Masseria Alchimia

Rooms

Pared-down industrial chic is a surprise in rural Puglia. Rooms are whitewashed, with grey poured concrete resin floors, and door and window frames accented by occasional rich colour. Various artworks (on rotation) adorn the walls, so the building also works as a living exhibition space. Furniture and fixtures succeed in being stylish, comfortable and practical; each studio has an antique sideboard or chest, too. Windows come in all sizes and shapes with curtains or shutters to keep out the morning glare. There's cool lighting, B&W photos taken by Caroline herself, and display spaces have been carved into walls.

The largest studio is the Deluxe Suite (sleeps 2-3), which has a dining room, a bedroom and a small rear terrace, with a hot tub built into the craggy hillside. Similar in size, the very private Romantic Suite (sleeping 2) on the top floor has an open-plan sleeping, dining and lounge area, plus a bathroom with a hydromassage tub. Outside is a large sun-trap terrace with a table, chairs and loungers, and a distant sea view; there's also an additional second terrace which features the apartment's kitchenette.

The Family Suite (sleeps 2-4) has 2 ensuite bedrooms - a double and a double or twin, one with an in-room colour therapy bath with underwater lighting. Next door is the Garden Suite, which has 2 rooms: a bedroom also with colour therapy tub and a small sitting room where the kitchenette is located.

The other 3 studios are all one-room, sized as Standard Rooms (sleeping 2) and Superior Rooms (sleeping 2-3).

Many have domed ceilings and individual touches ranging from tapestry-work cushions to Panton chairs; all have an outside sitting area, which varies in size. The good quality double (not kingsize) beds have fine-quality sheets and soft creamy wool blankets; one Standard Room can be set up as a twin. Snazzy bathrooms have power showers, Oliva toiletries and copious towels. Apart from the Garden and Family Suites, don't expect acres of space.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Each studio has a kitchenette for basic self-catering (most are hidden away in a cupboard!) with 2 hobs, a small fridge, a sink, a kettle, a coffee maker, and pots and pans. Basics such as dish soap, tea towels, teabags, coffee, UHT milk, fette biscottate, jam and sugar sachets are supplied on arrival. Note that unless the previous occupant left condiments or seasoning behind, you'll have to buy such items.

This region of Italy cultivated the cucina povera style of cooking - it's fun to seek out farmhouses where you can buy cheap, fresh local produce to bring back to the masseria - there is a convenient farm shop just a 10-minute stroll from the property, which sells fresh fruit, veg, bread, olive oil etc. If you don't want to do the cooking, staff can arrange for you to have breakfasts in a neighbouring bio-farm, or for pizzas to be delivered from a nearby pizzeria. There isn't much room to eat in the smaller studios, though you could always dine outside on your terrace.

If you want to eat out you have a wide selection of eateries in local towns and villages as recommended by Caroline as part of her My Puglia scheme. You may need to book ahead in season. You can also head into the closest town, Fasano (1km away), where you'll find a selection of cafés, trattorias and bars, as well as a supermarket.

Features include:

• Fridge
• Hob or stove
• Kids' meals
• Kitchenette
• Meal delivery service
• Some basics supplied

Activities

• Relax on your terrace and amble around the tranquil olive grove-shaded grounds
  
• Go to the beach, a few minutes’ drive away; reservations at several upmarket beach clubs can be arranged in season
  
• Masseria Alchimia can also arrange cycling including e-bikes, horse riding and golf (the nearest golf course is 2km away), as well as boat trips and private yoga sessions on your terrace
  
• Meander the narrow cobbled streets of beautiful white-stone Ostuni, graceful Martina Franca, Locorotondo and Cisternino, and hang out in their bars and restaurants
  
• Visit the trulli capital, the Unesco World Heritage site of Alberobello, a seeming Smurf town of quaint cone-topped buildings
  
• Go wine tasting in and around Locorotondo and other towns
  
• Explore the extensive, knee-high ruins of the Roman town, Egnazia, which include the still-cobbled Via Traiana that once linked Benevento to Brindisi
  
• Relax on your terrace and walk around the olive grove-shaded grounds; the views are long, the ambiance tranquil

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Traditional cultures
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

Children are welcome, Caroline is a mother herself and is very accommodating to families and children. That said, the property is family-friendly rather than family-focused. There's lots for families to do in the area. Note that the property does not have a swimming pool.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Even the Standard Rooms can take a baby (and one can have an extra bed too), while all the others can add an extra bed. The 2-bedroom Family Suite can sleep up to 4 people plus a baby; kids will love (as ours did) bathing in its colour therapy bath with its underwater lighting. The Garden Suite and Deluxe Suites are also good family options. If bringing a larger family/teens, then you may want to book the adjacent Garden and Family Suites together, or take the adjoining Standard Rooms, as one can be configured as a twin.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour (Bari)
• Hospital: 10 minutes
• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Masseria Alchimia is 1km outside the town of Fasano in the southern Italian region of Puglia, midway between Bari and Brindisi (both around 50km away).

By Air:
Brindisi and Bari (both around 50km away) are the nearest airports. Both are served by some international flights, as well as numerous domestic services from Rome and Milan, Italy's main air hubs. Click on the links below for more information on airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
We recommend hiring a car (see below), as you'll need a vehicle to explore the region.

By Car:
For car hire see our car rental recommendations.

By Train:
There are trains from Rome to Fasano (but not direct).

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

Read our guide to getting to Italy and getting around