casa di monti is the quintessential southern italian escape

puglia is the heel of italy’s ancient boot-shaped peninsula. it’s an ideal place to escape to when you need a break, and you can truly feel the history in the air that sweeps up from the mediterranean. the greeks, the romans and the french all contested for this beautiful plot of land. now for a brief period of history, you can lay claim to a small piece of it. this rental overlooks a field of ancient olive trees, which have fueled the region’s cuisine for centuries. some things change very slowly, and this part of puglia is still as charming as it was in the 1960s. with vintage cinquecento fiats still on the road, it might as well be a federico fellini set.

luca zanaroli, an architect from bologna, served as the project’s designer and art director, and worked closely with the owners to create a perfect embellishment of the natural landscape. the rental, available from patrice besse stay, comprises 1.2 hectares of land with the house sited in the middle. the design is understated, using simple materials and designs that seem to fit perfectly into the landscape. the infinity pool was built behind the main house, almost hidden away. it’s a pleasant discovery when you walk past the wall.

huge cement steps lead up to a remarkable ancient olive tree, that has seen the passing of centuries. the house and the furniture inside are bespoke and were specified by the architect to suite the environment. the furniture and lighting play an essential role in creating a space of comfort and relaxation. flanked by a hill overlooking the sea and set in a picturesque mediterranean landscape, the rustic and contemporary style of ‘casa di monti’ blends perfectly into the nature.

entering the house through the central living space, you are greeted by a large bay window. this opens onto a terrace with a view of the sea. the fully equipped kitchen has corten steel panelling, tinted cement worktops, and built-in olive wood chopping boards. it is a perfect spot to try your hand at italian cooking. the ancient olive trees of the region produce exceptional oil that accompanies and enhances the rustic cuisine always beautifully executed in simple local locandas, trattorias, and pizzerias. you can reserve you stay in this beautiful retreat here.