now used as a table. Just beyond the border of the farm is a one-story house with guest rooms. It’s completely unbelievable that it was built just a couple of years ago.
The rooms are decorated in an elegant palette of black, blue and cream, with traditional fireplaces. Masseria Torre Maizza looks much more modern than Torre Coccaro, so it attracts more young people and modern retirees. The restaurant serves delicious risotto with gorgonzola and pasta orchette with tomatoes, after which you should definitely try the perfectly cooked tender lobsters and beef with arugula and truffle oil.
9. Masseria Marzalossa, Fasano
The Masseria Marzalossa was the first farmhouse in Puglia to be allowed to receive guests within its walls. It is a perfect example of the rural architecture common to the area. The Masseria was built in the seventeenth century and belonged to the Guarini family for more than two hundred years. For more than three centuries, the Masseria Marzalossa was chosen by monks and priests who spent time here meditating and praying in nature. Evidence of their stay in the Masseria has been preserved to this day.
Today, the farm has been carefully renovated and everyone can unwind in the Masseria and recuperate amidst the ancient olive trees and old stone buildings. The buildings that once housed the workers during the olive harvest are still surrounded by magnificent gardens with oranges, lemons and jasmine.
The best time to visit Masseria Marzalossa is in autumn, when the harvest begins and all the buildings are opened to make olive oil and stunning wine. Pay attention to the red wines of Salento and Taranto from the local Primitivo and Negroamaro grapes, and among the white wines, Verdeca from the Itria Valley.
10. Masseria Cervarolo, Savelletri Di Fasano
It’s impossible not to love this place. The sun playing on the white walls of the trullo, the spacious terraces covered with rippling fabrics, the mowed lawns and the luxurious loungers around the pool. The Masseria was built in the 16th century and is now run by stunningly caring and friendly owners.
After renovation, antique doors have been turned into bed headboards, mirror frames are made from washboards, ocean-thrown wood has become art, and quilts are hand-knitted by Bari artisans. All these details make this masseria unique and unrepeatable. Each cottage, once a peasant workshop, has been transformed into a cozy bedroom. There are more bedrooms in the main house. Room No. 9, for example, for four people, with its own garden, used to be a grape pressing area. Look under the bed and you’ll find real containers in which berries were trampled by feet.
And for example the windows of room 15 overlook the pool, but its main highlight – the ceiling in the form of a star. And rooms 18 and 19 have a connecting door, which is especially good for families. Rooms 4, 5 and 6 are located in traditional trullos. Some rooms (e.g. 11) are located in a 50s annexe, so they lack the antique details of other rooms, but they have a lot of elegance.
In Masseria Cervarolo you can take a short course in Apulian cooking, visit yoga, discover history, go hiking or biking in the Apulian plains or just relax in the quietness of the masseria church. The beaches are about 20 kilometers away. In the evening, Masseria hosts Theo and Patricia can join you for a bottle of beer or a glass of wine while waiting for a delicious dinner of local produce. Perfect? I guess so.
Which hotel did you like best?
All photos are taken from Booking.com
