La Casa di Bru

An Artful Country Estate in the Valle d'Itria

A contrasting ensemble of ancient and modern buildings, this country retreat is settled in the Puglian countryside near the stunning villages of Carovigno and Ostuni. The photogenic estate finds a stacked stone trullo and an original lamia sharing space with two modern additions, creating a central courtyard with an outdoor kitchen and farm table for dining under the canopy of a gnarled ancient olive tree.

With its bright white facades painted with oversized birds and an artful nest installed on one roof, the estate is a creative combination of old stones and sleek modern living. Three double bedrooms (ensuite) fill the original lamia and pair of new buildings, and the dome-topped trullo, its tufa walls left unplastered, serves as a cozy living room. The property’s interior design in shades of black and rich brown offset the whitewashed exteriors, a detail that earned the home mentions in Elle Decoration Korea (2016) and Elle Decoration Italia (2015).

Puglia’s deep russet soil inspired the property’s raw, elemental pool area, where a 15-meter-long swimming pool flows into the olive grove, its blue waters and earthen surrounding stark against the whitewashed walls of the home. A roof terrace is reached by an exterior staircase, offering views of the rustic, stone-pocked region, its hills and fields alive with twisting olives and citrus.

Around

Set in the heart of Italy’s hot spot, the Valle d’Itria, the home also allows for easy access to the lesser-known region of Alto Salento. 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 palm-tree-dotted 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.

Another nearby village is the UNESCO-classified Ostuni, its vivid white facades clustered on a gentle hillside and streets lined with artisanal shops and cafes. Sun worshippers will love that the waterfront and sandy swimming beaches are a quick drive away, and the Adriatic coast here is known for its postcard pretty, rocky coves. The nature reserve of Torre Guaceto and port towns of Polignano a Mare and Monopoli are all an easy drive from the home.

Puglia is home to thousands of trulli, the adorable, dry stacked, conical homes that were once agricultural storages. Today trulli have mostly been converted into private getaways that dot the rural landscape, concentrated in and around Alberobello, a UNESCO-classified village well worth a visit, along with other picturesque towns of note nearby, including Cisternino and Locorotondo.

Location

Carovigno, Valle d'Itria, Puglia, Italy. Nearest airports: Brindisi (40km), Bari, (60km)

Best time to visit

March to November