EPICURE LOOKBOOK
Masseria Torre Maizza
Against the intense blue sky and rich green land, these white buildings dazzle, casting silhouettes over tree trunks. A chic hotel stands among the olive and lemon groves that dot the southern Italian countryside.
Off the beaten track, in Puglia’s picturesque area of Savelletri di Fasano, and only minutes away from the Adriatic coast, Masseria Torre Maizza is a renovated 16th-century farmhouse draped in ivy and surrounded by centuries-old olive trees. It reopened on 1 May as a member of Rocco Forte Hotels, a British hotel group with over 10 boutique hotels to its name, and underwent a €6 million revamp
The intimate resort has been entirely renovated by Rocco Forte’s director of design, Olga Polizzi, blending colourful prints with local white linens and terracotta. Centred around a gleaming-white tower, the outhouses – once welcoming passing pilgrims and monks - have been converted into 40 understated, luxurious rooms and suites. The tower houses a sleek Aveda spa, while the grounds roll out all around, lush and flower-filled. A lovely large heated pool, set amid fruit trees, is surrounded by decking plush oversized loungers on various levels. There’s also the hotel’s serene, white-sanded, sun-shaded beach club - with a restaurant and sushi bar - and a pea-green golf course.
COSY CHIC
“In the newly-built, whitewashed tufa outhouses with cathedral-arched ceilings, the rooms share a design ethic of bone whites and powder greys, and a feeling of light, tranquillity and space. The flagstone floors are broken by woven woollen mats, set against shabby-chic mirrored wardrobes and elegant extra large beds. Arresting photos of the region, black bedspreads and off-white fabrics give the country style a sophisticated twist,” shares Polizzi.
Indeed, heavy carpets, wicker furnitures, off-white walls, dark lacquered wood matched with stormy greys and midnight blue tones are used throughout the suites; each suite boats its own private patio and original fireplace.
The main star is the Torre Suite, a two-bedroom option with a walk-in wardrobe and a separate living room. The 80 sq m room is located on the top floor of the tower and includes a private terrace with breathtaking views of the surrounding olive groves, golf course and the dreamy Adriatic sea, and is fitted with sun loungers, table and chairs. The pale-palette bathroom features the hotel’s own olive oil soaps, local stone, double sinks and a bathtub with a separate walk-in shower with a bench. For leisure slumber, lay your head on the plush goosedown pillows and buttery smooth 600-ply satin sheets – talk about living the dolce vita life.
A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
The original masseria building houses the reception, spa, bar and a pretty Moroccan terrace with multi-coloured festive lights typical of Puglia. The bar is an atmospheric spot, with director’s chairs and big potted ferns beneath a pergola drooping with ivy. Everything is framed with fragrant roses and magenta bougainvillea, which echoes the bright towels supplied at the colonnaded pool terrace.
At the boho-chic Coccaro Beach Club, thin shells hang from doorways, Balinese style wooden daybeds invite you for an afternoon of lounging.
At the heart of the resort is the local cuisine - much of what you eat comes from the fields around you. There’s a
focus on seasonal produce and local traditions, but it’s also sleekly sophisticated. Go for the friselli, a traditional Pugliese peasant dish of dried bread, often served topped by tomatoes and olive oil. Here it’s served alongside your choice of many martinis and long drinks. The cuisine is Mediterranean-italian and features many regional specialities – from orrechiette pasta to the freshest grilled fish.
“This revamped whitewashed farmhouse is a perfect example of how time stood still. We have worked with local artisans to restore the masseria by combining local heritage with a contemporary design to create a sense of modern Italian elegance,” shares Polizzi.
“This revamped whitewashed farmhouse is a perfect example of how time stood still. We have worked with local artisans to restore the masseria by combining local heritage with a contemporary design to create a sense of modern Italian elegance,” shares Polizzi.