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.
What was your inspiration to create Palazzo Fiore? What is the story behind it?
We already have two big houses — Palazzo Muro Leccese and Il Palazzo (both listed on Welcome Beyond) — in Mura Leccese, plus a smaller one, which we call “Caseta”. These medieval palaces are set within gardens, creating what is like a small park. The main entrance is in the centre of town, on a square at the back of the castle. From the square, you can only see the beautiful facade of the property. But behind are gardens, orchards and swimming pools.
The “park” is divided into three — one is the garden for Palazzo Muro Leccese, the other for Il Palazzo and the third didn’t have a house. Our idea was to buy this third slice of land to prevent someone else from buiding next to our property and to cover some newer buildings on the edge. So we redid the ground floor of an existing house (which we didn’t like) and added a new portion to create what is now Palazzo Fiore.
We officially opened to guests in December 2024. Aside from renting Palazzo Fiore on its own, the property can also be rented in its entirety (including all three houses) to create an Italian borgo, resort-like experience.
How would you describe the architecture and interior design? How would you describe the atmosphere?
I was collecting sculptures and my partner didn’t want me to have them in our small apartment in Milan, so Palazzo Fiore became the perfect place. We have three large sculptures outside from the 1970s — two near the swimming pool and one in the upper garden. Plus, we have two plaster sculptures from the 1950s (that I find very beautiful) in the living room.
I would describe the atmosphere as relaxed and refined. While you’re surrounded by art, I wouldn’t say it’s “museum-like”. It’s simple — you can sit looking out at the swimming pool and there’s a nicely designed fireplace for the winter months. We used all local materials during the renovations, such as old tiles, so I think this adds a lot to the atmosphere.
To you personally, what's so special about Palazzo Fiore?
Every time we work on a new house, we learn from previous experiences and the last baby is always the one you are most attached to!
I think Palazzo Fiore is special because of its views across Muro Leccese. Of all the houses on the property, it is the highest in elevation and you have great views of the town’s historic churches and castle. In the evenings, you can watch the sun go down. There is a big window in the living room that faces west and catches the last sun of the day — it often hits one of the sculptures and creates a really nice feeling.
In the spring and winter, the property has a lot of light, so you can stay all year round and enjoy the outside while being inside. The big glass doors overlooking the swimming pool are really something! The swimming pool also feels intimate - my mother is a landscape architect and she created a tropical atmosphere. The setting is really nice and the property just has a positive vibe.
We had a party in September with around 250 of our friends and family and so many said that Palazzo Fiore was their favourite house on the property, even though it doesn’t have all the historic details of the others. It’s modern but not too modern. There’s lots of local stone and the living room has a great shape with a vaulted ceiling in grey cement - it has a great impact.
When we were working on this house, we thought we were just fixing a problem. So the reaction from our friends was a surprise — they really loved it! Sometimes the result is better than expected.
