Hazy Maze

Hazy Maze: Apulia

This expansive home is more of a compound than a villa, with enough room for the whole group and more to enjoy this Southern Italian dream. There's traditional charm in every nook and cranny here with barrel ceilings, ancient local stone, elegant furniture and Mediterranean ornaments. But the jewel of the home is the sparkling pool. Spend lazy days catching up on your book, and taking occasional all-important dips to cool off.

Come dinnertime, wandering into the colourful kitchen will persuade even the most reluctant of chefs to get cooking. The mismatched style has a comforting farmhouse feel to it that's just dying to be the setting of family dinners – talking over each other, bickering, eating, and laughing.

If you'd prefer, you could fire up the outdoor industrial kitchen and channel your inner Nigella Lawson. Get everyone on pizza-making duty and throw the pizzas in the wood-fired oven for a quick yet delicious meal. Or, your host can arrange for a chef to take care of all of that for you, which is particularly lovely for special occasions. And when it comes to where you're going to eat, you're spoilt for choice. The outdoor area certainly isn't short of seating, with restaurant-style bistro tables and a large outdoor dining table.

With so much to explore in this villa, we'd understand if you never wanted to leave. But the scintillating Southern Italian coast will start calling soon enough. It's about a fifteen-minute drive to the port town of Savelletri, which is teeming with coves, caves, bays, and beaches to explore. When you want to stretch your legs you'll love strolling around the whitewashed town, and you mustn't leave without trying its famous seafood.

Home truths:
*The main bedroom is a suite with a kitchenette, small sitting area and a bathroom – it’s a good option for guests wanting a bit more privacy
*Due to the location of this home, we recommend hiring a car to get the most out of your stay
*If you're travelling by plane, Salento in Brindisi is the nearest airport – it's a thirty-five-minute drive from this home
*This home is spread across one floor so it's well suited to those with reduced mobility
*Though there isn't a dedicated desk here, the dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace
*There is an outdoor bathroom with showers here
*Bed linen and towels here are changed weekly