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.
The feeling here is absolute peace.
How would you describe Villa Padalini in a nutshell?
Villa Padalini is a contemporary villa near the Puglian town of San Michele Salentino that has been designed to highlight views of the surrounding nature. Its interior spaces are beautifully illuminated throughout the day, creating an atmosphere of absolute peace.
What is the story behind Villa Padalini, what was your inspiration to create it?
It was kind of unexpected as we weren’t searching for anything. Around five years ago, we went on vacation in Puglia. Despite being Italian (I am from Florence in Tuscany), it was my first time visiting Puglia. It was amazing - the olive groves, the seaside and the food. So we started with this idea of buying a house, then we found a property and it all just happened!
When it came to the design, we didn’t want to stick to this Puglian cliche of having a very traditional house with the same shapes and materials. But as it was going to be set in the countryside, we didn’t want something that was out of context. So we decided on something contemporary and minimal — in the countryside, life is simple, so you don’t need anything too complicated.
How would you describe the atmosphere and the interior design of Villa Padalini?
My husband is an architect and I am in fashion, with a strong sense of aesthetics. So we designed the house together — he focused more on the exterior and me on the interior.
Having the natural world come in was important to us. When inside the house, we didn’t want to lose the connection with the landscape, as it is the most beautiful thing about Puglia. So for example, we created a little patio with a tree that is visible when you’re sitting in the living room.
The atmosphere is absolute peace. I live in Milan, which is quite a complicated place. So when I go to Puglia, I just want to see the greenery and hear the sounds of nature. I want to feel as though I am in a completely different world.
To you personally, what is so special about Villa Padalini?
What I particularly love about the house is the light, which is super beautiful. The light in Puglia in general is amazing but the house has the right exposure to capture the light at different phases of the day. In the evening, the light coming through the square-cut western wall is stunning!
The villa is set within two acres of olive trees and is comprised of three buildings. You enter the main building through a little patio and arrive in the living room where there is a big sofa and a fireplace, as well as a dining table. This space is full of light from the morning to the evening. Also in the main building is a separate kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom.
In the connected annex is another ensuite bedroom, which is quite big (40 square metres), plus a private patio with an outdoor shower and a bath. The third bedroom is in an old lamia with a barrel-vaulted ceiling where people used to store their agricultural tools.
To ensure our guests enjoy complete privacy, each bedroom has its own bathroom, entrance and outside area. So it’s ideal for three couples who want to be able to socialize together but also have their own space.
The outdoor area invites you to enjoy al fresco dining with a large marble table and an outdoor concrete kitchen. The 40-square-meter pool is nestled directly within the olive grove, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding space.
OVERVIEW
Main building:
Lamia:
Annex:
Outside:
Although the villa can be accessed by a self-check-in process, we have a house manager who can be contacted in case of any issues or for recommendations. The swimming pool is for the exclusive use of our guests and we provide basic groceries, water and wine on arrival. On request, we can organize cooking classes, a private chef or driver, as well as provide contacts for at-home masseuses.
My favourite beach is around 25 minutes away at Torre Guaceto, which is protected within a natural reserve. In 10 minutes walk you can find calm and tranquil spots, even in August when it’s very busy.
We share with our guests a guide that is filled with all of our favourite restaurants, grocery stores and farms to visit.
Personally, I would suggest visiting some of the small towns and villages, such as Cisternino and Martina Franca with their beautiful Baroque palaces. Each is different — some have Trulli while others have more of a Baroque feel. I’d also recommend visiting the flea market in Ostuni.
The villa is peacefully immersed in a private centenary olive grove in the countryside between San Vito dei Normanni and San Michele Salentino. It is in the countryside, so we don’t have neighbours very close by. That being said, there are other villas in the same street, so you aren’t completely isolated.
The closest town is San Michele Salentino, which is three kilometres from the house. Here you’ll find restaurants and supermarkets - everything you need. San Vito dei Normanni is a bit bigger and is seven kilometres away. Ostuni is less than 30 minutes away, as are Carovigno and Ceglie Messapica, two villages that are absolutely beautiful.
For me, the best times to visit are June and September as it is less crowded. In July and August, the weather is amazing. But it can get very crowded at the beaches and the restaurants.
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