Masseria Mongiò dell'Elefante

Why it’s on the Edit

Masseria Mongiò dell’Elefante is a restored farm beside the Baia dei Turchi, a bay with crystal-clear water on the Otranto coast. It forms the northern part of the large estate of the Mongiò family, and after a long restoration its old rural buildings became 17 suites.

The restoration used local materials, Lecce stone and reclaimed wood, and the masseria says it reused as much of the existing buildings as it could to keep a sense of continuity. It also says its electricity comes only from renewable sources, and it has a charging column for electric cars and a rack with a charger for e-bikes.

The draw is the combination: a short path on foot to a well-known bay, a spa and a pool, in suites sized for families.

The rooms

All 17 suites differ in size and layout, but share style and materials. They sleep from three to five, with an independent entrance, air conditioning, two televisions, a minibar, a safe and free wi-fi. Every suite has a terrace or a private garden.

The newer Junior Suites are a single room of about 24 square meters, listed as ideal for couples and families with small children. The masseria also lists a Junior Suite Deluxe and larger suites, and the booking page explains each type.

Two apartments are set aside for guests with disabilities. The views alternate between woods, vineyard and cultivated fields, with glimpses of blue sea in between.

Eating and drinking

The restaurant serves Salento dishes revisited in a modern way, built on typical products from local farms. The menu leans on fish and vegetables from the area. The cellar focuses on Apulian wines.

Breakfast is a buffet from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Lunch is light. At dinner the restaurant serves a fixed menu of four courses, and it adapts dishes for special diets and intolerances. The masseria also offers a romantic dinner.

The masseria’s own FAQ says the restaurant is open at lunch and dinner, so you can eat on site without driving into Otranto.

The setting

The masseria stands beside the Baia dei Turchi. You reach the beach from the property on foot, along a short shaded path.

The outdoor pool is open from the day the masseria opens, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The spa can be booked from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The spa has a relax area reserved for guests, the Ipogeo, with a large whirlpool, a steam bath, a sauna, an emotional shower and a herbal tea corner. Treatments listed include relaxing and decontracting massage, a personalized facial, foot reflexology, lymphatic drainage, an Ayurvedic pindasweda and guided yoga and meditation. Bike rental is listed too.

Good to know

• Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out by 10:30.
• Pets are not accepted at the moment.
• There is no shuttle. Transfers are booked with a local private service.
• Parking is outdoors, private and uncovered.
• Two apartments are set aside for guests with disabilities.
• Bike rental and a charging column for electric cars and bikes are listed.
• A 2026 Regione Puglia list files the masseria as a four-star tourist-hotel residence with 17 units and 50 beds.
• Not confirmed here: opening months, wedding hire and a gym.
• Price band: 2 of 5 (estimated: no official rate found).

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

Families who want a suite with a terrace or a garden, and couples who want a spa within a short walk of the sea, fit best.

Anyone traveling with a dog, or wanting a hotel in the old town, should choose differently. Masseria Panareo is a medieval masseria with 19 double rooms and a restaurant in a former stable. Palazzo de Mori is a palazzo on the ramparts of Otranto.

Getting there

Masseria Mongiò dell’Elefante is at Baia dei Turchi, in the Otranto and the Adriatic Salento area. The nearest town is Otranto, and Brindisi is the nearer of the two airports, with Bari further north.

You will want a car for the wider coast, although the beach, the pool and the restaurant are on the property. A private local transfer service can be booked if you prefer not to drive on arrival.