Casa Cutura

An Apulian Olive Grove Only Minutes from the Sea

This main house/studio combo sleeps 10 guests in its five double bedrooms. The designer villa was created by Venice artist Kico Mion and completed by a sustainability-focused architect. It fuses minimal modernist styling and hard gleaming surfaces with traditional elements. The home’s décor displays earth tones combined with regional whitewashing, globally sourced architectural elements, and an infusion of bright natural sunlight.

Outdoor living is a must here, and the villa has several shaded terraces for lounging and dining, some with built-in sofa seating. Anchoring the immediate outdoor area is a 60-square-meter swimming pool, with cacti- and succulent-lined gardens opening into the olive grove that extends for four hectares.

Layout

Main house: Four queen-sized bedrooms, four bathrooms, one half bath/WC, kitchen/dining combo, living room with fireplace, workspace

Studio: One bed/bathroom, half bathroom, huge operable glass panel facade opening to outdoor pool/bath area

Outdoor space: 170 square meters of verandas, 4m x 15m pool, 1 bathroom with double shower, covered outdoor dining room/kitchen, built-in sofa seating

Around

Located in a four-hectare olive grove near the charming village of Carovigno, this villa makes a great base for exploring this famed region, with the sea a 15-minute drive away. The Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve that borders the property includes a widely protected marine and wilderness area perfect for exploring the coastline’s beauty, and the Adriatic Sea’s cliffside views and coved beaches in the park are unforgettable. The villa’s hometown of Carovigno is an ancient community that was a loyal Roman Empire outpost, and the small city’s medieval center remains intact, with a castle and city gates enclosing ancient churches and piazzas. Carovigno preserves the ancient custom of “Nzegna,” a 1,000+ year old tradition of flag throwing and pageantry linked to a religious community based out of the nearby cave church of Maria Santissima di Belvedere. Sun worshippers will love that the waterfront and sandy swimming beaches are only three kilometers away, and the Adriatic coast here is known for its postcard-pretty, rocky coves.

In nearby San Vito dei Normanni, narrow streets reveal classic Italian village churches, palazzos and even a castle, along with a smattering of cafes, bars, and restaurants. Ancient archeological finds have put the small city on the map, dating it back to 1800 BC, though the existing buildings are mostly medieval to Baroque. A Norman tower was the first part of the city’s castle to be erected (the Normanni part of St. Vito’s name), and the Castello’s square tower is distinctive. An olive oil museum details the region’s agricultural legacy.

This is Puglia, so exploration is well worth it. Head to Alberobello, Locorotondo, or Ostuni for thousands of the region's famed trulli, stroll whitewashed hilltop villages and hit up estates for wine, olive oil and farm shop tastings. Further afield, the historic duo of Polignano a Mare and Monopoli are excellent for sightseeing and offer fantastic waterfront food options. The historical towns of Cisternino, with its dizzying maze of streets, and Martina Franca, a Baroque-era beauty, also make easy day trips.

Location

Carovigno, Puglia, Italy. Nearest airport: Brindisi (15 minutes)

Best time to visit

April to October