Casa Piana

Designed for Living

Crossing the threshold into Casa Piana, guests are met with simple beauty, a space defined by the elegance of handhewn details, low-key textural accents, and sun-kissed surfaces. Here, light serves as a principal design element, and the minimal space offers an ambiance of peace and easygoing, barefoot luxury.

This vacation home rental in Italy comes to us from Alessio Manca of Moroseta Villas, a collection of Puglian homes we’ve been fans of for years. The space was refurbished in 2018, when Manca returned to his hometown of Nardò after years spent in London. His goal was to create a home where design can be lived in, not shown off or solely displayed, and in Casa Piana he’s taken this idea to the next level. The building sits on the outskirts of Nardò’s historic center, and its bold simplicity provides the perfect blank canvas within which to create his signature magic.

Teaming up with the designers at Studio Palomba Serafini, this vision came to life in the stark building-turned-private-home. The space offers harmonious volumes where private rooms are balanced with communal spaces, and natural light serves as the central design element. Local materials have been used throughout the reconstruction, and many have been left deliberately unfinished. The interior color palette, a soothing display of bone, cream, and white, could be described as a study of the dominant tones of Puglian architecture.

Built on two levels, Casa Piana features a ground-floor living area offset by two minimal bedroom and bathroom spaces. The simplicity of the sleep spaces, intentionally left bare bones and serene, feels like a deep exhale. Walls are soft matte, floors spread smoothly underfoot, linens are lightly textured, and the light filters down from new skylights placed overhead. Bathrooms are recessed and vaulted, designed as havens of relaxation, with masonry bathtubs and cool, stony surfaces. A living area on the ground floor is equally low-key and leisurely, with an atmosphere that’s homey, though not modest, displaying an easy luxury and straightforward comforts.

Once a simple terrace, the upstairs space of this vacation home rental in Italy has been transformed into its convivial heart. It features a clean-lined kitchen of modern appliances enclosed in glass with patio spaces on either side, one an alfresco dining terrace, the other a plant-filled lounge area with a built-in masonry sofa and view over the rooftops of historic Nardò.

Learn more about Alessio Manca in our Stories section here.

AROUND

Considered a gem of Italian Baroque architecture, the village of Nardò is loved by those who prefer off-the-beaten path locales and traditional Italian village charms, plus ultra-easy beach access on two seashores. The nearby beaches of Porto Selvaggio, Santa Caterina, and Santa Maria al Bagno are all about a 10-minute drive, and Nardò’s Torre Uluzzo is a favorite spot for a sunset swim. 

Set in Puglia’s Salento region, in Italy’s boot heel, Nardò is known for its unassuming lifestyle, clean waters, fishing hamlets, and Baroque-era villages. The region also offers abundant vineyards, olive groves and nature reserves to explore. Nearby Grottoglie is a ceramics destination, and recreation opportunities include beach combing and sunbathing on the Adriatic and Ionian seas, cycling, fishing kite-surfing and hiking. When it comes to the pleasures of the table, Nardò is known for its fresh fish, peppery olive oils, and healthy, locally-grown produce.

LOCATION

Nardò, Puglia, Italy. Nearest airports: Brindisi, Bari.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May to October