Villa Rocca 1914, a villa rental in Puglia, Italy

A Hilltop Haven

With olive trees blanketing the valley below it, this circa 1914 stone villa has been lovingly restored for sophisticated seclusion in the magical hills of Puglia. Surrounded by 11,000 square meters of gardens, the countryside estate wraps up to 18 guests in its spare, sophisticated interiors, where classic regional architecture is allowed to shine.

Each bedroom suite is unique, yet all feature sleek contemporary bathrooms and private entrances and beds bigger than king-sized. Earthy natural linens complement stone floors, graceful ceiling vaults, and even an exposed stone, ancient bedrock foundation in one room. Colors are subdued and smoky, creating a seductively intimate atmosphere. And luxuries here are of the subtle and enticing sort—an indoor jacuzzi for four, an outdoor hot tub joining the oversized infinity pool (13m x 3.25m), a sauna, and a wine cellar with a sommelier-curated selection of more than 100 bottles of local wines.

Additional services include meal preparation, private chef and or bartender staffing, tailored excursions, wellness treatments, yoga/pilates instruction, cooking classes, boat trips, and baby sitting.

Around

Located in the Valle d’Itria, this panoramic view villa occupies a hillside atop a terraced garden near the white village of Ostuni. The crystalline waters of the Adriatic Sea and its rock-studded, coved beaches are a 15-to-20-minute drive from the villa, and the historic town of San Michele is also nearby. The nature reserve of Torre Guaceto offers a unique place to soak up the Italian sunshine, and the lively port towns of Polignano a Mare and Monopoli are worth visiting as a day trip. The Costa Merlata, a rugged coastal zone of dramatic cliffs and hidden coves near enchanting Ceglie Messapica’s center is a must-see, and the beach of Torre Sana Sabina is a regional favorite.

The Valle d’Itria region is famed for its dry-stacked, conical trulli homes, formerly agricultural storages that today stand mostly as fairtytale-like private getaways dotting the hilly rural landscape. The trulli are concentrated in and around Alberobello, a UNESCO classified location that’s also a quick trip away. Other picturesque villages of note nearby include Cisternino and Locorotondo.