Masseria San Michele

What the property says

Lorenzo Antonacci is originally from Puglia. After several years in the fashion world between Milan, Bologna and Shanghai, he turned the family home, an 18th-century masseria, into a boutique hotel. The restoration took years of work, with local materials and traditional techniques, and the result has seven rooms.

The masseria states its idea of hospitality as an art born from the balance between nature and authenticity. It has also become a venue for exclusive weddings and a chosen location for photo shoots.

The rooms and suites

Each room has a name. The Classic room, Torre, is 25 m² for up to two guests, with a king-size bed and a private patio, and its page lists air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a minibar, a TV, a safe and a courtesy set. The Deluxe rooms, Gelsomino, Rosmarino and Iris, are 28 m² for up to four, with king-size beds, a sitting area with armchairs and a private outdoor patio each.

The Ulivo Family Suite has its own entrance up an external staircase. It has a bedroom with a double bed, a second bedroom with a double sofa bed, and a large private terrace on the tower of the masseria, with views over the Itria Valley countryside.

The Manor House is independent: two double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living area with lounge and kitchen, and two panoramic terraces over the countryside.

Eating and drinking

The services list names breakfast, a bar and in-room service, and says nothing of an evening restaurant. Settle what is served at night before you count on dinner here. The staff offer personalized recommendations for the area.

The cooking lessons are a day in the kitchen with the secrets of traditional Puglian cuisine. The masseria offers no tastings itself, so wine and oil tastings go through partner producers. Massages are available too, arranged with massage professionals who use exclusive organic products.

The setting

Masseria San Michele invites you to be embraced by the peaceful countryside of Martina Franca, and it stands, in its own words, in a strategic position between the Ionian and Adriatic seas. It names Locorotondo, Cisternino, Ostuni, Alberobello and Martina Franca, which it calls the capital of the Itria Valley, as its neighbors.

On the grounds there is an outdoor pool, a garden and a solarium terrace, and an 18th-century chapel appears on its wedding pages. The activity list adds e-bike rentals, bike tours, horseback riding, boat excursions, and cooking and pottery classes. The site also lists a long-stay offer, a relax package and an e-bike package.

For sea conditions, beach clubs and public beaches, the staff give current advice, and the masseria lists golf nearby.

For weddings, the masseria pictures vows in front of an 18th-century chapel or near a doorway steeped in history, garden dinner tables with their own styling, and the pool at sunset. It also offers an intimate elopement surrounded by nature.

Good to know

• Check-in is from 1 PM to 7 PM and check-out at 10:30 AM.
• Pets are welcome; tell the masseria in advance, and a small fee applies.
• Free parking and Wi-Fi are included, and an airport shuttle is offered for a fee.
• The masseria hosts weddings, private parties, yoga retreats and photo shoots.
• Staff speak Italian, English, German and French.
• The family suite is reached by an external staircase, which matters if stairs are a problem.
• Price band: 3 of 5 (estimated: no official rate found).

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

Couples, small groups and travelers with a pet get a seven-room house. Couples planning an intimate wedding or elopement are covered too, since the masseria lists both, along with private parties and yoga retreats.

If a spa and a restaurant on site matter more than size, Relais Villa San Martino, in the same commune, is the better match. A late arrival is the other thing to settle early, with check-in closing at 7 PM.

Getting there

Masseria San Michele is at Strada Cupa 7, in Martina Franca, in the Valle d’Itria. The masseria gives driving directions from both Brindisi and Bari airports.

From Brindisi, it names the SP14 and SS379 northbound, then the signs to Martina Franca. From Bari, take the SS172 southbound toward Martina Franca. The airport shuttle costs extra, while parking is free.