Trullo Ulivi Al Sole

Puglian Classic: A Renovated Trullo and Lamia

Combining an elegantly renovated rural lamia and the classic conical rooftops of the region’s iconic trulli, this modernized villa is an easygoing Puglian classic. Throughout the property’s spacious rooms, old stones meet new whitewashing, creating an charmed atmosphere that exudes warmth and low-key coastal chic. Five bedrooms feature their own private baths, and one bedroom occupies the traditional dry-stone trullo, topped by the region’s signature conical roofs. The converted lamia offers a generous living area that opens to outdoor terraces, and a modern kitchen and dining room for easy entertaining. The home’s centerpiece is its 10m x 5m saltwater swimming pool under the shade of the 60 fruit and olive trees. The property’s garden offers places to steal away and rest, and the property makes a great base for exploring this sun-drenched coastal region’s beaches, heritage villages, and picturesque ports.

Around

With 800 kilometers of coastline along both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, this region of Italy is known for its sandy shores and rugged seafront cliffs, not to mention its gastronomy and photogenic architecture between rolling hills and reaching towards the plains of Salento. Land of trulli homes and whitewashed villas, labyrinthine villages, crystalline waters and fragrant herbs, plus olive oil, fresh seafood and stellar garden-to-table gastronomy, Puglia is a dream vacation destination.

Located near Ceglie Messapica on the edge of the Murge plateau, the town of Francavilla Fontana is bordered by olive and citrus groves. Its Castello Imperiale is an imposing, crenellated castle at the town’s heart, and the Chiesa Matrice, or “Mother Church” boasts the tallest dome in the area. Quieter than many of its neighboring villages, Francavilla’s tree-lined Corso Umberto I street leads to a cheery, café dotted square, Piazza Umberto I, where you’ll get an authentic glimpse into everyday village life—gentle, local and simple.

Not to be missed nearby are the better known villages of Cisternino and Locorotondo, and the white villages of Ostuni and Alberobello. Alberobello is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, the capital of the region’s trulli, with thousands of the heritage structures dotting the village and covering the hills of the surrounding countryside. Ceglie Messapica is one of the oldest towns in Puglia, dating from the 15th century BC. Astoundingly well-preserved, the town features a dominating Ducal Castle, massive domes and fortified walls as well as multitude palazzi and a busy restaurant and wine bar scene. Considered the gastronomical capital of this part of the region, Ceglie Messapica hides cafes, tasting rooms, local grower boutiques and family-run restaurants within its labyrinthine streets.

Wine and olive oil producers are among the country’s best, the university town of Lecce is referred to as the “Florence of the South” for its Baroque architecture and wealth of art, and Mediterranean port towns in the region range from the regional capital of Bari to the picturesque Polignano a Mare and Monopoli on the Adriatic coast, and the beloved San Pietro on the Ionian shore. Beachgoers should head to the Adriatic Sea, but know that the blue Ionian bays between Italy’s boot heel and toe are only a bit further afield.

Location

Nearest airport: Brindisi (20 miles)

Best time to visit

April to October