Rooms

The villa spans two floors, with a boho-chic style flowing throughout. Expect white-washed walls, colourful textiles and vintage ceramics, hand-crocheted bedspreads and soulful antique furniture.

Upstairs are four spacious bedrooms, named after colours as seen on cushions, bedheads and wardrobes. Blue and Azure can be made up as doubles or twins, the other two are doubles. Each top-floor bedroom has wooden shutters, original tiled floors, and opens onto a beautiful, large wraparound terrace with shaded seating and views over the garden – one of many spots at and around the villa for you to while away the day. In the two upstairs bathrooms (one with shower, one with tub) original sinks and patterned tiles take you back in time.

Downstairs is the fifth bedroom, a small double; plus there's a double sofa bed in the Reading Room if needed. Guests in these rooms get their own shower bathroom on the ground floor, with a dressing room.

The comfy and eclectic living room has a massive fireplace and squashy sofas: a proper home from home. But we really love the look of the large, covered, open-sided porch on the ground floor, which runs two sides of the villa and has a long dining table plus a lounge area with built-in sofas at one end. We can imagine spending most of our time here. The gardens have mature trees, delightful day beds, covered walkways, gnarled olive groves, a barbecue and a fire pit.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Fireplace
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Terrace/balcony
• Toiletries
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

This is a house for outdoor living. You'll likely dine outside, either in the covered porch (there's a table for 8 and another for 4), or under the trees at another pretty table which seats 12 comfortably. There's also a fallback dining room indoors, with a long glass table (for up to 10) and a big fireplace. Next door to that, the compact kitchen comes with a gas hob, breakfast bar, stove, microwave and dishwasher; the floors are a fetching herringbone in terracotta. Handy supplies include milk, juice, coffee, bottled water, salt, olive oil, melba toast, jam, sugar and fresh fruit.

Your nearest supermarket is in Specchia, a 5-minute drive away. Or for nights off from cooking, a private chef service can be arranged. If venturing out for meals, buzzy eateries await in Specchia. Trattoria Da Coppuledda has a good rep for serving up tasty traditional local fare and a pleasing selection of local wines, and can make deliveries to the villa if you prefer to get a takeaway. Your host will provide a useful insider’s guide of the best local eateries and places to go, so you’ll be well looked after.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Chef on request
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby
• Toaster

Activities

• Cool off in the shaded swimming pool, or seek out one of the garden’s secret daybeds or hammocks for an afternoon doze among the jasmine flowers, indulge in a massage under the trees. Bliss
  
• Venture to medieval Specchia (2km). Marvel at the 15th-century Castle; discover Chiesa di Sant’Eufemia – a Byzantine church dating back to the 9th century – or explore the ancient underground oil mills. For those seeking evening fun, it's especially buzzy during the summer months, with mazy cobbled lanes filled with live music, street performances, and open-air markets
  
• Soak up some rays on the beautiful Puglian coast. Try Marina di Pescoluse, (13km), known as the "Maldives of Salento" for its crystal-clear waters and white sand. Other nearby options include Marina di Salve, Torre San Giovanni and Marina Serra
  
• Gallipoli, a 30-minute westwards drive away, has a beach under 14th-century walls and is renowned for its vibrant nightlife in the summer and the stunning Punta della Suina beach; once part of Greece, it was rebuilt by the Byzantines, conquered by Normans, and owned by Sicily and Naples
  
• In the other direction on the Adriatic coast is the small and equally historic port of Otranto, considered one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, with beaches to the north and south; while you're over this way check out Piscina di Marina Serra, which is a natural swimming pool found within the rocks, where you can swim year-round
  
• Wine aficionados are well catered for with local vineyards aplenty. Top rated Castel Di Salve Srl (9km) is worth a look
  
• Pre-book bicycles so they are ready and waiting for you on arrival to explore the countryside
  
• Channel your inner Gennaro Contaldo, and take a pasta cooking class. Fausto, your lovely host, can make arrangements

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Wine tasting

Kids

In true Italian style, kids of all ages are welcome at the villa. That said, there isn’t a great deal for them to do, but they will love splashing in the shaded pool and exploring the garden. The beaches are about a 15-20 minute-drive away. Highchairs and a cot are available upon request.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

On the top floor, both Azure and Blue bedrooms can be set up as twins. On the ground floor there's a small double and a double sofa bed too for older kids.

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1hr 25m
• Hospital: 15 minutes
• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Specchia Hideaway can be found low down in Puglia – the heel of Italy – on the outskirts of Specchia, a pretty historical town in the province of Lecce.

By Air
The nearest airport is Brindisi (105km) which has plenty of links with other cities in Italy and Europe. Further away is Bari Airport (223km).

By Car:
We’d recommend hiring a car to make the most of the area. Check out our guide to car rentals for more info. Parking is available at the villa.

By Train:
If travelling by train, head to well-served Lecce and catch a bus direct to Specchia (1hour 14mins).

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