Accommodation at PRI 0292 is laid over two levels. Connected by a pair of external staircases, the two levels surround and overlook a central courtyard, which is the real heart of the property. Wherever possible, genuine architectural features have been kept, from the curvaceous arched structures and the window apertures, to the niches and the centuries-old flooring. The walls and ceilings are traditionally whitewashed, many of the original wooden doors have been salvaged and restored, and the variety of materials used - tuff stone, iron, wood and terracotta - echo with the property's architectural heritage.
The modern furnishings feature the same style and are made of solid cedar and chestnut and natural fibres. The lighting has also been carefully chosen to match with the overall theme of authenticity and naturalness, with both bespoke and designer pieces subtly enhancing the overall style.
On the ground level, three sides of the courtyard offer living and sleeping accommodation. Moving clockwise, we start in the wonderfully designed, well-equipped bespoke kitchen, which includes a long bar-cum-preparation island, a dining table, a couple of easy chairs, and an amazing fireplace.
Completing the first side of the courtyard are three bedrooms, all with en-suite shower room: a double (160 × 190), a double-twin (90/180 × 160) and a suite with double bed (160 × 190) and a sitting area. A door between the latter two means that they can communicate (perfect for parents with kids sleeping next door) or be separate (the door is lockable).
The second side of the courtyard is dedicated to a spacious communal space with an indoor-outdoor vibe - access is via a pair of open arches. Here, below the lofty vaulted ceilings, is a lounge area and a couple of dining tables served by the property's second kitchen. A door to one side accesses a games room with a table tennis table, gym equipment and a couple of sofas. This room opens out onto a walled courtyard.
The third side of the courtyard includes the final two ground level bedrooms: a large double (160 × 190) with sitting area and an en-suite shower room, the generous master suite with double bed (160 × 190), lounge area in front of a large fireplace, and an en-suite bathroom with a deep tub and a separate shower.
Two massive external staircases lead up from the courtyard to a long terrace running along the entire façade of the first level. Almost all the rooms upstairs are accessed externally from this terrace. As the upper level was once reserved for the aristocratic owners of the estate, the architecture is a bit more impressive, and the original features, including the red and white tiled floors, a bit more elegant.
To one end is a living and TV area, equipped with a sofa and a breakfast table, and through an open doorway, the third kitchen, which opens out onto a little terrace. Then come the remaining bedrooms. A spacious double (160 × 190) with en-suite shower room is also accessible via a couple of steps from the living area. A single bedroom 7 (120 × 160) is interconnected with a double bedroom 8 (180 × 190) with en-suite shower room, making it suitable for parents with a child or for a couple of teenagers. It should also be noted that there are interconnecting doors between these rooms and the large double mentioned above. The doors can be locked or left open (a perfect family suite for parents with two or three kids). The large suite 9 consists of a living area, a double bedroom (160 × 190) and an en-suite shower room down a couple of steps
A wide driveway leads from the access road through the olive groves to the villa, where guests are welcomed by a green lawn, mature trees, prickly pears, flowering shrubs, and the massive walls and gate of the main courtyard. The grounds immediately surrounding the house are given over to a series of walled gardens planted with trees and providing shady spots to sit and relax. One is home to the charming pool, which is surrounded by an age-old stone terrace, well-kept lawns and beautiful flora. A gazebo offers shade for those in search of the refreshment.
The real gem of PRI 0292's outside areas is the central courtyard. It is here, hidden among high walls and shady trees, that outdoor life is lived to the full. Accessed directly from all the rooms on the ground level, and via the external staircases from the first level terrace, its central green lawn and its stone-flagged periphery boast a number of well-furnished areas for lounging and dining. It is lovely at any time of day but the most charming in the evening, when the sun sets and it's time for long convivial dinners under the stars.
There are a couple of other outdoor spaces spread around the property, including a little terrace outside the first level kitchen and a walled courtyard accessed from the games room on the ground level. Finally, there is a generous super-panoramic roof terrace benefiting from 360-degree views of the surrounding farmland and even Ostuni.
PRI 0292 sits on an olive carpeted coastal plain midway between the fabulous white, hill-top town of Ostuni and the small Adriatic resort of Villanova, with its beach, seafront restaurants and shops. The rolling Puglian hills of the nearby Valle d'Itria are home to several charming towns and villages, including Cisternino, Locorotondo and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello - trulli central! All, including Ostuni, offer regular markets, as well as a great choice of bars, trattoria and restaurants. Other beautiful towns within an easy drive include the Baroque centre of Lecce and the pretty coastal towns of Monopoli and Polignano a Mare.
