Masseria di Paolo

An inscription on a stone bears the date 1587, but some of the buildings are even older. Walking into Masseria di Paolo in Martina Franca is like turning the clock back a few centuries, as the careful refurbishment has restored the masseria to its original beauty. The masseria is located on a hilltop, in an area protected by the department for Apulian environmental and cultural heritage, and in the last 200 years, no buildings have been added. The 18 trulli have been turned into attractive accommodation, thanks to craftsmen who have restored them to their original beauty, using original plasterwork, fittings and materials. A magical place, a cluster of trulli located on a hilltop overlooking the surrounding countryside, a sort of castle which acts as a sentinel for the splendid Itria valley. Halfway between Locorotondo and Martina Franca, Masseria di Paolo lies in the heart of an area which in the 17th century was the most important part of Apulia, the home of Baroque. Alberobello is a ten-minute drive away, Taranto just 20 minutes, Bari 40 minutes, and the splendid cities of Trani, Matera and Lecce an hour. The Adriatic coast is just 20 minutes from here, while the Ionian coast, with its beaches which rival anything the Caribbean has to offer, is just a half hour's drive. The six apartments which have been created from the trulli and inside the masseria farmstead are all unique, with two or more rooms and a fully-equipped kitchen, providing accommodation for 2 to 6 people. The total number of beds is just 20. Each apartment has its own private patio area and kitchen. The communal areas, where you can sunbathe in the constant light breeze before diving into the swimming pool, where you can enjoy a dip in the six-person whirlpool, and relax under the sunshades, stretched out on the garden furniture. Children will love stroking the sweet-tempered Martin Franca donkey, which lives in the masseria, as well as getting onto the masseria's bicycles to explore the surroundings with friends and family members. In the kitchen of each apartment, guests will find everything needed to make their first Mediterranean breakfast. Olive oil, bread, local produce and Apulian specialities. Either cook your own supper in the apartment, or else stroll down to the restaurant at the next door farm, 500 metres from Masseria di Paolo, or else enjoy the delights of top-quality local Apulian cuisine cooked on request by a professional chef, exclusively for the masseria's guests. Masseria di Paolo has negotiated a special deal for its guests at the nearby farm restaurant.