Masseria Petrarolo
A farmhouse turned luxury vacation rental, Masseria Petrarolo in Puglia combines rustic warmth with elegance. Nine bedrooms in the villa and pool house are set in olive and citrus groves.
When you see the palazzo from the outside, you wouldn’t expect what lies inside. It’s a big surprise, much like a riad, and there are always new corners to discover.
Il Palazzo
The villa is quiet and green yet in the middle of a beautiful village with restaurants and shops nearby.
What was the inspiration behind Il Palazzo?
After many years travelling and living in different places in Italy and abroad, my husband wanted to return to his native region and own a place not too far from ‘his’ sea, where we could spend time with our family and friends.
Initially we bought a beautiful XVII c. palazzo in Giurdignano and renovated it completely. In doing so we discovered we liked having workers around all the time. So when the first project was finished we immediately started working on a new one in Muro Leccese. We thought we would never leave our palazzo in Giurdignano, but then fell in love with our new project in Muro.
The idea was to renovate and merge two historic properties, which had been lying abandoned in the center of Muro. Their gardens, though also abandoned for decades, were amazing. We decided to create a place that would match our personality and that would not be too conventional. The house would have to feel like a ‘masseria’ with a lot of gardens and outdoor space but still be right in the center of town. Eventually we sold the house in Giurdignano to friends, and they are very happy.
Muro became a never ending project. It started small, but it keeps growing and it is not finished yet. Currently the palazzo is composed of two separate ‘masseria’, each with its own gardens and pool. We are now working on the third one. However, we use it as a single house when we are there. We like having our children around, together with our and their friends. When we are not in Muro, we rent the houses together or separately, depending on the number of guests.
How would you describe the atmosphere at Il Palazzo?
When the house is full of people there is a fantastic energy, and you have all guests spread around enjoying every single detail of the property. The light flows through the large windows overlooking one of the pools. The garden is full of flowers. And at the end of the day everyone gathers around the very long table under the pergola for drinks and food.
However, the house was not made to overimpress. Although it is a large house by normal standards, we really kept it as simple as possible. When you see the palazzo from the outside you wouldn’t expect what lies inside. It’s a big surprise, much like a riad, and there are always new corners to discover: a patio, a towering palm tree, a hidden garden, several stone fireplaces…
The palazzo is spacious, with lots of indoor and outdoor space, one feels like being in the countryside but we are really at walking distance from our favorite restaurant. Notwithstanding its size and its comforts, the house has a precise style. It is not Milan glamour and design, it is not shabby chic. It’s simple, very easy and comfortable to live in. Perhaps, that’s why everybody likes it.
Our family-friendly villa consists of six bedrooms, 4 double bedrooms and 2 bedrooms with 3 single beds, so the house comfortably sleeps 14 people. The highlight is the glittering outdoor lap-pool and the beautiful quiet garden in the middle of this charming village.
The villa has three levels — a ground floor, a first floor and a penthouse, with heated floors throughout. You enter through a small iron gate and on your left is a large suite with a vaulted ceiling and a bathroom with a huge bathtub. Upstairs is another suite and a large bathroom with a tub and shower, as well as a bedroom with three beds that also has its own bathroom.
When you go outside, there are two additional blocks. One is a small, independent double suite with a bathroom that overlooks the terrace. The other block has two bedrooms (one double and one triple) that share a bathroom, which is a great option for families. From this block, a door leads to the penthouse that we make accessible to guests on request. It has 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a kitchen and a terrace.
The lower level of the palazzo has a dining and living room, as well as a kitchen that’s comprised of three rooms. One has a fireplace and an area to cook, another is equipped with dishwashers and crockery, while the third room has a table that can be used for preparing meals. The kitchen is well-equipped with local Puglia pottery and we provide absolutely everything guests need to set the table nicely. There are also two huge fridges, two washing machines and an ice machine.
Outside is an elongated swimming pool, which lies adjacent to a grassy lawn with a pergola-style seating area where you can relax, have parties or do yoga. It’s important to mention that you do have to walk outside to get to some of the rooms — guests should be aware of that.
The terrace connected to the first floor provides an unobstructed view of the incredible Muro Leccese sunrise and sunset – an experience that should not be missed.
For larger groups. there is a guest apartment on the top floor with 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a kitchen and a terrace that can be rented together with Il Palazzo.
We can organise wine and cycling tours, in-house massages and cooking sessions, with a huge table that can accommodate 20 people. The palazzo has also been used for yoga retreats in the past and we have a large room with a wooden floor that makes an ideal studio space.
If you’re into music, we have an electronic piano, a guitar and a microphone that guests are welcome to use. There’s also a ping pong and football table. Dogs and other pets are welcome (although we like to know what breed and often request additional payment) and we can accommodate parties using local caterers and staff.
A gardener comes every day to clean the pool and check the garbage as the rules in Muro Leccese are quite strict. He can help with any issues or make reservations if you need at the local restaurants. And if needed we can also organize extra cleaning and a change of sheets for an additional charge.
Definitely Lecce and Gallipoli are cities you have to visit, together with Otranto, which is famous for its cathedral. Galatina also has an incredible church and there are lots of historic lighthouses along the coast of Salento that are worth seeing. It’s beautiful driving to the point of Salento, with pure nature all around and two different coastlines to discover.
In 15 minutes you can get to the closest beaches, with both pebbly and sandy beaches (although the latter are crowded in the summer months). There are also some rocky areas where you can jump directly into the water and beaches with umbrellas available for rent — something for everyone.
Il Palazzo is located in the town centre, adjacent to a really charming square with two cute churches facing one another. There’s a small cafe here with a pergola where people gather in the morning (and often stay all day), as well as a very good quality restaurant. You can go and get a coffee at the cafe, then just watch people riding their bikes, listen to the church bells ringing and be amidst the local life. Also within walking distance of the house are lots of other restaurants, a supermarket and a natural foods store.
The region is absolutely wonderful. Every town in Salento is different and has a unique characteristic — perhaps it’s the wine or the food. In the summer, there are festivals with live music in all of the villages and just so much to do. While the beaches are crowded, the villages are peaceful in the summer, with most people sleeping from 1 to 5 pm. I love that Puglia isn’t too touristy yet and still feels authentic.
In my opinion, June and September are the best times to visit, although October can also be great as the sea is still warm and you can go wherever you want without having to make reservations. Winter can be cool and humid but it’s nice over Christmas because of the festive lights.
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