Masseria Trapanà

Just a 15-minute drive from the historical city of Lecce, Masseria Trapanà is an authentic Pugliese farmhouse retreat housed in a restored 16^th-century masseria.

• The setting in an authentic masseria surrounded by a large variety of trees and gardens
• The outdoor bathtub on each room’s terrace
• The unique underground hammam, converted from an ancient olive oil press, with a natural magnesium bath

Just a short drive outside of Lecce, the charming Masseria Trapanà was the passion project of an Australian expat. The 16^th-century masseria was fully restored and converted into a chic boutique hotel with 10 rooms and suites, as well as lovely outdoor spaces. Guests enter the walled masseria into a large courtyard filled with bougainvillea, potted plants, olive oil jars and outdoor lanterns. There is a chapel with restored frescoes, and a stone pathway that leads from the open lawn, dotted with olive and mandarin trees, to a pool that invites relaxation.

Inside, the rooms and suites can be found along the border of the courtyard and upstairs, in vaulted stone rooms with modern amenities. Guests feel welcomed right from the start, as rooms feature signs inscribed with guests’ names on them. The interior design makes use of natural colors and materials, with pops of orange—the hotel’s signature color—in the pillows and the bathroom. Each room’s terrace or patio has a private outdoor bathtub, and there is a separate indoor shower, with Aesop products.

In the hotel's communal living room, guests can curl up with a book or socialize with fellow travelers. Breakfast comprises a nice spread of breads, cheese, fruits and fresh juices, but the kitchen can also prepare something special for guests, to be served indoors or on the terrace overlooking the expansive lawn. In the evenings, guests gather for cocktails inside or by the outdoor fire pit.

A set of stairs off the courtyard lead down into the underground hammam, housed in a cave-like setting (though natural light does filter in from the courtyard above), where a magnesium bath is set in a former olive oil reserve.

Couples looking for an authentic Pugliese masseria experience with close proximity to nearby towns.