Masseria Lama

The main house

• Bedroom 1: double bed (180x190cm), en-suite bathroom with sunken bath and rainfall shower

The guest wing

• Bedroom 2: double-twin bed (90/180x190cm), en-suite shower room
• Bedroom 3: double bed (170x190cm), en-suite shower room
• Bedroom 4: double bed (170x210cm), en-suite shower room, kitchenette, en-suite shower room

The pajaru

• Bedroom 5: single bed (140x180cm), en-suite shower room


NB: A double-twin bedroom has two single beds that can either be joined together to create a double bed or left separate as two single beds.

Reduced Occupancy

Masseria Lama has a reduced price for a group of up to 8 that only need up to 4 bedrooms. The bedroom not required will be closed, but the rest of the villa, its amenities and its grounds will remain at the complete disposal of guests.

Inside

accommodation at Masseria Lama is arranged over a main house, a pajaru (a traditional Salentine construction similar to a trullo), and a separate guest wing located on the far side of a large central courtyard. The property, which dates back to the late 19th century, was originally a farm producing cheese, olive oil, and a variety of other agricultural produce.

The main entrance leads into a voluminous, welcoming hallway where the property's splendid proportions and inspiring restoration is on full show. Soaring, star-vaulted ceilings rise above pristine walls, and dove-grey, polished concrete flooring runs freely, uniting each space with a calming aura. Exposed stone door surrounds hint at the fabric of the building, and wide, arched windows allow easy access to the surrounding terraces and courtyards.

The entrance hall also shows off the property's alluring interior design, which features a winning mix of impressive antique furniture, classic summery touches, and contemporary lighting. In the centre is a late 19th-century Karabakh rug; to one side is a large, glass-fronted cherry-wood dresser and a pair of easy chairs; to the other is an old wooden trunk topped with local white ceramics.

All the features described above return as motifs throughout Masseria Lama, demonstrating the clear aesthetic vision that has brought the property into the 21st century while at the same time anchoring it in its past life.

To the right of the hallway is the generously spacious kitchen, which features a central island bar with six stools, a double-sized, stainless steel fridge with wine cooler, plenty of work-top space, and access to the surrounding terraces.

To the left of the hallway, meanwhile, is the convivial dining room. Sitting in pride of place at the centre is a bespoke table in chestnut wood and iron surrounded by Eames plastic side chairs from the 1950s. A monumental fireplace provides another focal point, an extra-large, glass-fronted country dresser surveys the scene, and glass doors open out onto the terraces. The guest WC is just off this room.

An opening to one side of the dining room allows the space to keep on flowing, this time into the living room, whose church-like proportions are inspiring. Doors on either side bring in the light and allow easy access to the courtyard and the surrounding terraces.

The space is divided into two parts: in the first, a pair of mid-century-modern accent chairs sit either side of the entrance, looking across to a pair of comfortable sofas. In the second, a large fireplace, seemingly hewn into the walls, is surrounded by a soft-edged, 1970s designer sofa and a pair of matching easy chairs. Behind the sofa is an agricultural curiosity - a reclaimed, wooden egg incubator.

At the end of the magisterial space, double doors open into a suite, which comprises:

• a sitting area with a sofa and access to the main courtyard and the surrounding terraces
• the master bedroom, a double with a centrally positioned wrought-iron bed, a wall of wardrobes, access to the main courtyard, and an en-suite bathroom with a large sunken tub and rainfall shower, and wall-to-wall windows looking out into and accessing a private walled courtyard

The pajaru, which is just across a terrace from the dining room, hosts a bright bedroom with a small double bed, and a highly original, circular en-suite shower room with a central rainfall shower suspended from the lofty conical ceiling.

Accommodation is completed by a guest wing accessed from the central courtyard. Here there is:

• an independent suite with lofty, white-washed beamed ceilings, a double bedroom with a grand, decorative fireplace, a round dining table and chairs, a well-equipped kitchen, and an en-suite shower room
• two more independently accessed bedrooms, a double and a double-twin, each with its own en-suite shower room

Outside

located at the centre of a private 25-acre estate, Masseria Lama is fabulously secluded and an oasis of calm and tranquillity that guests are welcome to explore.

The main house and the guest wing look out onto and access a central courtyard, whose centre has been left in a natural, minimally curated state. Large rosemary bushes and low-lying shrubs perfume the air, prickly pear cacti adopt striking poses, and small trees temper the original, well-worn, aged stone centre. Running around the periphery of the courtyard is a free-flowing stone terrace, part of which, accessed directly from the kitchen and the central hallway, is a shaded al fresco dining and lounge area.

Beyond the courtyard, the accommodation is encircled by gravel terraces, a series of courtyards linked by bespoke wrought-iron gates and secluded by dry-stone walling, and grassy areas. One such, located beyond the guest wing, is given over to the lovely infinity pool, which comes with a shady pergola and wide-open views over the part of the estate.

The guest suite opens out onto one of the courtyards, where there is a shaded area, and the pajaru has its own al fresco sitting area.

Last but not least, an externally accessed staircase outside the kitchen leads up to the large roof terrace, which boasts spellbinding, 360-degree vistas over the estate and the surrounding countryside.

Due to the nature of the property, which includes terraces, low walls, uneven surfaces and several drops around the grounds, children must be supervised at all times.

The uneven, old stone of the property's courtyards and gardens might make it unsuitable for people with limited mobility.

This property is on a large private estate which includes olive groves and open countryside. Some areas are unfenced and may include drops so we recommend that younger children are supervised by an adult when exploring the grounds.

The discreet caretaker lives in a separate property on the grounds.