The sea in an olive grove

AN OLD FARMHOUSE SURROUNDED BY OLIVE TREES BECOMES THE NEW RESORT OF ROCCO FORTE HOTELS.

Masseria Torre Maizza is a farmhouse with a lookout tower, built to protect against Turkish pirates who arrived by sea. Its structural beauty has been conserved across many different uses (the latest as a hotel) since the 16th century, thanks to thick walls in volcanic stone and high vaulted ceilings. «I immediately fell in love with the place, but it was in terrible shape», says Olga Polizzi, vice-president designed the renovation. and director «On of design a tight of schedule Rocco Forte of just Hotels, six months, who has we have eliminated everything that was not originally there. No more plastic casements, no more wooden housings for air conditioners, no more partitions... the result is a local character, simple and very elegant. After all, this is a farmhouse, so its spirit is very different from that of an urban hotel». The 30 original rooms, facing the courtyard, have been joined by 9 large and very chic suites, as well as the restored Tower Suite, offering fine views. A spa now exists in an area once used for drying grain. The color scheme favors white, in another local reference, and hues taken from the surroundings: olive green for doors and shutters, the blue of the sea for the umbrellas and ceramics. The restaurant boasts original black and white tile flooring, matched by the furnishings: bas-relief appliques in shiny majolica with black glaze (by Ceramica Del Monaco of Grottaglie), bronze chandeliers designed by Olga Polizzi, and old chairs with new covers in black&white fabric. Linen and velvet clad the big sofas and beds in the rooms, furnished with local handmade items, including iron tables, rattan seats and hand-painted lamps.