Villa

Salve, Lecce (province)

Salento

Just a few kilometres from the paradisiacal sandy beaches of Puglia’s south-west coast, Masseria delle Gnizze is a superb example of how a classic Salento masseria can be beautifully reimagined for the 21st century. A meticulous restoration has enhanced the property’s impressive original architectural features, respected its grand proportions and transformed it into an elegant, welcoming and exceptionally comfortable residence.
The interiors are arranged on a single level, with four of the seven bedrooms also accessible independently from the park. From a large enclosed courtyard, the main entrance opens into a warm reception area featuring a desk and a striking double-sided fireplace, from which most of the accommodation unfolds.
To the left, a magnificent open-plan living space is defined by high vaulted ceilings in local tuff stone, whitewashed walls and cream-coloured tiled floors. The main sitting area is tastefully furnished with white sofas facing the double-sided fireplace with a Corten steel surround. A series of French doors opens directly onto the spacious enclosed courtyard that runs along the full façade of the masseria. A central storage island partially divides this area from the kitchen and dining space, which features a modern dining table and an outstanding professional stainless-steel kitchen set within a wide niche framed by vaulted columns. From the kitchen, a door leads out to a private enclosed terrace furnished with an outdoor dining table.
Returning to the entrance lounge, a door leads to the first bedroom: a double room with a central bed, high vaulted ceilings, garden views and an en-suite bathroom with a shower positioned behind a semi-transparent partition.
From the main lounge, an opening leads to a small corridor with a guest WC and an antechamber giving access to two further bedrooms. The master suite is a sumptuous double room featuring a canopy bed, vaulted ceilings, a chaise-longue and direct access to the garden. Its beautiful private bathroom includes a freestanding bathtub positioned beside an original fireplace (now decorative) and a separate shower. The second bedroom is another double with barrel-vaulted ceilings, an original fireplace (now decorative), access to the main walled courtyard and an en-suite bathroom with shower.
The remaining bedrooms are accessed from the large walled courtyard that runs along the front of the property. These include a double room with barrel-vaulted ceilings, a central bed and an en-suite shower room; two further double/twin rooms with single beds, exposed wooden-beam ceilings and en-suite shower rooms; and a charming double room with stone walls and an en-suite shower room.
As with many properties of its kind, the outdoor spaces at Masseria delle Gnizze are arranged around a series of enclosed courtyards and gardens. The first, located just outside the kitchen, is bordered by an emerald-green lawn enlivened with colourful flowers and is arranged for al fresco dining, creating one of the most magical settings in which to share meals with friends. The second courtyard is a large paved terrace dotted with trees and flowers and furnished with high-quality outdoor seating, offering ample space for guests to relax, read or simply enjoy conversation.
A gate from the second courtyard opens onto the true highlight of the estate: a vast garden framed by olive trees and traditional dry-stone walls. At its centre, a perfectly maintained bright green lawn surrounds a geometrically shaped paved terrace that encircles the stunning swimming pool, before extending into an atmospheric shaded area with a dining table, bar and a well-equipped outdoor kitchen. Overlooking the pool, there is also a spacious covered outdoor lounge furnished with sofas and low tables.
A short distance from the pool, a typical Salento pajara nestled within the Mediterranean scrub houses a small private gym. Beyond the gardens and courtyards, olive groves extend around the estate, ensuring a peaceful, secluded setting in which to fully enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Land area: 5 hectares. Location: Marina di Pescoluse.

Private negotiation.