![Masseria Salinola](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/e7/93/e793778b1d455a988ad3c7e71fbf3821/s880x600.jpg)
The fertile countryside of Italy's heel is largely flat and characterised by olive trees with huge, gnarled trunks, rich red soil, fields planted with tomatoes and artichokes, dry stone walls and a sense of endless space and far-reaching horizons. This is the place to come to if you want all the charm of Tuscany but with fewer crowds and more reasonably priced accommodation. The best hotels in rural Puglia tend to be converted masseria (farmhouses). These properties range from five-star hotels with swanky spas, gourmet restaurants and high-end services to relatively modest guest houses offering a back to nature experience and homely food. Our hotel experts have compiled a collection of their favourites in the region. With something for most tastes and budgets, why not browse through our collection to start planning your next getaway?
For simply unwinding
![Masseria Mongio](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/4f/dc/4fdc09cc28f3200367afb0295acb6cd1/s880x600.jpg)
- Situated just to the north of Otranto, Masseria Mongio ticks many boxes for a relaxing break. The small size, chic accommodation, excellent restaurant, lovely pool and small spa make it a very appealing choice. Best yet, it's just steps from the beach.
- For a hip, but relaxing break there’s Masseria Torre Maizza, a sophisticated hotel with 28 rooms, some with hot tubs, a charming courtyard, an excellent restaurant and bar, its own private beach club, plus a small spa and golf course.
- Surrounded by fruit trees, the Masseria Montelauro is close to the sea with 29 white, airy rooms with cool stone floors and Moroccan details. There’s also a lovely pool and a superb restaurant.
- The Masseria Salinola is a ten-room boutique hotel in a beautifully refurbished 16th Century farmhouse surrounded by its own olive groves and the spectacular Puglian countryside. A perfect spot to simply unwind and relax.
- The Borgo San Marco is a simple but stylish masseria on an olive-growing estate with 16 rustic rooms and a wonderful restaurant that champions local produce. The pretty walled garden, shaded terraces, pool, and hot tub ensure a relaxing stay.
- Masseria Palombara is a historic limestone farmhouse located in Oria, surrounded by acres of olive groves, almond and palm trees. The beautifully appointed guestrooms incorporate exposed walls and stone arches to create a Mediterranean-inflected approach to rustic chic. A boutique-style rural hideaway.
- Masseria Specula is one of our newest finds in Puglia. It's a charming little adults-only hideaway on the west coast whose ethos is based around sustainability and relaxation. Rooms offer a simple, rustic-chic minimalist vibe, there's vegetarian cuisine on request and you're just 15 minutes' stroll from the beach.
For a winery
![Masseria le Fabriche](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/33/72/33729bd418047a11e1af3d14451db3f1/s880x600.jpg)
- Masseria le Fabriche is a traditional Masseria set within its own winery which has been carefully renovated to create the ultimate chic rural escape. Smart rooms are minimalist and contemporary. Expect superb cuisine and an (unsurprisingly) good wine selection.
For a beach holiday
- Il Melograno is a medium-sized five-star hotel in a renovated 16th Century farmhouse with sprawling, Moorish outbuildings, a flower-filed courtyard and an excellent spa. Boasting its own beach club, this is a spoiling beach getaway.
- The Masseria Torre Coccaro is a luxurious 39 room hotel with an Aveda spa and its own private beach club. But it’s not lost its rustic charms at all — the best suite is in a cave!
- Il Frantoio is a foodie's dream and rightly renowned for its fabulous local cuisine. Located right by the beach with 13 pretty bedrooms and a wonderful bougainvillaea-filled courtyard, this is a relaxing spot you will barely need to leave.
- Masseria Don Cirillo is a laidback brick masseria in a beautiful walled garden close to the sea. Rooms have an ethnic feel with kilims, colourful bedspreads, whitewashed walls and stone vaulted ceilings. With a lovely shady pool and lounge area, this is a great beach spot.
For foodies
![Masseria Panareo](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/04/98/0498db639ce9a6518ec3bcd2f832aee1/s880x600.jpg)
- Masseria Panareo is a stylish farmhouse conversion surrounded by olive trees and stunning scenery. Rooms are dotted around the grounds & offer classic country style. The terraced restaurant serves innovative regional dishes using its own olive oil and is the real lure of this rural hideaway.
For golfers
![Masseria San Domenico](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/f9/ac/f9ac05630e2d636d86a3141a99236e01/s880x600.jpg)
- The Masseria San Domenico offers peace, golf, private hot tubs, a fantastic selection of restaurants, a stunning saltwater pool and there are no children under 12 allowed. A good option for couples who like to stay active on their getaways.
- Also popular with the golfing crowd, the Masseria Cimino is a former Roman villa with a rustic chic edge to its rough, white walls and superb food. Set on an 18-hole golf course, this is a good option for those who want understated luxury.
For explorers
![Masseria Le Mandorle](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/fd/4c/fd4ce1b1568c6f811b5678704b98e751/s880x600.jpg)
- Masseria Le Mandorle is perfectly placed (just outside the town of Ugento) for exploring the depths of Southern Puglia, from its beaches to its pretty towns and villages. Here you'll find 12 stunning rooms and suites and superb facilities including a sports court, sleek pool and rooftop hot tub (perfect for lazy days not exploring!).
- The Relais Villa San Martino is a five-star country villa, with charming gardens, in a great position for touring the local sights and beaches.
- Or there’s the charming Masseria Bernardini, a contemporary seven-room hotel in an old shell, close to Gallipoli and the beach.
For a Trulli
![Nina Trulli Resort](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/65/b7/65b7dd04cbcfd4f01b52fe33a6695ab1/s880x600.jpg)
- Nina Trulli Resort is a chic converted masseria. Rooms in the traditional trullis are whitewashed with uneven walls and well-placed ornaments which all lend an air of rural cool. A good sized pool, a superb restaurant and easy access to Puglia's sights make this a fantastic stay.
- Ottolire Resort is beautifully converted Trulli which offers guests a slice of contemporary Italy in a picturesque rural setting. Rooms see chic contemporary furniture perfectly set amongst the building's original features. The spa and excellent Mediterranean restaurant make this an alluring pick.
For families
![Masseria Montenapoleone](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/00/e4/00e4fc48da3881d815ade7629078d2a1/s880x600.jpg)
- Masseria Montenapoleone is a simply gorgeous rural property set in picturesque countryside. Rustic chic throughout with uneven whitewashed walls and exposed beams. Whimsical rooms are full of character with exposed stone, floating white linen curtains and antiques (a family suite sleeps up to six). Rural Italy at its best.
Still not sure where to book?