— Teresa: “We weren’t looking for anything quite as grand as this, but we saw this property and fell in love with it. So we decided to throw all reason out the window and figure out how to make it work.”
Interview By: Welcome Beyond
— Tell us a little about Villa Pizzorusso please.
Teresa: “Villa Pizzorusso is a historic ‘masseria’ located on Via Appia Antica — the old Appian Way, which connected Rome to Brindisi — in the southern Italian region of Puglia, the ‘heel of the boot.’ Masserias are one of Puglia’s two indigenous rural architectural structures, along with the conical trulli. Masserias were walled (to protect them from Puglia's many invaders), self-sustaining farm compounds. They were an integral part of life of the region until the early part of the 20th century. The oldest sections of Pizzorusso date to the 1500s. A ‘piano nobile’ (owner’s floor) was added in the early 1800s. The Moorish and neo-classic design elements including the five cupolas, floor tile work, frescoed ceilings, and grand arched entry and windows date from that time. Villa Pizzorusso had been abandoned for over 50 years, when we began its restoration five years ago.”
— Villa Pizzorusso
— What made you decide on this part of Italy, Puglia?
Teresa: “I am from Puglia, and moved to the States for school and work about 20 years ago. It was always a dream of mine to have a home here. This dream came true when we found this place. We weren’t looking for anything quite as grand as this, but we saw this property and fell in love with it. So we decided to throw all reason out the window and figure out how to make it work.”
— Pool
— What was your inspiration to rent the masseria to guests?
Teresa: “It wasn’t so much an inspiration as a necessity. We understood how ambitious this restoration would be when we saw it, and we knew it would become a different kind of project — not just for us but a rental for others to enjoy as well. Villa Pizzorusso has now been our love and obsession for the almost five years.”
—
— Please tell us a little about the facilities and the rooms.
Teresa: “There are six bedrooms and six baths, a study, and a great room (the former stables) with living and dining spaces and kitchen. The interior courtyard is almost 1/2 acre and has outdoor dining and living ‘rooms’, an abundant vegetable garden, a dramatic 25-meter pool, and a walled ‘aranceto’ (citrus grove) with Roman columns. The land leading to the villa is an ocean of olive trees and we grow wheat on the land immediately surrounding the house.”
— Bedroom
— Tell us a bit about the restoration.
Teresa: “We used a local architect, Mino D’Astore, and a local contractor, Salatore Medardi of Medardi SRL, a company that has specialized in historic renovations for four generations. We all agreed on what was most important — to preserve as much of the original detail of the villa as possible.
We restored the tile floors, the stone work and salvaged what we could of the frescoes in the two upstairs bedrooms. We introduced modern elements while respecting the structure and history of the house. We wanted the villa to retain its soul. We also found local antiques — at fairs, flea markets, and through family — that we could imagine could have always been there.”
We restored the tile floors, the stone work and salvaged what we could of the frescoes in the two upstairs bedrooms. We introduced modern elements while respecting the structure and history of the house. We wanted the villa to retain its soul. We also found local antiques — at fairs, flea markets, and through family — that we could imagine could have always been there.”
— Fireplace
— What has been the biggest reward about renting out the villa?
Teresa: “We are happiest when guests appreciate the culture of Puglia and how Pizzorusso is connected with it. When people fall into the natural rhythms of the region — sun, sea, food, wine, people — they get the most out of the house and their time in Puglia.”
—
Teresa's favourites:
Villa Pizzorusso
Transportation
Eat & Drink
Activities
SightsInterview By: Welcome Beyond
— Please tell us a little bit about Puglia.
Teresa: “Puglia is a surrounded by the sea (in fact two, the Adriatic and the Ionian) and holds a strategic position in the Mediterranean. Because of that position, Puglia has a complex history of invasion and occupation dating back to the 8th century B.C. The indigenous Messapian culture was overtaken by Greeks, Byzantines, Romans, Turks, Normans, Bourbons, Saracens, Dalmatian pirates and Slovenians, among others. All of these influences have created a layered and rich culture.
Puglia is the largest producer of olive oil in Italy and is the largest grape producing region. The wines of Puglia are spectacular — from the full reds (Primitivo, Negroamaro) to rosés to light fruity whites. The wheat produces some of Italy finest pastas and breads. And the seafood is always abundant and fresh. Puglia has not yet been fully ‘discovered’ and is still ‘authentic’.”
Puglia is the largest producer of olive oil in Italy and is the largest grape producing region. The wines of Puglia are spectacular — from the full reds (Primitivo, Negroamaro) to rosés to light fruity whites. The wheat produces some of Italy finest pastas and breads. And the seafood is always abundant and fresh. Puglia has not yet been fully ‘discovered’ and is still ‘authentic’.”
—
— Where exactly is Villa Pizzorusso located?
Teresa: “The villa is located 25 minutes from the ocean in the countryside. The nearest big city, Brindisi, and airport are 20 minutes away. The nearest town is Mesagne. It has about 30,000 people and its own Norman castle and Messapian ruins. It has a beautiful historic center, with great shops and restaurants, just a five minute drive from the house.
On the other side of us is Latiano, which is more of a farmers’ community but also has incredible shops.”
On the other side of us is Latiano, which is more of a farmers’ community but also has incredible shops.”
—
— Is there something you would recommend that one must do while in the area?
Teresa: “Villa Pizzorusso is central to many of Puglia’s top destinations. Within an hour of the villa are: the stunning baroque architecture of Lecce; the white ‘Greek’ city of Ostuni; Martina Franca, which hosts Puglia’s top summer classical music festival; the trulli of Alberobello; the beautiful seaside city of Otranto with its distinctive cathedral containing a spectacular and unusual mosaic floors and shrine of 800 martyrs: the ceramics center of Grottaglie; Castellana Grotte, with perhaps Europe’s most dramatic underground caves; beaches on both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas; and fantastic regional restaurants featuring Puglia’s ‘cucina povera’ and fresh seafood.”
—
— Thank you, Teresa!
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Service
Self-catering
Accommodation type
Holiday / Vacation rental
Location
Countryside
Special requirements
Children welcome
No pets allowed
Not suitable for wheelchairs
No smoking, please
Transport
Car recommended
Private parking
No public transport
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Bedrooms
0 Single bedroom
5 Double bedrooms
0 Twin bedroom
1 Room w. multiple beds
Additional:
2 Sofabeds
0 Extra bed (on request)
0 Air mattress (on req.)
2 Baby cot/crib (on req.)
Bath/shower rooms
4 Bathrooms (ensuite)
2 Bathrooms (shared)
4 Shower rooms (ensuite)
0 Shower room (shared)
0 Toilet (ensuite)
Additional:
0 Toilet (shared)
Other rooms
1 Kitchen
0 Kitchenette
0 Cooking area
1 Living room
1 Dining room
8 Other rooms
Prices for 12 sharingperson
Lowest price
Highest price
Low season per week
€ 3950
€ 3950
Mid season per week
€ 5650
€ 5650
High season per week
€ 7850
€ 7850
Size: 465 square meters. 1 units available.
Rates include taxes and 2 hours cleaning daily as well as a welcome food basket. Rates do not include heating, air conditioning and telephone.
The villa is located on 15 acres in the countryside just outside of Mesagne. It features a walled courtyard of approximately ½ acre with outdoor dining table for 16, ancient wood oven, barbeque, vegetable and herb garden and citrus grove, as well as 6 en-suite bedrooms, a grand terrace with great views, a fully equipped kitchen, a media room, 3 fireplaces and a 25m x 4m pool.
Puglia – Good food and great sites
Stylish places to stay in Puglia… check into a masseria, or fortified farmhouse, many of which have been renovated recently. Villa Pizzorusso is among the best, with a 25m pool in a vast courtyard garden and a Moorish-style pink exterior, in a secluded spot five minutes from Mesagne. Visit in the summer and you’ll spend much of your time in the courtyard with its large shaded terrace. Within, the old stables have been converted into a huge living area, where a minimalist feel prevails, despite the teak dining table that seats 14 and comfy chairs round the fireplace. Some bedrooms have frescoed ceilings or intricate tile work, while others have stone floors and high, vaulted ceilings.
— The Times (UK)The Times (UK), June 2011
A Great Escape in the Heel of the Boot
Villa Pizzorusso, a six-bedroom rental villa, sits in a private compound on its own 15-acre plot, isolated among olive groves. A loving restoration–regeneration has transformed this eighteenth-century property into a tasteful and secure base, which retains the feeling of a country home with the comfort and style of a five-star hotel. For a large family travelling, a corporate group looking for a retreat, or those seeking a truly exclusive experience, this is the place.
— Lucire MagazineLucire Magazine, March 2011
The 20 Best Villas with Big Pools
Want to do some real swimming? (...) Villa Pizzorusso, Puglia, Italy: It’s completely private in the vast courtyard of this stunning pink masseria (fortified farmhouse) near Mesagne, so you can plough up and down the 25m pool in the buff if you want to. The house has stone floors, vaulted ceilings and a shower in a turret, as well as wi-fi and air conditioning. There’s a large covered outside terrace for eating.
— The Times (UK)The Times (UK), January 2011
Just Back From… Puglia
Turning off the main road, Villa Pizzorusso, my six-bedroom home for the week, appeared in a flash of pink nestled between fields, vineyards and olive groves. Lovingly restored over three-years by its Italian-American owners, the Villa now features tasteful modern touches and flawless furnishings, which blend seamlessly into the Moorish and neo-classic design. With parts of the house dating to the early 15th century, there are also spectacular original features, including frescoes — one was ‘found’ the week before I arrived — beautiful arched ceilings and stone floors softened by five-centuries of wear. Outside, the long pool is positioned next to an enormous vegetable garden, an aranceto (orange grove) and uneven stonewall, which changes from cream to burning orange as the sun sets. An even better spot at dusk is the enormous rooftop, ideal for cocktails.
— IndagareIndagare, August 2010
Best rates
You pay the same rate as booking with the property directly. There are no booking fees or extra costs to you. That’s guaranteed!
Direct owner contact
Use the ‘Contact’ button on the left to get information about availability and rates from the owner directly — and also receive the link to the property website with further details.
Our helpline
If you need help, call us on +49 163 737 2509 (Mo-Fr, 10am-10pm CET)
Outside these times leave us a message and we’ll call right back.
Outside these times leave us a message and we’ll call right back.
