Mongio Dell'Elefante is one of very few - if any - masserie (traditional large farmhouses) in Puglia that has this kind of beach access. Baia dei Turchi - named after the Turkish attack that took place here in 1480 - is a beautiful long stretch of white sand backed by tall pines, and the hotel has a path leading directly to it.
Just 5km north of the walled town of Otranto, the 19th-century masseria is otherwise surrounded by farmland, with citrus trees, vines and fields on all sides. It's been in the Mongio family for generations and they have only recently converted it into a family-friendly hotel and wellness spa. Aside from the exposed stone walls, it feels entirely fresh and new, with an elegant colour scheme of whites and creams, and rustic wooden furniture. As the area is protected, the kitchen and reception areas have been cleverly built underground, but the 17 understated bedrooms have high ceilings and all open onto a laurel-leaf shaded seating area. Food is home-cooked and delicious, and there’s a great selection of local Primitivo and Negromaro wine. Come for peace, relaxation and an authentic slice of Puglia.
Highs
- The fantastic location: a 5-minute walk from the beach and an easy drive from interesting towns and stunningly beautiful rocky coast
- Excellent Puglian cuisine in the restaurant, made from fresh, seasonal ingredients
- Caring, attentive service from local staff
- A peaceful natural setting amid vines and olive trees; borrow a bike and explore
- Great for families, with a shelved pool, kitchenettes and some 2-bedroom suites
Lows
- Rooms are lovely but nothing especially fancy
- It’s a bit out of town; not suitable for those looking for an evening buzz
- Unless you’re a keen cyclist, you’ll need a car to get around (5km to the nearest shops and restaurants)
- Baia dei Turchi gets very busy in July and August
Best time to go
The masseria is open from Easter to October. We'd say the ideal time to visit is May, June and September, when temperatures are lovely. In May and June the countryside is carpeted in wildflowers. July and August are very crowded in Puglia, but there's plenty of space at the hotel.
Our top tips
Don't miss the Duomo in Otranto, with its vast and wonderful tree-of-life mosaic flooring.
Location
Masseria Mongio Dell'Elefante is set 300m behind Baia dei Turchi, 5km north of Otranto, towards the far end of Puglia's Salentine Peninsula.
By Air:
Fly into Brindisi Airport (100km). The hotel offers transfers from here but we'd recommend hiring a car. There's parking and EV charging on site.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Read our guide to getting to Italy and getting around
Airports:
- Brindisi 100.0 km
Other:
- Beach 0.3 km
- Shops 5.0 km
- Restaurant 5.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 9 independent reviews from i-escape guests
We had a lovely stay at Masseria Mongio Dell’Elefante. The half board option was really great value and the evening menus were really delicious. We loved the variety at breakfast, the free bike hire and the pool. The staff were very helpful and accommodating.
We loved staying here, the pool was a huge hit for the kids and we all loved being so close to such a beautiful beach. The food in the evening was especially good and the staff were very accommodating and helpful.
Really lovely staff. So helpful with everything. Fantastic pool. Would be nice to have more choice at dinner. Great location for beaches and going into Otranto for dinner in the evening.
Beautiful hotel and incredible beach.
The Masseria overall is lovely, with a lovely pool area. It is very handy for visiting Otranto, a beautiful town. The food was very good indeed. The buffet breakfast was lovely, and the four course set price dinner in particular was excellent. When we were there the dinner was mainly fish/sea food, which was what we wanted. However, we did think the accommodation was a bit lacking. We had a 2 room suite which was not very ergonomic. The bedroom and bathroom were a little too small. Against that our room had a very nice outdoor terrace which was good for sitting out. The second room in the suite had a very good kitchen although we did not use it. I also liked the fact that the mini bar prices were in line with shop prices, not adding an unfair mark up. The staff were friendly, but with one or two exceptions a little distant. Information generally was fairly scant. For example, hot food such as scrambled eggs and bacon was available for breakfast, but we only found that out when we heard another guest mention it. There is a great beach (Bay of Turks) just a ten minute walk from the Masseria. Overall we very much enjoyed our two night stay in Masseria Mongio.
Amazing food - breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Some of the best we sampled in the region. We travelled with two small children and felt very welcome indeed, with lots of families doing the same - plenty of children in the restaurant in the evening, and the team equally happy to bring fresh pasta to our room for them earlier on if we wanted a quiet evening meal. Pool is fantastic, and location great for the beach too although we visited in high summer and found the beach very busy compared to the serenity of the pool and Masseria. Service was excellent throughout our stay. We had one of the suites for 3/4 people rather than Executive, which was smaller than others we saw on site but perfectly formed and no trouble adding a cot alongside the extra bed. Kitchenette a real plus with children but mostly availed ourselves of the great service and food! Didn't use the spa given season as we wanted to be outside but looked like an excellent addition if travelling off season. Would definitely recommend.
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