Masseria Borgo Sentinella

What the property says

Masseria Borgo Sentinella chose silence, and says so: the masseria rooms have no televisions. The place is an 18th-century rural complex in Torre dell’Orso, restored with natural materials, traditional techniques and renewable energy.

A masseria, for readers new to the word, is a large farm complex. This one sits in Mediterranean scrub with carob trees and a kitchen garden, close to the sea.

The restoration shows in the details. Furniture is made by Salento artisans, much of it restored or repurposed, and the kitchen leans on herbs and vegetables from the masseria’s own organic garden.

The rooms and suites

The rooms come in six types. Five Classic Rooms are named Mosto, Negramaro, Carparo, Chianca and Tufo, on the ground or first floor. Superior rooms are on the ground floor with an outdoor patio, and Deluxe rooms add a single bed and a relaxation area to the double.

A Junior Suite has separate sleeping and living areas and a patio. The apartment has a kitchen and living area downstairs and a spiral staircase up to a mezzanine bed, under star-vaulted ceilings.

The five Suites are the top of the range: Agave, Malva, Carrubo, Mirto and Alloro, in a newly built wing, each with private access, a spacious patio and a small pool.

Eating and drinking

Breakfast is a buffet of zero-kilometer products: cheeses and cured meats from local farms, homemade jams, bread and pastries, with coffee from a moka pot. Eggs are cooked to order on request.

At lunch the masseria serves cold, simple dishes by the pool, such as crisp frisa and salads. Aperitivo is served by the pool or in a quiet corner of the garden.

Dinner is the limit. The masseria says outright that it is not a restaurant, and calls the evening meal a home-style table open only to guests, with a few traditional Apulian dishes each night. Bread comes from the village baker and cheese from small local farms.

The setting

The masseria stands on the SP 297 road at Torre dell’Orso, in the municipality of Melendugno, surrounded by Mediterranean scrub, carob trees and a kitchen garden. The sea of Torre dell’Orso is a short walk away, in the masseria’s words.

The pool has sun loungers and shaded areas. E-bikes are offered for paths between sea and countryside, which lets you see the area without taking the car. A complimentary electric-car charger is in the grounds.

The place is quiet by design. There is a lounge and garden corners, and the masseria says it has eliminated single-use plastic.

Good to know

• The masseria rooms have no televisions. Ask about the Suites if you want one. Reception is open 24 hours.
• Dinner is a home-style table for guests only, with a few dishes each night. It is not a restaurant.
• Small pets are welcome on request at the time of booking.
• Parking inside the masseria is free, and a private transfer service connects the masseria with airports.
• E-bikes and an electric-car charger are available to guests.
• Worth asking the property: opening months, children and weddings.
• The masseria offers a special rate for guests who book direct through its website.
• Price band: 2 of 5 (estimated: no official rate found).

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

It suits couples who want quiet rooms, a pool, a bike and an evening meal that is simple on purpose. It works for a few days of slow coast time, with Lecce as an excursion rather than a base. Anyone who needs a screen in the room or a restaurant menu at night will not enjoy it.

Look elsewhere if you want a spa or a full restaurant. Masseria & Spa Luciagiovanni has both and lies in the comune of Lecce. For a sea-view hotel with its own beach, Posia Retreat & SPA in San Foca is the nearby alternative.

Getting there

Torre dell’Orso, in the municipality of Melendugno, is on the coast covered in Lecce and the North Salento coast. The masseria sits on the SP 297 road, and reception is open 24 hours, so a late arrival is workable. A car is the practical choice for Lecce and the rest of the Salento.

If you would rather not rent, the masseria runs a private transfer service between its grounds and the airports. Ask for a quote when you book. Parking inside the masseria is free, so the car stays put once you arrive, and the e-bikes cover the short trips.