Villa Quercia, a villa rental in Puglia

A Contemporary Collaboration by Studiotoff and Vipp

With three queen bedrooms and two baths, this minimalist villa indulges guests in its subtlety and serenity. Studiotoff and Vipp collaborated to create the softly sophisticated house that won Archilovers Best Project 2023.

Il dolce far niente is easily attained at the minimalist country getaway, that invites poolside lounging, al fresco dining under the stars in the shadow of the twisting olive trees and cooking up a feast in the signature Vipp brand open-concept kitchen with Miele appliances and a Vipp sofa in the lounge area.

Seamless indoor/outdoor living comes naturally here, as the living room doors open entirely, allowing for breezes and natural light to infuse the villa. An outdoor shower adds to the al fresco focus, and the villa’s rooftop offers panoramic, classic Italian country views.

Around

A 20-minute drive from the property lands you in the “white villages” of Ostuni and Cisternino, both occupying olive grove blanketed hillsides. The home is set in a sea olive trees at the end of a country road and makes a sophisticated base for exploring the region, including the crystalline waters of the Adriatic sea and its rock-studded, coved beaches, the nature reserve of Torre Guaceto (about 30 miles), as well as the lively historic port towns of Polignano a Mare and Monopoli. The Taranto Cathedral is 29 miles from the home and Castello Aragonese is 30 miles.

Puglia is famed for its dry stacked, conical trulli homes, former agricultural storages that today are mostly fairtytale private getaways dotting the rural landscape. Thousands of trulli are concentrated in and around Alberobello, a UNESCO classified location that’s a quick trip away. Other picturesque villages of note nearby include Cisternino and Locorotondo and the nearby ‘white village” of Ostuni. The nearest beach is about a half-hour’s drive away along the Adriatic Sea, while the Ionian Sea, filling the space between Italy’s boot heel and toe, is a bit further afield. Beyond its famed trulli homes and whitewashed villas, Puglia is known for labyrinthine villages, crystalline waters and fragrant herbs, not to mention olive oil, fresh seafood and stellar garden-to-table gastronomy. The region offers a world of tastes and gastronomic possibilities, and the property’s olive grove produces a house oil, as do dozens of neighboring groves. Area vineyards offer tastings and tours, and the fresh catch from harbors on both the Ionian and Adriatic coasts is not to be missed.