When I lately travelled to Southern Italy I wanted to make sure I could stay in a typical Masseria. After a very intense search process I booked the Masseria Cervarolo near Ostuni and was just blown away. If you look for a calm, authentic boutique hotel with a personal touch, no need to look any further. Masserias are old farm houses which have been converted into small agriturismo, bed and breakfasts or little luxury hotels. As we had a rental car with a navigation system it was no big deal to find the Masseria Cervarolo when coming from the Airport in Brindisi. Nestled between endless fields of olive trees, you already feel the spirit of this place on arrival.

The owner personally welcomed us and gave us an indepth introduction into the Masseria and the surrounding must sees. For 5 years he has been every day on the construction site after he bought this old building and converted it into a 15 room boutique hotel. What a find! The public area, the guest rooms, the outdoor breakfast place convince with a Bohemian look, handmade quilts and antique furnishings – everything just looks like taken directly from a design & lifestyle magazine but without neglecting the local Puglian touch. The grounds are so vast that it is easy for everyone to find peace of mind, be it around the enormous pool, in a chair under an olive tree or in one of their hammocks.

Breakfast is served in- or outdoor and the buffet is filled with homemade cakes and bread, delicious marmelades or vegetable frittatas to die for. You may tell them until midday if you are interested to join for dinner, which we tried several times and enjoyed every dish of it. Their Chef used to work in high level restaurants and has brought all his knowledge along. On one day they organised a wine tasting with a sommelière from a nearby vinery and made us try the typical Negroamaros, Salices di Salento, Primitivos di Manduria and the Rosatos from Puglia.

Masseria Cervarolo is a great spot to discover Puglia; from here you have easy access by car to all interesting villages around the Itria Valley such as Locorotondo, Alberobello, Martina Franca or Polignano A Mare.