Masseria Il Trullino

Raffaele Centonze Adds His Mark to a Country House in Italy’s Salento

A grove of 200-year-old olive trees gathers around the entrance of Masseria il Trullino. The lifeblood of Mediterranean land, these plants have seen many bountiful harvests of golden, extra virgin oil. Within these sun-drenched five acres, you'll find a serene hideaway with a masseria, where vacations with family and friends turn into stories told for lifetimes.

Built from scratch a few years ago, the home's structure adheres to the style of "Pietra Leccese", the local stone, applied with traditional techniques by local artisans. Signatures of the regional architecture, grand arches and four metre-high vaulted ceilings add an elegant touch to traditional Puglian rusticity.

In July 2020, Puglian architect Raffaele Centonze extended and completely restyled the country house, which consists of a main building and a separate guest unit.

The pull of the outdoors is strong here, with extensive grounds, an infinity pool, and a roof terrace with views that land over the olive groves and white-stone villages. On a very clear day, you may even spot the Adriatic sea and Albania in the distance.

Benvenuti in paradiso.

This villa in Puglia has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and sleeps up to 10 people. In the main villa, an open-plan modern kitchen welcomes you, fully-equipped with appliances and utensils. An old oak table off the kitchen can sit up to 10 guests when fully extended, and it faces an impressive tufo fireplace. Unwind in the living area, outfitted with a TV, or gaze out the giant arched windows where nature envelops you. Better yet, step out into it: the kitchen and dining area both have access to the internal courtyard, and the manicured lawn and olive grove. The kitchen also leads to a utility/storage room equipped with washing machine and additional mini-fridge, and a guest toilet with a shower.

In the sleeping quarters, you’ll find a master bedroom with a four-poster king-size bed, closet, cabinet, desk, and an en-suite bathroom with a shower. This room has a TV. The twin/double bedroom has an en-suite bathroom (shower), while two interconnecting twin/double bedrooms share a spacious family bathroom with a tub and separate rain shower, sink, and toilet. The bedroom overlooking the swimming pool has a TV/DVD player.

A second independent unit, with built-in stone following the traditional shape of a "pajara" (trullo with flat roof), is just 30 metres from the main building, between the kitchen/living area and the lawn. The twin/double bedrooms en-suite (shower) and TV are ideal for teenagers, a nanny, or visiting guests. All windows are installed with mosquito nets, and each of the five bedrooms, living room and corridor, are equipped with air conditioning.

Read a short history of the trullo in our Stories section here.

EXPERIENCES

Included in the rates: welcome basket and an initial provision of basic supplies, Vanity Kit by Essentia Puglia, cleaning three times a week (for two hours each time). The bed linens are changed once a week (for stays of 14 days and over), and gardener, facilities manager, all utilities, wifi, tourist tax, phone concierge services and local support are all included. 

Concierge services include a meet & greet plus the organization of services and excursions such as
private chef, pizza/barbecue parties, airport transfers, boat trips, boat hire, cooking classes, wellness at home, yoga, swimming lessons, tennis lessons, babysitting, wine and olive oil tasting, restaurant bookings,
'pietra leccese' workshops, guided tours of Lecce, and private tours of local dairy factories. Prices are available on request.

A car is essential as the masseria is located 1.5km from the town center, and there is an unpaved country road leading to the house.

AROUND

Situated in the Salento countryside, Masseria il Trullino is close to the Mediterranean sea and the capital city of Lecce, also known as the ‘Florence of the South' for its baroque architecture. It is 800 metres from the town centre of Carpignano Salentino, in the heart of the Salentinian Greece. Groceries can be procured in the village, or in Martano or Maglie (1km and 16km away, respectively). On Tuesdays, there is a market between 8am and 1pm in Martano, which is fantastic for olives, fresh fruit, salame, mozzarella and fish. Also in Martano, Caffe‘ Marconi and Bar Stella have the best coffee, pastries, ice cream, and cakes.

For beaches, the owners recommend Sant’Andrea, Torre Dell’Orso, Baia degli Angeli, Marina di Pescoluse (also known as ‘Le Maldive’), Torre Vado, Porto Badisco, and Punta Prosciutto. All are free and most have been awarded with one or even two Blue Flags. At Bagni, another favorite, you can rent chairs and an umbrella. Recommended for families, the Alimini area offers white sandy beaches and shallow water.

Sightseeing around the Masseria is plentiful. A short drive away is Otranto, a popular destination for Italy’s jet set. Check out the Duomo, dating back to the 11th century, with some internal columns allegedly from a temple dedicated to Minerva and restored to its original form and the Castello Aragonese, which has cylindrical towers and a moat.

In Lecce, you'll always find the theater of life; a market, street performance, or just the evening passeggiata. Stunning architecture abounds; like the half-buried Roman amphitheatre near piazza Sant’Oronzo or the Chiesa di Santa Croce with its richly decorated façade and rose window. Check out the Duomo here too, with its 210-foot bell tower. Along via Palmieri, you’ll see craftsmen working on the local stone, and the Lecce Botanical Garden, flowering over 5 acres, can while away a fragrant and calming afternoon.

Also recommended is a visit to Matera in Basilicata, the region that provides a lot of what the country consumes, especially the grain for Italy’s pasta, and the fish, caught off the Pugliese coasts. Inland lamb is also popularly eaten here.

Puglia is known for its orecchiette pasta (literally ‘little ears’). Try it the traditional way: with a delicious and straightforward fresh tomato and olive oil sauce, and check out the many local markets for a cornucopia of locally-grown vegetables. For oenophiles, try the internationally acclaimed Salice Salentino, a deep red from the Negroamaro grape and the Primitivo di Manduria, made with the Primitivo grape - thought to be genetically related to Californian Zinfandel.

Visit Tenuta Sant’Emiliano near Porto Badisco for fresh cheese, and head to Norcinera, an unmissable artisan butcher experience. The owners love the secretive bakery Il Forno, marked only by a wood oven and baker painting, for its fresh Apulian bread.

Wellness lovers should check out the Spa in Santa Cesarea Terme, and golfers will appreciate the fairways of Hotel Acaya Golf Club in Lecce.

Finally, take home some superior organic extra virgin olive oil and beauty products directly from the Masseria's olive oil producer, ALEA.

LOCATION

Carpignano Salentino (LE), closest airport: Brindisi airport (77.1km), Bari airport (194km), nearest train station: Lecce (28.7km)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May until October, for pleasant weather and limited rainfall.