Montenapoleone is in the heart of the Itria valley, a short drive from the beaches of Savelltri. The interiors are delightfully charming, but it‘s the ‘secret green corners’, thoughtfully curated vignettes which encourage guests to sit and savour, which set this Masseria apart.
The current rate for a rustic room (for May 2023) is £220 p/n; if you can, I would stretch to the £280 p/n for a Junior Suite (complete with a living room and it’s own garden sanctuary). These rates include breakfast.
Borgo Egnazia is no mere hotel, but a reconstructed Puglian village comprised of cottages, a church, Masseria, four pools, five restaurants, a spa and (pauses for breath) golf-course. Unusually, the scope here hasn‘t lessened the meticulously high quality of each offering. Luxury is the name of the game and it’s a great option for families and couples alike.
The facilities don’t come cheap, with the current rate for a room (for May 2023) standing at £719 p/n (breakfast included).
This small hotel has just 11 rooms but packs a punch; set in the heart of Ostuni, there’s a pool and gym, as well as dreamy sea-views. Period features and frescoes have been preserved and elevated with modern amenities and thoughtful decoration; the Paragon Suite’s 7m cathedral ceiling is particularly spectacular.
The current rate for a deluxe room (for May 2023) is £583 p/n (breakfast included).
Valle D’Itria sits at the heart of Puglia, stretching from Putignano to Ostuni and abound with characterful villages, olive groves, and vineyards. Cisternino and Martina Franca are worth a visit for their charming town centres and unspoiled atmospheres; Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its iconic trullos and, though wonderful, it’s worth highlighting this small town gets very busy in peak season and caters predominantly to tourists.
Lecce has honey-hued houses, baroque churches, and meandering streets aplenty; I’d recommend spending at least two-nights here to get a real sense of the city. It’s positively untouched by tourists when compared to its (admittedly larger and better-connected) contemporaries Florence, Milan or Rome.
The Coastline running from Monopoli to Otranto is beautiful and varied, ranging from craggy rocks to sandy beaches. My highlights are: Torre Dell’Orso; Grotta de Poesia & the Torre di Roca Vecchia; Costa Merlata; Pescoluse, and, for the best scenery, the national park of Gargano (north of Bari).
This formidable five-star hotel plays host not only to a spectacular restaurant, Il Tempo Nuovo, but a well-regarded ‘culinary centre’. They’re serious about their food and wine here, coming for dinner is an experience; you can even request to sit at the chef’s table in the 17th-century kitchen to watch the team artfully prepare your meal.
This Rocce Forte hotel is the pinnacle of luxury in Puglia and, unsurprisingly, plays host to one of the region’s most elegant dining options, Carosello. Menu highlights include fresh pasta with sea urchins and a divine almond parfait.
Priding themselves on giving the traditional a twist, this locally-owned trattoria serves farm to table produce at reasonable prices; make sure to bag a table in the characterful garden.
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