The best hotels in Puglia
Back in the 1980s, when everyone was going to Chianti on villa holidays, few of us had even heard of Puglia. A decade later, word got out about the southern Italian region of fertile red earth, gnarled olives, turquoise seas, beautiful trulli and pioneering masseria hotels. All of a sudden, Puglia was proclaimed the New Tuscany – a little before it was ready. But in the aftermath of such hype, it has come into its own, maturing quietly and steadily out of the limelight. Now all those trailblazing converted farmhouses have been joined by sophisticated new arrivals that combine world-class design with the warmth and originality of the area.
How we choose the best hotels in Puglia
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve.
- Vigo Janson
Tenuta Negroamaro, Gallipoli
Tenuta Negroamaro, named after the local grape and fantastic red wine, is embedded within the rustic Gallipoli countryside, an hour’s drive from Brindisi Airport. Enclosed within olive groves, prickly pears and almond trees, the estate operates as a secluded sanctuary for those seeking to connect to nature, while still being within easy reach of quaint villages, beautiful bays and the turquoise waters of Salento. Designed by Olga Ashby Interiors, the 10-roomed property is a playful tribute to the surroundings, with a mix and match of earthy colours, natural materials and textures that harmonise with the traditional interiors from the region. Within the rooms are soft linen bedsheets, aztec-style cushions and jute rugs that recall the laid-back nature of the property. Some feature private plunge pools, others have a private patio equipped with a cosy sofa and outdoor shower. Mediterranean flavours are served from breakfast through to dinner, with homegrown fruit and vegetables paired with locally caught seafood and country delights. Make sure to stop for a drink at The Cactus Bar with its lovely hand-painted mural for a prickly-pair-infused cocktail. Lucrezia Worthington
- Yulia Longo
Masseria Montelauro, Otranto
It was a love story, not between two individuals but three. It took one look at Masseria Montelauro for Elisabetta Massaro and her daughters, Caterina and Mercedes, to embark on a new venture and transform the run-down farmhouse into a warm, detail-oriented bolthole in southern Puglia. The female touch is certainly present; sky-blue painted shutters contrast with the whitewashed façade of the Masseria, large wooden cabinets adorned with pastel-coloured ceramics, and fresh flowers are ever-present throughout. The 29 rooms are simple yet respectful of tradition; vaulted ceilings and “chianca” stone tiled floors, intricate wrought-iron bed frames and lamps handcrafted by local artisans. The wooden wardrobes and cabinets, acquired from ancient dwellings, have been repurposed to their former glory. Outside, a swimming pool sits alongside an immaculately-trimmed lawn, along with a fruit orchard and vegetable and herb garden that serves their Fimmine Restaurant. The cuisine relies heavily on either homegrown or locally sourced produce and reflects the biodiversity of the region, focusing on seasonal ingredients and flavour-filled recipes for breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Lucrezia Worthington
Address: SP358, 14, 73028 Otranto LE, Italy
Critabianca, Cutrofiano
Critabianca is situated in the countryside of Cutrofiano, a small town in Southern Puglia, known for its tradition of pottery-making. Crita, in fact, translates to ‘clay’, the very clay that makes up the surrounding landscapes which, for centuries, has enhanced the land with a strong agriculture and primary ingredient for making the world-diffused Apulian ceramic homeware. This country house has lived many lives, formerly the summer residence for affluent middle-class families in the Bourbon period, and later, in the 19th century, it transitioned into a tobacco-producing farmstead. Today, it belongs to the Ghione family, who transformed the ancient farmhouse into a six-roomed hotel surrounded by prickly pairs, almond and olive trees. During restorations, they stayed faithful to the original structure, retaining, where possible, ancient stone vaulted ceilings and traces of 19th-century frescoes. A place to enjoy all year round, truly embracing the quietude of the countryside; where breakfast is enjoyed under the shade of the orange orchard and days are spent either poolside soaking the Mediterranean sun or exploring the surroundings in which each village has a story to tell. Time a visit during November to experience the saffron harvest. Lucrezia Worthington
Address: SP278, 73020 Cutrofiano LE, Italy
Borgo Valle Rita, Ginosa
On the border between Puglia and Basilicata, only a few kilometres away from the Ionian Sea, lies Borgo Valle Rita, a sprawling 103-hectare family-owned agricultural estate. Acquired in 1972 by Pasquale Lunati, today, three generations later, it's overseen by his grandson Carlo and his wife Antonella, who has given a dynamic new life to this estate. Adjacent to the Rita stream, which lends its name to the property, lies an ancient palm grove leading to a rustic 14th-century manor restored by the Milan-based architect Anna Mazzucchelli. With a commitment to preserving its historical significance, local materials like the 'tufo Pugliese' stone were used and matched with simple furnishings sourced from local artisans.
There are 15 rooms, apartments and villas here, each with their own unique design. At the restaurant, housed beneath an elegant barrel-vaulted ceiling, you can savour a farm-to-table style menu curated by the chefs, who celebrate Apulian heritage through a seasonal menu blending traditional recipes with contemporary culinary techniques. Additionally, guests can enjoy a swimming pool offering breathtaking valley views, a tennis court, and three scenic hiking or mountain biking trails, with complimentary classic and electric bikes available for use throughout their stay. Lucrezia Worthington
Tenuta Monastero Santa Teresa, Nardò
The Nardò-based Tenuta Monastero Santa Teresa is a Baronial palace dating back to the 14th century which was later donated to the Vatican, who converted it into a Monastery. Under the Napoleonic influence of the 18th century, it was confiscated and fell into the hands of numerous noble families until it was finally acquired by the current owner Antonello Rizzetto who alongside the Italian architect Luigi Ripa, took the palace back to its former splendour and opened its doors as an ‘Albergo Diffuso’. The property is comprised of four grand palazzi, with a total of 30 contemporary-designed rooms treasured among frescoed walls, grand 12 metre high vaulted ceilings and sumptuous ornaments that walk you through centuries of architectural styles – the most notable being the original intricate baroque rose window and sculpted portico. Two of the four palazzos of the ‘Albergo Diffuso’ boast large swimming pools, while Relais il Magnano houses a rooftop terrace with eye-catching views across the historical centre of Nardò, as well as a restaurant that delivers the magnificent flavours of Salento. Nardò in itself is a great base for discovering the treasures of the south, as well as simply strolling through its cobblestone streets, admiring the ornate balconies and glamorous arches that represent centuries worth of history. Lucrezia Worthington
Address: Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, 31, 73048 Nardò LE, Italy
Borgo Valle Rita, Ginosa
On the boarder between Puglia and Basilicata, only a few kilometers away from the Ionian Sea, lies Borgo Valle Rita, a sprawling 103-hectare family-owned agricultural estate. Acquired in 1972 by Pasquale Lunati, today, three generations later, it's overseen by his grandson Carlo and his wife Antonella who have given a dynamic new life to this estate. Adjacent to the Rita stream, which lends its name to the property, lies an ancient palm grove leading to a rustic 14th-century manor restored by the Milan-based architect Anna Mazzucchelli. With a commitment to preserving its historical significance, local materials like the 'tufo pugliese' stone were used and matched with simple furnishings sourced from local artisans. There are 15 rooms, apartments and villas each with its unique design. At the restaurant, housed beneath an elegant barrel-vaulted ceiling, you can savour a farm-to-table style menu curated by the chefs, who celebrate Apulian heritage through a seasonal menu blending traditional recipes with contemporary culinary techniques. Additionally, guests can enjoy a swimming pool offering breathtaking valley views, a tennis court, and three scenic hiking or mountain biking trails, with complimentary classic and electric bikes available for use throughout their stay. Lucrezia Worthington
- Cosimo Rubino
Ostuni a Mare, Ostuni
Ostuni a Mare is the contemporary evolution of Rosa Marina Resort, owned by the Marseglia family since 1984 which, under consultation of the Gruppo Egnazia, has seen a trendy new restyle ready to show off from the 9th May. Situated along the Adriatic coast of Ostuni, Ostuni a Mare represents the beauty of its territory through its whitewashed, coastal chic design. Twenty new suites will be added to the 240 rooms as well as a brand new lounge and restaurant. For sports fanatics Ostuni a Mare is a playground; there are tennis, padel and volleyball courts, two football fields (one for the minis), a gym complete with Technogym equipment overlooking the swimming pool and, for golfers, the 18-hole San Domenico Golf Club is only a short drive away. As for the beach, a sandy private cove framed by the rocks is within walking distance from the resort. Lucrezia Worthington
Masseria Torre Maizza, Savelletri
A Mediterranean jungle crowned with grape vines and purple bougainvillaea leads you to the rooms and suites of Masseria Torre Maizza, a 15th-century farmhouse acquired by the Rocco Forte Hotel group in 2019. It faces the Adriatic Coastline with a sight of the deep blue sea on the horizon, connected to the Masseria via the Golf Course. The connection to the region through local craftsmanship is notable throughout – think Enza Fasano ceramics designed by Olga Polizzi, wicker and embroidered furnishings, and an eclectic colour palette that recalls the shades of nature. Nature is at the very heart of the Masseria, from Irene Forte Skincare amenities (the apricot shower gel smells so good it makes you want to eat it) to the cuisine, where Chef Fulvio Pierangelini curates a menu that showcases vegetables in all their facets. At the Carosello restaurant, lined with rosemary bushes and blue jasmine, don't miss the lemon tart for pudding – which only seems fitting considering tables overlook the lemon grove. Aperitivi takes place by the swimming pool, where you can savour local wines and nibbles as Carmelo sings Italian classics as the sun sets. Morning workouts are in the outdoor gym, more akin to a tented safari camp with techno gym equipment. One of the latest acquisitions of Masseria Torre Maizza is Lido Bambù, a bohemian-inspired beach club with sombrero-like umbrellas and cushioned sun beds, where you can spend the day (and take the free shuttle bus) amongst turquoise waters.
- Stefano Scatà
La Peschiera, Monopoli
Settled on waters edge, La Peschiera is the perfect example of a meticulous restoration – from an ancient fishing reserve to one of the most exclusive, refined hotels in Puglia. Located along the Monopoli coastline, the dreamy beachside bolthole embraces a simple colour palette of whites and beiges that perfectly enhances the hypnotic deep blue sea that it overlooks. Here you live and breathe the Adriatic, waking up and falling asleep to the gentle rustle of the waves, and even dine above it on a suspended terrace, where fish is undoubtedly the starring ingredient of Chef Vincenzo Montanaro’s tasting menus. On the other side is a small, private beach, where you experience the leisurely rhythm of the Mediterranean.
Address: Contrada Losciale, 63 Frazione, 70043, Capitolo BA, Italy
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Borgo San Marco, Fasano
A white-washed limestone façade represents years of history that date back to the 12th century, enclosing fragments of the past preserved as treasures in the cave church. But this heritage has had a contemporary dimension since 2002, when Alessandro and Virginia Amati acquired and restored the property. Today Borgo San Marco has 19 suites with rustic, country design, four poster beds and romantic drapes that gently dance in the morning breeze. The views here stretch across the horizon, over layers of centenary olive trees and ancient carobs and sprawl out to the Adriatic Sea. This is the side to catch the best sunrise. At the hotel’s restaurant, home-cooked, local cuisine is served to hotel guests and visitors. Order the ‘Fave e Cicoria,’ (fava bean purée with chicory), and drizzle with Borgo San Marco’s own extra virgin olive oil made on-site – it’s also just as lovely on bread with a sprinkle of salt.
- Salva Lopez
Masseria Moroseta, Ostuni
Carlo Lanzini set out to create a contemporary structure that acknowledged and respected tradition and integrated harmoniously into the surroundings. The outcome is a very linear, refined structure with whitewashed tufo walls, vaulted ceilings and original stone floors designed by Andrew Trotter. Outside, the beautifully minimalist location offers both sociable and convivial spaces and intimate nooks for moments of simple solitude. With Giorgia Eugeniagoggi at the head of the kitchen table, the philosophy behind the cuisine is simple yet refined: farm-to-table ingredients, locally sourced products, research and dedication.
Address: Contrada Lamacavallo, 72017, Ostuni BR, Italy
- ©Rei Moon/Moon Ray Studio
Castle Elvira, Trepuzzi
A 15-minute drive from Lecce takes you to a 20th-century castle left in its original state, with merlons and turrets set amidst 37 acres of gardens and orchards sprawling out towards the Adriatic Sea. Legend has it that the castle was abandoned for a century until current owner Steve Riseley acquired the property and, working closely with architects and specialist artisans, carefully restored it whilst discretely integrating contemporary, eclectic designer furnishings and works of art. There are four suites within the castle, a two-roomed Garden Suite in the Cottage and a further four suites across the tower and ancient Masseria, as well as a 70m swimming pool, jacuzzi, rooftop terrace and restaurant in which chef Fabiana Taurino prepares dishes deeply rooted in southern Apulian traditions.
Address: Via Andrano, 73019 Trepuzzi LE
Masseria Montenapoleone, Pezze di Greco
A long, narrow road with alternating rosemary and oleander bushes leads to an enchanted garden suspended between the countryside and the sea. Set out in the tiny hamlet of Pezze di Greco, eight minutes away from Torre Canne beach, Masseria Montenapoleone transports you to a dimension in which time is unimportant. Giuliano and Alessandra Monteneve created this artistic haven from an ancient cave settlement and live here today alongside their guests with their daughter Marcellina. They have paid particular attention to furnishings in which upcycled objects and vintage treasured finds from antique markets have been given a second life. The setting is a natural wonderland, composed of a variety of vegetation from fruit trees to flowers and herb gardens that leave a fragrant trail as you walk around the narrow stone-carved paths not only; in the mornings, you’ll find Chef Domenico Consoli picking fresh fruits and vegetables to cook at La Falegnameria restaurant. At Herbarium, the holistic spa, herbs are also used to create massage and aromatherapy oils that change on a seasonal basis. In the evening, book an aperitivo among the vineyards and watch the sunset as you savour a cocktail from the botanical bar or a glass of Primi Passi wine made from the native susumaniello grape from these very vineyards.
Address: C.da Bicocca n8, 72015, Pezze di Greco di FASANO BR, Italy
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- Stefano Scatà
Masseria le Torri, Polignano a Mare
When you think of Polignano a Mare, you envision the large spurs of rocks that look over Cala Porto, that small, picturesque sandy beach. But there’s another side to scenic town – rolling green countryside with dense olive groves surrounding Masseria le Torri. Here Mimmo and Silvana welcome you to their home through small and kind gestures that truly make you appreciate family-run hotels. Now and again, you’ll see Silvana walk around with a little apron and a huge smile, often on her way to the kitchen to bake something delicious. The breakfast is a memorable spread of home-baked cakes (vegan and gluten-free, too) and your traditional savoury delicacies such as ricotta, primo sale, focaccia and capocollo. But the rooms within this masseria also leave their mark – a simple and delicate palette of white with only essential furnishings that recall farmhouses of the past. You’ll find charming little details like an olive branch in place of a wardrobe, reflecting the farmer’s habit of hanging his jacket on a tree before starting work in the fields. At night, a spray of lavender oil awaits you on your pillow.
Address: Strada Comunale le Torri, 591/D, 70044, Polignano a Mare BA, Italy
- Atelier Domestico
Masseria Dagilupi, Ostuni
Danielle and Jean Louis fell in love with the authenticity of Puglia while on holiday and ended up relocating from Strasbourg seven years ago. They chose Ostuni as a base for their Maison d’Hôtes Masseria Dagilupi, where the Valle d’Itria and Salento collide, and expanses of olive groves flourish above deep red earth. The Masseria is housed within an ancient oil mill, with three suites that retain their original white-washed stone, vaulted ceilings and arched coves that once served as storage units to conserve the olive oil. Interiors are a mix of tradition, such as Enza Fasano vases and tableware, and refreshing contemporary touches like the Patricia Urquiola-designed bathtub in the Terrace Suite Ostuni – named after the white-washed town that is a short drive away.
- Colella Nicola
Masseria Galeta, Nardò
For a visit to Nardò, an authentic Italian gem with its splendid baroque façades, grand piazzas and few tourists, Masseria Galeta is an ideal base just 20 minutes drive away. The Masseria has a wonderful rustic and country feel, and along with a guesthouse, it also operates as a farm breeding cattle and goats. There are only three rooms between the 16th-century watch tower and farmhouse, where simple, antique furnishings enhance the atmosphere of an authentic, historical Masseria. To be savoured around a large, long table, breakfast is a moment of conviviality – where guests can come together over homemade delights.
- Ken Kochey
Don Ferrante, Monopoli
This 10-room charmer is built into the walls of Monopoli, a characterful sea-girt warren of whitewashed houses that feels more Greek than Italian. The bedrooms are classy boltholes under the vaults of what was once an 18th-century nobleman's house, but the clincher is the roof terrace and bar, where sunset aperitivi are served.
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- Lavinia Cernau
Paragon 700, Ostuni
Palazzo Rosso had lain abandoned for 40 years before designers Pascale Lauber and Ulrike Bauschke stumbled upon it. Behind a façade of rusticated Pompei red stone they found a dusty interior of frescoes and majolica tiles, of sweeping staircases and high-ceilinged grandeur. Paragon 700, their 11-room hotel, threw open its doors in 2021. A mischievous sense of design uplifts austere spaces with eclectic art and Gothicky furnishings. Don’t miss the spa, a candlelit netherworld that was once an underground cistern.
Address: Largo Michele Ayroldi Carissimo, 14, 72017 Ostuni BR, Italy
- Lavinia Cernau
Palazzo Maresgallo, Lecce
A sprawling palazzo of galleries, balconies and roof terraces, in a garden of lemon trees and shadows where a pool catches the afternoon light. Instead of gloomy pictures of ancestors, Maresgallo is filled with imaginative designer furniture and art: the owners, two couples, are collectors.
Castello di Ugento, Ugento
At the highest point of the small town of Ugento, 25km from Puglia's southernmost point, one gleaming monument stands out from its sun-faded neighbours. It took 18 months to sandblast Castello di Ugento's dilapidated pietra leccese walls back to their original honey hue, part of a €15 million renovation that breathed new life into the once-majestic palazzo. Three state-of-the-art kitchens were built within the property for Culinary Institute of America students to learn authentic Italian cooking. It's a foodie's dream. Pugliese produce is championed elsewhere in the castle too, with embroidered fabrics, handmade ceramics and organic olive-oil soaps and shampoos. Design-savvy guests will appreciate the furniture, from Ceccotti loveseats to reupholstered vintage Poltrona Frau armchairs. The nine bedrooms combine original architectural features with contemporary cosseting: sleep under a star-vaulted ceiling or shower in a rediscovered vault. The marriage of ancient and avant-garde continues in the museum wing, where 17th-century frescoes provide a backdrop to modern-art exhibitions, and in the restaurant, where the glass floor reveals a Norman tower that was excavated during the renovations. Sarah Royce-Greensill
- Lorenzo Pennati
Don Totu, San Cassiano
Milanese owners Chiara and Mauro Bini turned their historic dimora storica into a village house with all the punch of a top-notch hotel. Lush green cacti-filled gardens are bright against the creamy stonework; inside, original Salentine tiled floors are paired with grey and taupe linens and artwork from around the world. There are only six bedrooms (all vast, and each with its own terrace), so the enormous pool is usually all yours. At one end, a loggia houses an 18-metre-long replica of Matisse’s La Piscine beneath Art Deco chandeliers shipped over from the old Biltmore Hotel in Miami. Its flat roof turns into an outdoor cinema at night, for subtitled films with pizza and ice cream. Sweat it off the next morning with the daily 8am yoga session or book the private hammam for a Turkish bath. Food-wise you can help yourself to everything in the kitchen – still-warm bread, tarts and flans, plus hams, cheese and fruit for breakfast, and then a never-ending procession of chocolate truffles, Italian pastries and sugar-dusted biscuits during the day. You aren’t completely left to your own devices: the manager is always on hand for brilliant restaurant suggestions and local know-how. For beach trips, the staff will prepare a bag with towels and bottled water, plus there are bicycles and Vespas to borrow. Don Tuto is a B&B, yes, but better than some of the very best hotels down here In Italy’s heel. Charlotte Maconochie.
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- Rocco Forte Hotels
Masseria Torre Coccaro, Savelletri
Dominated by a 16th-century watchtower that later became a fortified farmhouse, Masseria Torre Coccaro is a delightfully laid-back place that works for both families and couples (it can arrange kids' pizza lessons as well as a quick round on the golf course). The owner is mover and shaker Vittorio Muolo - one of the founding fathers of the masserie and beach-club scene in Puglia's fishing village of Savelletri - who opened Torre Coccaro back in 2002. The rooms combine Puglian rusticity with touches of Frenchified elegance.
Address: C.da Coccaro, 8 72015 Savelletri di Fasano (Brindisi) Puglia - Italy
- Ken Kochey
Borgo Egnazia, Savelletri
There is nothing in Puglia quite like this, a vast hotel-village with a riad feel that sprawls luxuriantly over three areas. At the centre is a gorgeous 63-room masseria hotel. Families tend to opt for the more relaxed apartments, which give on to the lanes and piazzas of a tasteful faux-rural hamlet. For larger groups, there are 29 individual villas with private pools. Borgo Egnazia can absorb well over 300 people in high season, yet it's remarkably easy to carve out a private corner. There are four pools, as many restaurants (in varying venues from cellars to the beach), and an ethno-glam spa with a cinema. Local advisors sort tours or activities and indulge guests' whims: there's even a dedicated, in-house bicycle rental guy.
Address: Strada Comunale Egnazia 72015, Savelletri BR, Italy
Masseria Prosperi, Otranto
Mercedes Prosperi's mother and sister run Masseria Montelauro - a reference point for fans of Puglian country allure - but here, near Laghi Alimini, Prosperi has carved out a refreshingly kooky fiefdom of her own. A lifelong animal lover, she keeps horses, donkeys, goats and geese on this bohemian working farm. Though the location – right behind a less exalted masseria hotel - could be better, the mix of vintage and modern design of this new-build six-room retreat is seductive.
- Lavinia Cernau
Masseria Calderisi, Savelletri
It was built in 1656, but these days this fortified farmhouse is all clean lines offset with steel blue windows and doors. The cobbled threshing floor acts as a piazza between the dining terrace and tiny family chapel, between spa and sunken orchard. It is tempting to surrender to the lavender-framed pool and long lunches of grilled fish. As evening cool washes over the Masseria, the apero terrace is the place to catch the last rays of sun, the clink of Negronis from the aperitivo bar blending with the sounds of laid-back music and the hum of the cicadas.
Address: Strada Comunale Sarzano, 12/A, 72015 Fasano BR, Italy
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Palazzo Luce, Lecce
Milanese art collector Anna Maria Enselmi embarked on a four-year project to create this seven-suite hotel (and some-time exclusive rental) and living art gallery. Works by William Kentridge, Giuliano Dal Molin, Marina Abramović, Vanessa Beecroft, Marzia Migliora and Thomas Ruff, as well as 20th-century Italian furniture, dazzle in its rooms and cavernous salon. Two libraries, a small spa with hammam and Pilates studio, a bar in metal cabinetry and a lap pool overlooking the Roman theatre have been added.
Address: Via Del Palazzo dei Conti di Lecce, 4, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy
Masseria Cimino
This one is sweet and discreet, while its sister hotel Borgo Egnazia is big, bold and grand. A side project of the latter's owner-manager Aldo Melpignano, it's a plum-red, 18th-century fortified masseria surrounded by olive groves, and makes a virtue of its simplicity. The farmhouse-bedrooms are elegant but authentic, and breakfasts and dinners are good, unfussy local fare (Pugliese pasta dishes made with vegetables grown in the garden). A wonderfully unpretentious antidote to some of the region's dressier places to eat and stay.
Palazzo Daniele, Salento
Like a Mediterranean Cornwall, Salento, at the tip of Italy’s heel, is both a land’s end peninsula and a crossroads of cultures (some locals still speak an ancient Greek dialect). Gabriele Salini of GS Collection decided to partner with art curator Francesco Petrucci after Petrucci inherited his family’s 19th-century townhouse in lively Gagliano del Capo. Salini worked closely with the architects to take things back to essentials, to ‘exalt the void’ has, of course, exaggerated the grandeur of the place; the stripped-back walls, industrial lamps and monastically simple bedrooms highlight the ceiling frescoes, mirrored salons and a courtyard that calls for wild The Leopard-like soirées. The six-bedroom setting so beguiled French travel disruptor Thierry Teyssier that he launched his pop-up hotel concept 700,000 Heures here last autumn. Some of the region’s best beaches are a short drive away, but a cool, dark slick of swimming pool and lemon-filled orchard are persuasive reasons to stay put.
Address: Corso Umberto I, 60, 73034 Gagliano del Capo LE, Italy
Masseria Potenti, Manduria
The creation of Milan-based pugliesi Paolo Tommasino and Maria Grazia Di Lauro, this masseria nails sophisticated, barefoot chic like few others. Di Lauro's taste and eye for detail come through in the rustic-modern interiors, and the service is genuine and warm. Close to some of Puglia's best beaches, Masseria Potenti is just one of a handful of places to stay in the Manduria area, a seaside frontier dotted with nature reserves and Primitivo vineyards (like the hotel's own). Alongside wine, healthy food is a big part of any stay here: no foams, just good, garden-fresh regional dishes - like the delicious aubergine polpette - courtesy of a talented local mother-and-daughter team, who also rustle up sumptuous breakfast feasts, much of it based on the hotel's own produce. There's a real spiritual energy to this place, so it's no surprise it has become a popular spot for yoga retreats.