Masseria Macchiaforte

Why it’s on the Edit

Masseria Macchiaforte is an old manor house halfway between the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean scrub, near Gallipoli, now run as eight self-catering apartments. You rent a flat inside the masseria, with your own kitchen and entrance, and you look after yourself.

The reason to look at it is the scale of the units. They run from a 35 square meter single room to a 140 square meter penthouse, with stone vaults, star vaults, terraces and, on the upper floors, a Jacuzzi of your own.

Inside, the masseria pairs rough stone, wicker and natural materials with clean lines. An entrance portal opens on a ground-floor atrium, and the stated aim is an old farmhouse with a contemporary touch.

The rooms

The eight apartments carry names from the sky and the tarot. On the second floor, Le Stelle is a 140 square meter penthouse with two bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, a loft with two more beds and an 80 square meter terrace.

La Luna (110 square meters) and Il Sole (90) are first-floor penthouses, each with a terrace-solarium and a whirlpool bath for exclusive use. On the ground floor, L’Imperatrice (about 90) is the family suite, with a second bedroom under a star vault holding three beds. L’Alchimista (about 70), La Papessa (65) and Gli Amanti (60) complete the floor, and Il Matto is a single room of 35.

Every unit has linen, air conditioning, heating, an equipped kitchen, an independent entrance, a hair dryer, TV and wi-fi. Tidying and cleaning are daily.

Eating and drinking

There is no restaurant in the information we have. Every unit has an equipped kitchen, so the plan is to cook.

The Le Stelle page lists breakfast next to the equipped kitchen. The pages we read do not describe how breakfast is served, so ask when you book.

Services listed include a beautician, massage, hairdresser, laundry, excursions and a shuttle to and from airports and the station.

The setting

Masseria Macchiaforte stands in the countryside near Gallipoli. The masseria calls itself a stone’s throw from the town, and its terraces look past dry-stone walls to centuries-old olive trees. On the sea side, a Mediterranean terrace keeps its architectural character and offers a view.

For the beach, the masseria runs a free shuttle bus to and from an affiliated beach, and direct bookings include a beach kit with two sun loungers and a parasol.

The pool is for guests of the property. The masseria also lists luggage storage and parking on site.

Good to know

• Check-out is at 10:30. Check-in is stated as from 16:00 on one page and from 15:00 to 18:00 on another, so confirm.
• Reception hours differ between pages (7:30 to 21:30, or 8:30 to 21:00), so confirm them before a late arrival.
• Pets are welcome if you tell the masseria when you book.
• Only the upper-floor penthouses have Jacuzzi terraces; ground-floor units have verandas and a garden.
• The beach kit is included with direct booking. The shuttle to the affiliated beach is free.
• Weddings and events are offered. Ask for capacity.
• Not confirmed here: children’s facilities, opening months and a spa.
• Price band: 2 of 5 (estimated: no official rate found).

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

Families and small groups who want separate bedrooms, a kitchen and a terrace of their own, and who will drive or take the shuttle to the beach, get the most from it. Couples who want a private whirlpool under the sky will find it in the penthouses.

A restaurant on site, a front desk that handles everything or a resort program means looking elsewhere. Palazzo Colombo is a guesthouse at the entrance of Gallipoli’s old town. Vivosa Apulia Resort is a four-star resort on the Ionian coast with a restaurant.

Getting there

Masseria Macchiaforte is near Gallipoli, in the Gallipoli and the Ionian Salento area. Brindisi is the nearer of the two airports, and Bari is further north.

You need a car, or the shuttle to airports and the station that the masseria lists among its services. The beach and the old town are separate trips from the masseria. Plan the drive around check-in, which the rooms page closes at 6:00 pm.