Villa San Michele

The Villa

Villa San Michele can accommodate up to 8 people with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms (an extra room can be added by arrangement). The accommodation is in the original stone construction whose thick walls keep the house cool in summer and warm in the winter months. 

Ground Floor 
- Entrance room with vaulted ceiling and fireplace
- Large double height vaulted sitting room, 32' flat screen TV/DVD player
- Large vaulted´Cantina´ with a table seating 10, original stone floor, door to rear and large glazed arched doors to the front of the property
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Two double bedrooms leading off the main room, both with vaulted ceilings and en-suite bathrooms with showers
- Stone vaulted rear reception room
- Large bathroom with shower
- Large bedroom, en-suite bathroom with double bathtub and circular shower

First floor
- Twin bedroom and stairs to roof terraces

Exterior
- Covered veranda for al fresco dining
- Large original stone courtyard
- Covered wood-fired oven
- Swimming pool (13mx6m) with loungers, pool towels, outdoor shower
- Table tennis
- Barbecue

***The extra room is for children or close relations, as it is off the main bedroom and does not have its own bathroom

***The swimming pool is reached by twin sets of steps and is surrounded by a large paved area with loungers and umbrellas. A shower is ingeniously placed under the branches of a spreading olive tree.

***The grounds have been planted with desert plants, designed to stand the long dry summers in the region. Trees include Olives, Almonds walnuts, mulberries, figs, pomegranates, lemons, quince and prickly pears.

The Grotto

Near the property is a large natural limestone karst cave or grotto, some 52 metres deep. The entrance to the grotto, shaded by fig and olive trees opens to reveal a huge cavern. Stone stairs descend in two directions.

There is some evidence that the cave has been occupied by humans since Neolithic times. The cave was settled from around the 7th century AD by Basilian (Byzantine) monks who had escaped persecution in Constantinople, and this religious settlement remained there for several centuries.

Descending into the first part of the grotto, covered in stalactites, is a large altar hewn out of the solid rock. Above and to one side of the altar is a fresco of the Virgin (Vergine Orante), which studies have shown to be the oldest in Brindisi province, dating from the 8th century AD. Directly above the altar is a well-preserved fresco of Christ, (Cristo Pancreator) and another of San Michele, both of which date from the 11th century.

Locals say that tunnels lead from the grotto and run for several kilometres. During the 1800´s the land surrounding the house was a vineyard and during this time an important ancient Messapican vase was found, 30 cm tall, which was transferred to the archaeological collection of the Museum of Berlin.