Things to do

Beaches

The Pugliese coastline has long stretches of golden sandy beaches, dunes and wonderfully inviting seas. There are a number of good beaches to visit during your stay, all within easy reach. The nearest beaches are just 10km away from the house at Rosa Marina and Villanova.

Golf

San Domenico Golf Club is only a 25 minute drive north and is situated on the borders of the ancient city of Egnathia and the fishing port of Savelletri. The course itself was built in 2000 and is over 7000 yards long with a par of 72. A handicap certificate is required to play and green fees start from about €60.

Grotte Di Castellana

These spectacular limestone caves, half an hour north from Cisternino, are Italy's longest natural subterranean network. The interlinked galleries contain incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations. The highlight however is the Grotta Bianca, an incredible cave of eerie white beauty.

Hill-top Towns

The area surrounding Trullo Specchia is dotted with ancient hill-top towns, all with their own unique look and feel. Ostuni, known as the White City because of the proliferation of white-washed stone buildings, resembles a North African Arab Medina due to the seemingly disordered tangle of narrow cobblestone streets, many little more than arched stairways between the houses. Rising above it all in sombre brown stone is the beautiful 15th-century Gothic Cathedral.

Martina Franca has one of the finest old quarters in Puglia. Baroque balconies decorated with ornate wrought iron look down on narrow alleyways little changed in centuries. In the second half of July and early August, the town stages the annual Festival della Vale d'Itria - a feast for opera lovers.