![]() In nearby Radda, stock up on Tuscan meats at Macelleria Rocchigiani (Via Roma 9) and Casa Porciatti, a deli with a supply of local salumi and garlicky lardo (cured fat), plus cheeses and wheels of Tuscan bread. Stone-built Vecchio Frantoio comes with flagstone floors, wood beams, a kitchen-dining room centred around a huge olive millstone, plus three double en-suite bedrooms (one in the cottage), and gardens terraced down to a showstopping swimming pool complete with inflatable toys, a pool house and gated access.There’s a hot tub, too, near the main house’s terrace, where a simple brick barbecue begs for a peppery salsiccia di Lucca local sausage and a Fiorentina steak (the kitchen’s hob-only cooker necessitates grilled goodies are done on the barbecue). A Chianti villa stay allows you to cook with prized Tuscan produce in your own kitchen, while kids run free outside. Surrounded by vines, olive groves and rolling hills, the tiny hilltop hamlet of Casanuova d’Ama feels like a wonderfully remote retreat – but is just a 10-minute drive from several exemplary Chianti villages, and 40 minutes to Siena. Alternatively, go all out with a half-day family-run cooking course in the nearby town of Squinzano, organised by the hotel (£114 per person for five hours). Beyond weekly pizza evenings, afternoon cookery classes with Trapanà’s executive chef immerse participants in classic ‘cucina povera’ recipes – Puglia’s ‘poor kitchen’ cuisine – which includes seasonal fruit and veg grown on site, plus local mussels and delicate sea urchin. Thursday’s pizza night offers the chance to make your own authentic dough creation and cook it in the 200-year-old stone hearth, unearthed during the hotel’s reconstruction. Don’t miss the locally made orecchiette pasta with cherry tomatoes and an addictive chilli and garlic-infused olive oil, then end your meal with a shot of Masseria’s addictive mandarinetto liqueur. Follow with the simple set menu (£40 per person), with seasonal salads, burrata, and moreish deep-fried veggies. Come evening, you can settle yourself on a colourful Moroccan cushion near the firepit, a glass of local primitivo wine in hand. Try a full body massage or reflexology while reclining among the lemon trees outside (30-minute massage, £44).įor a glimpse of Masseria’s history, take a peek into its tiny chapel, complete with faded frescoes and vaulted ceiling. The crowning glory of the hotel, however, is the underground spa that still houses the old farm’s original olive press. The reconstruction has been faithful to its original design, with dramatic arched roofs, locally sourced tufo stone and large bay windows. Step through the gated door to be greeted with a verdant courtyard of cacti and fresh flowers, and a chilled glass of prosecco. ![]() This 16th-century walled estate, reconstructed from rubble, is now a foodie oasis in the surrounding rural landscape of Surbo, in Puglia’s Lecce province. Set in the sunny heel of Italy’s boot, surrounded by olive groves and acres of rolling countryside, these farmhouses are often food-focused, celebrating the ongoing renaissance of the region’s traditional cuisine.Masseria Trapanà is one such pastoral gem. Puglia’s old farm estates are increasingly being reborn as plush places for tourist pampering.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |