Trulli Donatella

Trulli Donatella is superbly positioned in the heart of the Valle d’Itria – a landscape in southern Italy’s Puglia region characterised by wooded slopes, sun-kissed vineyards and endless rows of olive groves punctuated by the coned roofs of trulli houses which are unique to the area.

Bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the east and Ionian Sea to the southeast, Puglia is known for its splendid coastline framed by limestone cliffs and azure sea, as well as charming towns, excellent cuisine and rural landscape boasting hectares of vineyards from where some of Italy’s most prized wine comes from.

Combining world-class design with the warmth and originality of the area, Trulli Donatella is a typical Puglian masseria composed of sun-bleached cubist houses with a couple of grey trulli structures. Spread across a single floor and formed by several buildings, it’s been tastefully decorated and furnished with great care. Soaring and elegant, the three bedrooms have traditional stone underfoot, earthy colour palette and rugged walls that keep the interiors refreshingly cool, no matter how hard the sun is shining outside.

Step outside to the finely manicured lawn fenced by dry-stone walls to take in the harmonious scent of lavender, sage and rosemary bushes before retreating to the pool. Framed by a polished terrace with sun loungers and with steps for easy access, it’s the perfect hotspot for a sundowner. The shaded pergola will provide a much-needed escape from the blazing sun when hosting al-fresco lunches, while hidden corners make for the cosiest reading nooks. When not napping in the shade of olive trees, you can admire the farm buildings and pitched roofs that decorate the Valle d'Itria landscape, as well as the estate itself – wildly pretty during the day when the harsh Puglian sun hits the mellow tufu stone.

The closest village, Martina Franca is only a 5-minute drive away, and it has a well-conserved old town surrounded by stone walls and prominent Baroque gates leading to characterful piazzas and pretty winding streets full of trattorias, delis and authentic cafés. When you don’t feel like cooking, the closest restaurant serving traditional dishes alongside typical Mediterranean delicacies is also only a 5-minute walk away.

Drive for around 50 minutes to reach the city of Taranto, a coastal city and the capital of the Province of Taranto with an important commercial port and Italian naval base. The ‘city of two seas’ is full of notable historic landmarks such as the 15th-century Aragonese Castle alongside cobbled squares full of pretty shops, bars and restaurants.

If Puglia’s bucolic backwaters get slightly too tranquil at times, the region’s capital city Bari can be reached in just one hour by car. Full of trendy hotels, bars and sandy lidos with shallow waters, it offers the best of Italy’s culture in one place.