Dimora MM, a villa rental in Puglia, Italy

Understated Alfresco Living in an Olive Grove in Puglia

With the region’s iconic olive trees circling its cone-topped structures and a saltwater pool shimmering at its heart, this renovated trulli home by CA SA Studio’s Luca Abbadati offers four earthy bedrooms with private bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen that extends outdoors to the terrace, and a covered alfresco lounge and dining area with its own full kitchen and wine cooler near the pool. The cherries on top? A cactus garden and olive grove lounge area, all spaces curated by interior designer Sara Carlesi.

Four elegantly minimalist queen bedrooms offer en-suite bathrooms with showers, three situated in the main villa and one in a classic trullo. A living room inside continues the spare styling, with a wood stove for added comfort.

But the retreat was designed for outdoor enjoyment, with all doors leading to the enchanting gardens. Splash in the sundrenched saltwater pool. Read or sketch under the olive trees, then cool off under the outdoor shower. Even the home’s projector was made to stream movies indoors or out. And when it comes to dining alfresco, there is a full outdoor kitchen, with an induction hob, barbecue, wine fridge, and table for 10 guests.

Around

Tucked into the olive groves with vineyards striping the nearby hills, this Valle d’Itria charmer is set just outside (3km) the community of San Michele Salentino, a sweet village where time seems to stand still. San Vito dei Normanni is about double the distance, a town offering basic services, market days, and a handful of small cafes and trattorias.

Top spots nearby include the white village of Ostuni (18km), foodie haven Ceglie Messapica, (16km), and Cisternino (about 30km), all with labyrinthine whitewashed streets, artisan shops, and traditional restaurants and tasting rooms for both olive oil and wine. The protected Torre Guaceto nature preserve is about 20 kilometers away, a coastal area with abundant bird and wildlife, crossed by biking and walking paths. The area extends along the coastline here, backed by grass-tufted sand dunes and the bright blue waters of the Adriatic Sea.

The Ionian Sea is also within easy striking distance, with favorite beaches at Saturo and Montedarena opening to wide bays with calm, shimmering waters. And if it’s a more urban diversion you’re seeking, head to Bari, a busy port city with whitewashed and blonde stone buildings filling its Bari Vecchia, or Old Town, and wooden fishing boats in a bright rainbow array of colors bobbing along the Lungomare Nazario Sauro seaside promenade. A coastal cycling path runs through Bari along its seafront viewpoints and municipal beaches.