Italy’s Puglia region is known for its “masseria,” a sort of bed and breakfast where people open guest rooms in their farmhouses. But there’s nothing farm-like about these places – many are beautiful, renovated and certainly worthy of a visit.
During our recent trip to Italy, my boyfriend and I had the pleasure of staying five nights at the Trulli Valle D’Itria. This masseria is owned by the Bonasia family and has three charming apartments for booking. Two are situated in trulli – traditional cone-shaped houses native to the region – while a third is in a small guesthouse.
The masseria property is beautiful, with a stunning swimming pool, terraces, lounge areas, and gardens kept in pristine condition by owner Pino. The surrounding olive groves make for a serene, tranquil environment; whether you plan hard-core daytrips or prefer to spend a day relaxing poolside, the option is yours!
Upon our arrival late on a Saturday afternoon, we were exhausted from our journey. Pino arranged a last-minute dinner for us to enjoy under the stars by the pool, with fantastic wine and delicious local fare prepared by his wife, Angela. Pino was also extremely helpful to assist us with planning our daily itineraries – he gave us a local’s insider’s tips for the best beaches in the region (and they were indeed spectacular).
Trulli Valle D’Itria is perfectly situated for exploring the Puglia area – whether you want to visit historic sites, hop from town to town, or simply relax on the beach, it’s all within close distance. A car is a must for navigating the area (and a navigation system doesn’t hurt), but driving the quaint countryside roads isn’t as intimidating as I anticipated. In about 40 minutes you can easily reach the Adriatic coast to the east, or in the same time drive south-west to quiet inlets on the interior of Italy’s “heel.” You can also reach Baroque capital Lecce in about an hour and a half.
The trulli rooms are ideal if traveling in a group or with a family, and are complete with a small kitchen – it’s not flashy, but cozy and authentic. One night, we stopped at a local deli to pick up fresh ingredients, and prepared our own meal to eat by the pool (complete with tasty local wine).
Breakfast is included in the price of the room, and every morning we enjoyed fresh cappuccinos, baked goods and fresh fruits (no matter how full we were from big Italian meals the night before!)
The Trulli Valle D’Itria is situated a 10 minute drive from Martina Franca, a fairly large town with plenty of great restaurants, shops and markets. They offer daily bike rents if you prefer to explore the region on two wheels, but be warned: the roads are much hillier than in Holland!
If you’re thinking about a visit to Puglia, Trulli Valle D’Itria is a true gem of the region.
Text: Lydia Parafianowicz
