Masseria Palombara
Vintage Earth-kind charmer
Pastoral Puglia
At owner-run Masseria Palombara, a circular ethos brings panache to this organic estate, as well as eco credentials. Its shabby-chic interiors spotlight vintage furniture, repurposed on-site; the materials used are as Puglian as the staff, and the garden grows produce for the seasonal restaurant. After a traditional cooking class or olive oil tasting, spells at the storied spa or in your spacious suite (some with private pools or hammams) will leave you feeling as wholesome as your hosts.
Facilities
Quartos
21, including five suites.
Checkout
11am. Check-in, 3pm; both are flexible, subject to availability.
Mais detalhes
Rates at Masseria Palombara include a Puglian breakfast.
Also
Unfortunately, this rural retreat is not suitable if you have reduced mobility.
Hotel Closed
The hotel opens annually from 27 February to 23 December.
Academia de ginástica
Acesso gratuito à Internet
Lavanderia
Piscina
Restaurante no local
Serviço de quarto
Spa
At the Hotel
Gym, bikes to borrow, seasonal outdoor cinema, cooking school, bocce court, charged laundry service and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: air-conditioning, Nespresso coffee machine, tea-making kit, minibar, free bottled water, bathrobes, slippers and organic bath products.
Our Favourite Rooms
You won’t find any screens in your rustic room at Masseria Palombara; instead, all eyes are on the vaulted ceilings, repurposed wooden furnishings or bold, local artwork. If you’re in a Deluxe Room with Patio, your attention will be drawn to the greenery-facing furnished terrace; in the history-steeped Suite Masseria, it’s the garden-framed plunge pool that turns heads. But the estate’s showstopper is the Grand Suite Palombara, which has a Palombara Tower-gazing pool, ornamental fireplace and private hammam.
Poolside
Take your pick from two outdoor pools for dawn-to-dusk salty swims: the convivial Masseria pool is at the heart of the hotel and it’s flanked by shaded sunloungers and a turquoise-shuttered bar; the quieter Colonica pool is set in the farmhouse area — a short stroll from the masseria’s heart — and is framed by leafy greenery. Some suites have private pools, too, if you’d rather dip à deux away from prying eyes.
Spa
Set in the ancient granary of the masseria, the cavernous spa soothes with its limewashed walls, open fireplace and flickering candles. After an all-natural massage, warm up in the heated pool, Swedish sauna or steamy hammam, which is set in the 16th-century cistern; by contrast, the cold shower offers endorphin-releasing refreshment.
Packing Tips
Settle into a pastoral rhythm with some analogue entertainment: a few bucket-list books, a dog-eared pack of cards or a small backgammon set should do the trick.
Also
There’s a small fitness room with Technogym kit; the running trail through the vast natural estate also offers up an ample work-out.
Crianças
Over-14s are welcome at this masseria. There’s a double sofa-bed in the Grand Suite Palombara, and most other suites have a single sofa-bed or can take an extra bed for a charge.
Galeria
Food & Drink
Top Table
In summer, bag a table on the terrace for balmy dinners, or cosy up by the fireplace in cooler months.
Dress code
Casual country style.
Hotel Restaurant
Though chef Angelo Lerna is at the helm of the masseria’s restaurant, it’s really the organic garden that leads the charge: daily changing menus reflect whatever fruit and vegetables are picked here each morning. The setting may be rustic, the flavours regional, but the execution is refined. And in a bid to encourage sustainable sustenance, many dishes are plant-based. Breakfast also pays homage to Puglian produce: the eggs come from estate hens and the honey is harvested from surrounding almond groves, with homemade jams and freshly baked pastries also in the mix. All are served on colourful Grottaglie ceramics.
Hotel Bar
Vaulted stone ceilings frame the bottle-lined counter at La Cantina, where glasses — or bottles — of Puglian vintages, such as primitivo and negroamaro, can be shared and swilled around the convivial wooden table. The hotel spotlights small-scale winemakers who make natural, organic and biodynamic blends, but you can also nurse signature cocktails and tuck into light bites. Every evening, there’s an aperitivo hour, which takes place either at the pool bar or in the cosy Club House.
Last Orders
Breakfast is served from 7.30am to 10am; lunch is from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, and for dinner, it’s 7.30pm to 10.30pm. The bar pours from 11am until midnight.
Room Service
You can order dishes from the restaurant’s menu to your door between 7.30am and 10.30pm for an additional charge.
Planes
Brindisi Airport is a 40-minute drive from the hotel; staff can arrange one-way transfers for €80. You could also land at Bari International Airport, which is 90 minutes away by road.
Trains
Rail routes from Bari, Brindisi and Lecce call at Oria; it’s a 10-minute drive away and the hotel offers free station transfers.
Automobiles
You’ll want a set of wheels for taking in the surrounding countryside, Puglian beaches and bigger cities. There’s free parking at the hotel.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
Masseria Palombara is proud of its Puglian roots and you’ll soon see why after wandering through the storied estate that dates back to the 16th century. Upgrade your culinary repertoire with a cooking class: you’ll pick fresh produce from the organic garden and transform it into locally loved recipes, such as stuffed aubergine. At the masseria, you can also indulge in tastings of Puglian red wine and estate-made olive oil, and in summer, its outdoor cinema shows classic Italian films that are made all the more romantic by the starlit setting.
To feel like one of the main characters from movie night, rent a Vespa to whizz down to a nearby beach (we like San Pietro in Bevagna or Punta Prosciutto). The hotel has bikes you can borrow, as well as parasols and beach chairs. Puglian hotspots are within driving distance: admire baroque buildings in Lecce, shop for ceramics in Grottaglie or cross Taranto’s famous bridge, which divides two seas.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
