Masseria Li Cafari

A 16th-Century Masseria in Nardò, Salento

A 16th-century masseria near Porto Selvaggio, this home is set on three hectares in a protected coastal nature reserve 1,500 meters from the sea. The original stone wings frame a seven-meter glazed atrium, and the double-height living space below it is anchored by a 12-meter concrete fireplace wall.

It's the atrium that steals the show. Where a conventional restoration would have left the two wings separate, the architects glazed the gap, turning a stone farmhouse into a 320-square-meter, double-height living space with light coming from above and original stonework on all sides.

The ground floor unfolds across multiple lounge zones and a dining room for 16 with panoramic sea views. The Ernesto Meda–designed kitchen runs seven meters with two stone islands. Each of the eight suites includes an en-suite bathroom with double basins and walk-in shower or bathtub, a dressing area, and a private garden with outdoor shower. Three suites have their own private living rooms. Upstairs, a terrace overlooks the Gulf of Taranto. A second kitchen, gym, hammam, breakfast lounge, and a movie theater complete the house.

The 15×5m pool sits inside the 600-tree olive grove, paired with a dedicated poolside solarium. Century-old pine trees shade the lounge terraces and outdoor dining areas that extend from the main living space. The estate also includes a private orchard, vegetable and fruit gardens, a fire pit, and an outdoor kitchen. On clear days the upper terrace view stretches across the Gulf of Taranto to the mountains of Calabria.

What we love

What we love about this masseria is the way time seems to renegotiate its terms the moment you arrive. Golden light, honest materials, a silent conversation between something very old and something very considered, and interiors that make Scandinavian vintage and contemporary art feel like they always belonged under the same roof. Simplicity here isn't a lack of anything. It's the whole point.

Layout

This vacation home for rent in Nardò sleeps up to 16 guests. Eight suites across two wings are connected by a central glazed atrium. The ground floor is anchored by a 320-square-meter living and dining space. Each suite opens directly onto a private garden. Three suites include a separate private living room. The upper level has a large seaview terrace. Other rooms include a second kitchen, gym, hammam, movie theater, and breakfast lounge.

- Bedroom 1 — Double, en suite, private garden, private living room

- Bedroom 2 — Double, en suite, private garden, private living room

- Bedroom 3 — Double, en suite, private garden, private living room

- Bedroom 4 — Double, en suite, private garden

- Bedroom 5 — Double, en suite, private garden

- Bedroom 6 — Double, en suite, private garden

- Bedroom 7 — Double, en suite, private garden

- Bedroom 8 — Queen, en suite, private garden

Experiences

Two full-time butlers prepare daily breakfast and handle daily housekeeping. Complimentary laundry service is included. A 24-hour concierge can arrange private tours, wine and food tastings, boat excursions, in-villa chefs, spa treatments, and private drivers. Full-time drivers are available on request for guests without a car.

Good to know

Two full-time butlers, daily breakfast, daily housekeeping, laundry service, pool and garden maintenance, and utilities are all included in the rental. A 24-hour concierge is available throughout the stay. A car is strongly recommended. Full-time drivers can be arranged on request. The estate sits within a protected E4 Natural Park Conservation Zone.

Amenities & services

Air conditioning, central heating, Wi-Fi, swimming pool (15×5m), hammam, gym, movie theater, indoor fireplace, fire pit, barbecue, outdoor kitchen, Nespresso, espresso machine, dishwasher, induction stove, oven, washing machine, dryer, TV, sound system, hair dryer, bathtub, outdoor shower, beach towels, beach essentials, crib on request, high chair on request, daily breakfast included, daily housekeeping, two full-time butlers, laundry service included, 24-hour concierge, private drivers on request, free on-site parking

Around

Nardò is 10 minutes from the estate. A baroque hill town with one of the finest central piazzas in Puglia, it has none of the tourist infrastructure that Ostuni or Alberobello have accumulated over the last decade. This is the Salento that hasn't been packaged for export: stone streets, wine bars, artisan shops, a lively market. Porto Selvaggio natural park, with its limestone cliffs, hidden coves, and freshwater springs running into the sea, begins at the edge of the property. The beaches at Punta della Suina and Torre Lapillo are both under 15 minutes. Lecce—baroque architecture and a cluster of Michelin-listed restaurants—is around 40 minutes north.