Masseria Torre Maizza

Contemporary chic meets rustic idyll: a hip, glamorous masseria conversion among orchards and olive groves.

Against the intense blue sky and rich green land, these white buildings dazzle, silhouetting twisted tree trunks. You don’t expect to find this kind of luxurious chic among the olive and lemon groves that fill the southern Italian countryside. Torre Maizza feels purposefully more sophisticated than its equally wonderful neighbour Torre Coccaro (owned by the same family). It’s more of a couples’ haunt - peaceful, discreet and glamorous.

It’s a converted fortified farm, or masseria, peculiar to Puglia. Centred around a gleaming-white tower, the outhouses – once welcoming passing pilgrims and monks - have been converted into 28 understated, luxurious rooms. The tower houses a sleek, sexy Aveda spa, while the grounds roll out all around, lush and flower-filled. A lovely large heated pool, set amid fruit trees, is surrounded by decking and luxurious oversized loungers at various levels. The hotel’s serene, white-sanded, sun-shaded beach club - with restaurant and sushi bar - is about 4km away on the Adriatic sea and there’s a pea-green golf course too.

Highs

• Gorgeously understated design that’s one part country to one part cutting-edge
• Fabulous spa which uses the farm's own olive oil for its aromatic massage
• Sophisticated, largely organic restaurant with a splendid wine list
• Rooftop bar with floor cushions and white lanterns on summer evenings
• 14m manned yacht available for trips along the coast See Rates

Lows

• Rooms are expensive, while meals and the spa match London prices See Rates
• The charge for room service on top of all that is frankly cheeky
• The landscaping is still young
• The local beaches are not the Med's best, and they get crowded in August - but towel space is no problem at the hotel's beach club