Spare, antique and serene, this 15th-century watchtower has been reincarnated and refocused inwards instead of out to sea. The understated yet majestic former outpost, first transformed into a residence by 17th-century barons, now stands as a matte, minimalist sanctuary overlooking the Ionian Sea. 

The home consists of two units--the main house (with four double bedrooms and two bathrooms) and one independent outbuilding (with an ensuite double). Rates shown are for eight guests, but the entire property sleeps 10. There is an additional charge for more than eight guests.

A fortuitous bike ride led the future owners of this coastal watchtower past its weathered walls and wildly unrestrained garden in the rural countryside near historical Nardò. Plagued by disrepair, the abandoned structure was captivating, a remnant of nobler times, and they were instantly hooked.

Today the property’s iron gates open onto a soulful architectural collage, one part sturdy 15th-century watchtower, one part 17th-century baronial residence, and one part subtle, slow-living, modern masterpiece. Surrounded by olives, orchards and vineyards, it is flanked by a bleached pool terrace in a fruiting garden. Enlivened by gilded crests, well-worn limestone, and elegant patinaed doors that recount its “Once upon a time,” this sparely furnished villa for rent in Italy is splendorous yet serene.

Original architectural elements have been allowed to shine, unadorned by needless new ornamentation or updates. Vaulted cupolas, stony wall accents and gilded frescoes soar over clean-lined modern furnishings that subdue the structure’s grandeur with easy, organic modern styling. A monastic palette of bone to white tones dominates in most rooms, offset by pops of mustard yellow, turquoise, sage green or dove grey. The villa’s kitchen-dining room is a standout space, a cook’s kitchen with its original hearth, exposed stone walls, updated prep space, and curvaceous windowed double door that opens to an outdoor dining terrace. It's the heart of the house, and guests are invited to pick their own fruits and vegetables from the organic garden. Enjoy cooking classes, olive oil and wine tastings, as well as the services of a private chef, if needed.

Infused with nostalgia, the garden retains its wild, untamed atmosphere. Stony colonnades outline one pathway, a solitary palm reaches skyward, and outgrowths of opuntia topped by fuschia baubles hug the villa’s outer corners. The owners have replanted the property’s trees, vegetables and fruit orchards and added a scenic poolscape in the back garden, a vivid, enclosed spot in the ancient watchtower’s sturdy shadow.

AROUND

Located 10 minutes outside of historical Nardò, this villa for rent in Italy is set closest to the Baroque town of Galatone, and an easy drive from the sandy white stretches along the Ionian Sea. Galatone’s feudal estates peek out from olive groves that cover the hills around it, and the village’s massive fortifications are many, from its ornately sculpted ancient entry gates to its dominating Castello. The home is set in Puglia, Italy’s timeless boot heel, the region between the Adriatic and Ionian seas famed for its architecture (think trulli homes and stony masseria). 

Don't miss its fortified seafront villages, including nearby Baroque Galatina and Nardò, the latter with its notable “Cenate” district, where eclectic seafront villas can be visited with a guide, via pre-reservation at the villa. The villa can also assist with booking yoga sessions and cooking classes, local wine and olive oil tastings, and horse, bike or boat tours of the area. A private chef is available in-house, and the Salento region comes highly regarded for its delectable foods and earthy wines that combine this part of Italy’s abundant gifts of fertile land and adjacent seas.

LOCATION

Galatone, Puglia, Italy. Nearest airport: Brindisi (73km, approx. 60 mins)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: April to October