Is Puglia the new Tuscany (and not just because Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel staged a wedding celebration there recently)? After paging through Rizzoli's "Masseria: The Italian Farmhouses of Puglia," we're beginning to think so.
The houses of Puglia, called "masseria," are fortified structures of brick, stone, and concrete dating from the Middle Ages and surrounded by verdant vineyards and groves of olive trees; many have been renovated to serve as private residences or boutique hotels (see Paradise in Puglia: Pensione to the Stars). You can admire the local architecture in Masseria: The Italian Farmhouses of Puglia (Rizzoli).
Above: Masseria: The Italian Farmhouses of Puglia; $38.50 from Amazon.
Above: A classic stone-floored bedroom with whitewashed walls (insider tip: a good source for luxe villa rentals is Think Puglia).
Above: A fanciful headboard in a stone-walled villa.
Above: Bunches of peppers add a dash of color to a whitewashed restaurant interior.