Around us
The sea, the art cities, the villages of Salento. A few minutes away.
Around us
Distances in Salento are short: you get in the car and before you notice it the landscape has already changed. From the masseria, the sea is four kilometres away; Gallipoli ten minutes; Lecce, with its baroque, just over half an hour; Otranto, on the other coast, less than an hour. The whole of Salento, from one base.
The beaches
Five beaches within a ten-minute drive, each with its own character. And a sixth one worth the trip.
Punta della Suina
White sand at the edge of the pine forest. One of the most photographed beaches in Salento, and in high season it shows: you arrive early in the morning or you pay for the lido parking. Natural pine shade is its strong suit.
Baia degli Innamorati
A small hidden cove between Punta Suina and Punta Pizzo, half sand and half rock. Shallow waters, clear sea. More secluded than its neighbours, perfect for a quiet morning.
Punta Pizzo
Part of the Regional Natural Park of Sant'Andrea Island and Punta Pizzo coastline. Pale sand, the scent of Mediterranean scrub, a wide free section: the beach for those who want space without the noise of the beach clubs.
Baia Verde
Gallipoli's most well-known beach and the heart of the summer nightlife. Sunset aperitivos at Kabana or Zen Beach, and at night the historic Praja club, a landmark of Salento's nightlife scene. Not the choice for those seeking silence, but the place where everything happens.
Lido San Giovanni
Fine sand, calm water. A solid choice for families.
Pescoluse, "the Maldives of Salento"
A forty-minute drive to the beach that has earned the most ambitious nickname in southern Italy. Very pale sand, shallow waters stretching far out. Worth the trip at least once.
Gallipoli, the old town
Gallipoli's old town stands on a small island, connected to the mainland by a stone bridge. The walk is short but dense: the Aragonese castle at the entrance, the Cathedral of Sant'Agata in full Lecce Baroque, the white streets sloping down to the port. It's worth stopping by the morning fish market, and visiting one of the underground oil mills (frantoi ipogei) — Gallipoli holds the largest concentration in Salento. Ten minutes by car from the masseria.
Art cities and small towns
Five different destinations, all reachable in a day.
Lecce
The capital of Salento Baroque. The Basilica of Santa Croce, Piazza Sant'Oronzo with the Roman amphitheatre uncovered underneath, streets of golden Lecce stone. Half a day is enough to see its heart; a full day isn't.Otranto
Italy's easternmost town, facing the Adriatic. The cathedral preserves a 12th-century mosaic floor — the Tree of Life — among the most important in Europe. Just outside, the Punta Palascia lighthouse and the old bauxite quarry, now a small rust-coloured lake.Santa Maria di Leuca
The southernmost tip of Italy's heel, where the Ionian Sea meets the Adriatic. The basilica and lighthouse sit on top of the cliff, and from the pier boats leave for the sea grottoes. Along the seafront, late-nineteenth-century Belle Époque villas, each in a different style — neo-Gothic, Moorish, Liberty.Galatina
Worth the detour for two reasons: the Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Gothic and entirely frescoed, and the Ascalone pastry shop, where the pasticciotto was invented in the eighteenth century. Two reasons that would each be enough on their own.Nardò
A small Baroque capital on a human scale, built around Piazza Salandra — one of the most successful urban "living rooms" in the South. A few kilometres away lies Porto Selvaggio, a nature reserve between pine forest and sea.
All of this, a few kilometres from here.
Our recommendations
Three pointers for guests who ask us where to eat or what to do nearby.
Mezzo Gaudio Puteca — Taviano
An informal trattoria in central Taviano, a few minutes' drive from the masseria. Daily Salento dishes written on a blackboard: bombette, pittule, fresh pasta with local sauces. Familiar atmosphere, honest prices. Closed Mondays — booking recommended. Open in Maps
Giardini Raimondi — Sannicola
Out in the Sannicola countryside, inside a seventeenth-century building. Salento cuisine of land and sea, grilled seasonal vegetables, wood-fired pizza. Outdoor seating surrounded by greenery — well suited for group dinners or family evenings. Open in Maps
Excursions on request
For boat trips along the coast, guided tours of Salento's towns or food and wine experiences, the masseria works with trusted local agencies — we'll be glad to help you arrange them.