The Specchia Hideaway

Rooms

The villa spans two floors, with a boho-chic style flowing throughout. Expect white-washed walls, colourful textiles and ceramics, hand-crocheted bedspreads, soulful antique furniture and vases of fresh flowers.

Upstairs are four light-filled spacious bedrooms, named after colours as seen on cushions, bedheads and wardrobes cleverly covered with vintage Toile de Jouy wallpaper. Blue and Azure can be made up as doubles or twins, the other two are doubles. Each top-floor bedroom has original tiled floors and wooden shutters opening onto a large wraparound terrace with fabulous views over Specchia and the distant Adriatic Sea. A shaded seating area provides the perfect spot for sunset. In the two upstairs bathrooms (one with shower, one with tub) original Gio Ponti sinks and patterned tiles take you back in time.

Downstairs is the fifth bedroom, a small sunny double; plus there's a comfortable double sofa bed in the spacious but slightly darker studio if needed. Guests in these rooms share a shower bathroom on the ground floor, with a dressing area.

The comfy and eclectic living room has a massive fireplace, squashy sofas and a cute bar in the corner: a proper home from home. But we spent most of our time on the large open-sided veranda which runs two sides of the villa and has a long dining table, plus a lounge area with built-in sofas at one end. Venture beyond to find the gardens with delightful day beds, hammocks, covered walkways, fruit orchards and gnarled olive groves. There’s no shortage of places to hide away.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Fireplace
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Terrace/balcony
• Toiletries
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

This is a house for outdoor living. We mostly dined outside, either in the covered veranda (there's a table for 8 and another for 4), or under the trees at another pretty tiled table which seats 12 comfortably with a barbecue and firepit nearby. There's also a fallback dining room inside, with a long glass table (for up to 10) and a big fireplace.

Next door to that, the new, superbly equipped compact kitchen comes with a breakfast bar, large gas hob and stove, microwave, dishwasher and enough glasses, crockery, pots and pans to host a party. Handy supplies include milk, juice, coffee, bottled water, salt, olive oil, vinegar, melba toast, jam, sugar and a big bowl of fresh fruit. Guests may also find a welcome aperitivo on arrival. Your nearest supermarket (with mini bakery, deli and butchers) is in Specchia, a 5-minute drive away. A well-stocked Conad superstore is just over the hill near Presicce.

For a night off from cooking, a private chef can be arranged – we loved Tecla’s 4-course feast showcasing typical Puglian seafood dishes. If venturing out for meals, buzzy eateries await in Specchia, Tricase old town and its picturesque port. Trattoria Da Coppuledda has a good rep for serving up tasty traditional local fare and a pleasing selection of local wines, and can make deliveries to the villa if you prefer to get a takeaway. Highlights for us included cocktails at Farmacia de Balboa in Tricase, lunch at Ristorante Lo Scalo overlooking the sea and heavenly gelatos and pasticciottos in Mille Voglie and Martinucci in Specchia (both set in stunning old buildings). Fausto will provide a useful insider’s guide of the best local eateries and places to go, so you’ll be well looked after.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Chef on request
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby
• Toaster

Activities

• Cool off in the swimming pool, or seek out one of the garden’s secret daybeds or hammocks for an afternoon doze among the jasmine flowers
  
• Or why not indulge in a massage under the trees - total bliss
  
• Venture to medieval Specchia (2km). Marvel at the 15th-century Castle; discover Chiesa di Sant’Eufemia – a Byzantine church dating back to the 9th century – or explore the ancient underground olive oil mills
  
• For those seeking evening fun, Specchia is especially buzzy during the summer months, with mazy cobbled lanes filled with live music, street performances, and open-air markets. Or just while away the hours at Bar al Castello on the main piazza
  
• Soak up some rays on the beautiful Ionian coast. Try Marina di Pescoluse, (13km), known as the "Maldives of Salento" for its crystal-clear waters and white sand. Other nearby options include Marina di Salve, Torre San Giovanni and Marina Serra
  
• Gallipoli, a 30-minute westwards drive away, has a beach under 14th-century walls and is renowned for its vibrant nightlife in the summer and the stunning Punta della Suina beach; once part of Greece, it was rebuilt by the Byzantines, conquered by Normans, and owned by Sicily and Naples
  
• In the other direction, on the Adriatic coast, is the small and equally historic port of Otranto, considered one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, with gorgeous clear water and beaches to the north and south; while you're over this way check out Piscina di Marina Serra, a natural swimming pool found within the rocks, where you can swim year-round
  
• Wine aficionados are well catered for with local vineyards aplenty. We enjoyed a 2-hour tour and tasting at top-rated Castel Di Salve Srl (9km)
  
• Padel tennis courts can be booked by the hour (with racquets and balls included) in nearby Alessano and horse riding can also be arranged
  
• Pre-book bicycles so they are ready and waiting for you on arrival to explore the countryside
  
• Channel your inner Gennaro Contaldo, and take a pasta cooking class at the villa with Julia and Fabrizio (who formerly worked at California's famous French Laundry restaurant). Our group of mixed ages loved it. Fausto can make arrangements

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Wine tasting

Kids

In true Italian style, kids of all ages are welcome at the villa. That said, there isn’t a great deal for them to do, but they will love splashing in the pool and exploring the garden. The beaches are about a 15-20 minute drive away. Highchairs and a cot are available upon request. The hand blender and microwave are handy for baby food.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

On the top floor, both Azure and Blue bedrooms can be set up as twins. On the ground floor there's a small double and a double sofa bed too for older kids.

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1hr 25m
• Hospital: 15 minutes
• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Specchia Hideaway can be found low down in Puglia – the heel of Italy – on the outskirts of Specchia, a pretty historical town in the province of Lecce.

By Air
The nearest airport is Brindisi (105km) which has plenty of links with other cities in Italy and Europe. Further away is Bari Airport (223km).

By Car:
We’d recommend hiring a car to make the most of the area. Check out our guide to car rentals for more info. Parking is available at the villa.

By Train:
If travelling by train, head to well-served Lecce and catch a bus direct to Specchia (1hour 14mins).

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.