Villa Santoro

Traditional and contemporary, glamorous and rustic: a gorgeous trulli villa that’s perfect for friends and families (sleeps 8)

This glorious villa is in the Valle d’Itria region, Puglia at its most fascinating and pastoral: all rolling hills, meadows and ancient olive groves. And among them, the trulli - witch-hat shaped buildings that look like something out of a fairytale. Rebuilt by Austro/Italian architects Bricchi Marksteiner, this is a small masseria (farmhouse) that encompasses two trulli, as pale as if they’ve been sprinkled by icing sugar. The buildings are a wonderful combination of simple curves and straight lines, permeated by pale, tranquil minimalism. Big French windows allow light and air to flood through the space – even in summer, there’s usually a breeze.

The house is perched on a hillside, with views over valleys to the hilltop towns of Cisternino and Locorotondo; olive, almond, apricot, fig, pear and pomegranate trees, lavender and shrubs dot its 2-acre grounds. Below the outdoor dining area is a large lake-style swimming pool, which can lead to a tricky choice: whether to wallow around the edge or jump into the luscious deep centre.

Highs

• Perfect for families or friends, with 4 charming bedrooms and a sofabed
• Traditional Pugliese architecture spectacularly converted, with contemporary, stylish furnishings inside
• Puglia and still feels ‘real’
• The owner provides a great villa book with tons of local information
• Easy to reach: 45 mins from Brindisi airport, 1.5 hours from Bari
• Well set-up for self-catering, with lovely outdoor eating area and Trani-marble table

Lows

• It gets quickly booked up in summer
• Not a complete retreat, there are a couple of other villas in sight (though they're not always inhabited)
• The twin rooms lie off the main areas so may be subject to noise
• Not near the sea (the nearest beach is 30 mins’ drive away)