Masseria Antonio Augusto

The Heart and Soul of Puglia

Once a flower market, this villa for rent in Puglia is now an elegant mix of traditional and contemporary. Completely renovated, it retains the soul of the original, centuries-old building, but with injections of innovative design. Its walls are made of hand-polished local limestone or pietra Leccese, and the travertine marble floors have been given an elegant matte finish. The arched hallways with their soaring ceiling paintings have been carefully restored. These bones provide the perfect backdrop for elements brought to the home by its owner, Antonio.

The striking interiors of the masseria are filled with furnishings from Antonio's adopted home in Belgium, and these artistic pieces lend the space a unique character. (Read more here.) The list of design partners is impressive: lighting by Eden, smart televisions by Bang & Olufsen, and linens by Society. But it's the installation-style pieces that really stand out, most notably the stripped-down wooden works by Belgian artist and furniture designer Casimir.

There's an oak installation in the entrance, and a long oak table with geometrically carved tree-trunk benches in the silent room, a space that can be reserved for private dining. Head out into the gardens and curl up in the dramatic outdoor furnishings by Tribù that line the edges of the sun-drenched pool.

This villa for rent in Puglia invites you to lose yourself in space and time. Set up as a small boutique hotel with an on-site restaurant, it is currently being rented as a private villa. Chef services are included (with some extra charges).

Layout

Masseria Antonio Augusto can be rented privately for up to 18 adults and 7 children. It has nine rooms and suites: 1 Suite, 1 Junior Suite, 3 Deluxe Rooms, 3 Classic Rooms (2 for families) and 1 Upper Room. There are two large drawing rooms, three private dining rooms, a professional kitchen and bar, a barbecue, ping pong table, herb garden, and private car parking. Where the wine cellar used to be, there is now a spa, with an unheated indoor pool, an emotional shower and a Vichy shower.

Amenities & services

Rates include: a welcome glass of prosecco; high-quality bed linen and towels (changed every three days); luxury bathroom amenities; a professional bar with all accessories; a professional kitchen (for staff only); daily housekeeping (one housekeeper for six hours each morning); garden and pool maintenance; Wi-Fi indoors and outdoors; B&O flat-screen TVs in every bedroom and B&O equipment in the common areas; a private spa with sauna, Turkish bath, unheated indoor pool, emotional shower and Vichy shower; the unheated outdoor pool with umbrellas and sun loungers; a private garden and parking; utilities including air conditioning (electricity up to 1,000 kWh per week, extra at €0.48 per kWh); daily staff (a concierge and an operations manager for eight hours each, a night porter from midnight to 6 a.m., and a lifeguard for eight hours in high season); concierge help on WhatsApp; a private chef and service team providing breakfast, lunch and dinner for up to 18 guests (breakfast food included, lunch and dinner food extra); and final cleaning.

Experiences

The concierge team are happy to assist guests in organizing cooking classes, food experiences, yacht excursions, Lecce street food experience, bike rental, sail boat rental, sea cave tours, windsurf lessons, horseback rides, and much more.

Good to know

The nightly rate includes daily housekeeping for six hours each morning, fresh linen every three days, Wi-Fi indoors and out, air conditioning, the private spa, both pools and final cleaning.

A private chef and service team cook three meals a day for up to 18 guests. Breakfast ingredients are included; the food for lunch and dinner is charged separately.

A concierge, an operations manager and a night porter (midnight to 6 a.m.) are on site every day, with a lifeguard for eight hours a day in high season. The concierge can also be reached on WhatsApp.

Both pools are unheated.

Heating is mandatory from November to April and costs €2,500 per week.

Electricity is included up to 1,000 kWh per week. Extra use is charged at €0.48 per kWh.

A security deposit of €4,000 is paid at check-in and returned by the owner at check-out.

Around

Puglia is known for its magnificent beaches and clear waters, as well as the natural wonders of the Grottos of Castellan and Fasano. A region that is sun-kissed year round, it's also home to great cuisine and hospitality, and is rich in architecture, having passed through the hands of numerous civilizations from Greeks and Romans to Turks and Franks.

As a result, visitors can explore an array of castles and archeological sites. Make sure to visit Alberobello, with its unique trulli lining the streets, the city of Lecce which is known fondly as the "Florence of the South" for its Baroque palaces and churches, and Ostuni, nicknamed "la città bianca" because of its picturesque white stone houses and churches.

The masseria is just 7km from Porto Cesareo on the Ionian Sea, which is well-known for its golden beaches. The town, with its colorful boats and vibrant fish market, beats to the rhythm of the sea, and is part of Palude del Conte e Duna Costiera, one of the largest nature reserves in Italy. Take a stroll along the trails there, and visit the Oceanography Museum.