The villa is located 13.3Km from the center of the historic city of Lecce and 23Km from the nearest beach.

Main distances:
Lecce: 13.3Km
San Cataldo: 23Km
Gallipoli: 36.6Km

Recommended beaches:
Along the Adriatic coast don't miss San Foca and Torre dell'Orso, Laghi Alimini, Otranto, Porto Badisco, Santa Cesarea Terme, Castro and Santa Maria di Leuca.
Along the Ionian coast the best beaches are located in Pescoluse, also known as the "Maldives of Salento", Gallipoli, Santa Maria al Bagno, Torre Lapillo and Porto Selvaggio.

Situated in the heart of the Salento countryside, Masseria il Trullino is close to the blue waters of the Mediterranean sea and its capital Lecce, also known as the ‘Florence of the South’.

The villa is situated 800 metres from the town centre of Carpignano Salentino. Carpignano Salentino is situated in the heart of the "Grecia Salentina" (Salentinian Greece) , an area near the town of Lecce which is inhabited by the Griko people, an ethnic Greek minority living in southern Italy who traditionally spoke a Greek Language dialect also called Griko.

BEST BEACHES

Sant’Andrea, Torre Dell’Orso, Baia degli Angeli, Marina di Pescoluse (also known as ‘Le Maldive’), Torre Vado, Porto Badisco, Punta Prosciutto. All offer free beaches and also Bagni (where you can rent seat and umbrella). Most beaches have been awarded with one or even two Blue Flags.

Recommended for families for white sandy beaches and shallow water: the Alimini area.

PLACES TO VISIT

OTRANTO

A short drive from the Masseria, Otranto is a popular destination for Italy’s jet set.
Among the must-see sights are the Duomo, dating back to the 11th century with some internal columns allegedly from a temple dedicated to Minerva which has been restored to its original form and the dramatic five-sided Castello Aragonese, which has cylindrical towers and a moat.

LECCE

This ancient and beautiful city is known as the ‘Florence of the south’ because of the ornate Baroque architecture. Unlike Florence, the buildings are created from the local stone, pietra leccese, which adds to the city’s luminosity and appeal.

Lecce is a lively city, popular with Italians and non-Italians alike. It is usually buzzing with life even late into the night in autumn and winter. There is always something going on, whether it be a market, street theatre or just the evening passeggiata. Apart from the designer shops and great restaurants, there are stunning sights like the half buried Roman amphitheatre near piazza Sant’Oronzo. The Chiesa di Santa Croce with its richly decorated façade and rose window is worth a visit as is the town hall, the Palazzo del Governo next door. Along Corso Vittorio Emanuele 1 the Duomo, with its 210 foot bell tower, is considered one of the most important in the whole of Italy. Go along via Palmieri to see craftsmen working on the local stone. Don’t forget the Orto Botanico di Lecce – the Lecce Botanical Garden, located in via prov. Lecce-Monterone. It covers just over 5 acres and is under the auspices of the University of Lecce.

Rest of Salento:

SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA, CASTRO and the GROTTE ZINZULUSA, GALLIPOLI, SPECCHIA, GALATINA, MAGLIE, POGGIARDO, NARDO.

Rest of Puglia:

ALBEROBELLO, OSTUNI, GROTTAGLIE, MARTINA FRANCA, ALTAMURA.

Also recommended a visit to Matera in Basilicata, half an hour drive from Bari.

Recommended restaurants:

Bros, via Acaja 2, 73010 Lecce, http://www.brosrestaurant.it/ for lunch and dinner. Booking is a must.

Doppio Zero, Via Guglielmo Paladini, 2, 73100 Lecce, http://www.emporiodoppiozero.com/ for lunch.


Maybe you don’t know about Puglia’s food and wine, but the rest of Italy certainly does! The region provides a lot of what the country consumes. Most of the grain for Italy’s pasta comes from here, the majority of the fish eaten in Italy is caught off the Pugliese coasts. The specialities are mussels, squid, octopus and anchovies. In coastal areas (and there is a lot of coastline!) the locals tend to eat mostly fish and seafood, but inland lamb is one of the preferred foods. Everywhere you look you will see olive trees, so it will come as no surprise that Puglia also produces over 70 percent of Italy’s olive oil (and 15 percent of the world’s olive oil).

Every region of Italy is associated with one type of pasta, and in Puglia it is orecchiette (literally ‘little ears’). The most traditional way of eating this is with a simple and delicious fresh tomato and olive oil sauce.
The Puglia climate is deal for the production of wonderful vegetables like tomatoes, artichokes, aubegines, onions and courgettes. Many of these are dried or preserved under oil. Puglia also produces pulses such as ceci, borlotti beans and cannelini beans as well as nuts including pistachio nuts, hazelnuts and almonds. You will be able to buy all these, and much more besides, at the many local markets.

The region produces 25 DOC wines and most of these come from the Salento area of Puglia. Two such luscious examples are the internationally acclaimed Salice Salentino, a deep red made with the Negroamaro grape and the Primitivo di Manduria, made from the Primitivo grape which is thought to be genetically related to Californian Zinfandel.

Visit Tenuta Sant’Emiliano near Porto Badisco to buy fresh cheese: from Otranto you have to follow the coatal route to S. Cesarea, then drive until the coastal tower of S. Emiliano: the farm is on the right, 200 metres from the main road.

Norcinera (artisan butcher) – apparently an unmissable experience

SPA & WELLNESS
Spa in Santa Cesarea Terme.

GOLF
Hotel Acaya Golf Club - Lecce

NATURAL RESERVE AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
Parco Naturale Le Cesine
Parco Naturale Porto Selvaggio
Giardino Botanico La Cutura

OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA
Wine tasting, cycling, cookery classes, windsurfing, horse riding.

Coli in Cutrofiano – Incredible selection of traditional crockery and pots (mainly terracotta) for your garden, an awesome display of shapes and sizes. They have an “offer” room where you can bag yourself a real bargain.

Tessitura Giaquinto
Buy yourself beautiful handmade towels and linen.