Paradise within reach? A new wave of restored villas for rent is making it possible; here's our guide to the farmhouse rental, Italian style. N.B. A good source for villa rentals is The Thinking Traveller.
Above: Masseria Alchimia is a restored, high-style masseria with 10 studios for rent; watch the snazzy video here.
Above: The perks at Masseria Cimino near Brindisi? A restaurant, a swimming pool, bicycles for guest use, plus olive oil made on the property. The 18th-century farmhouse was constructed from stone salvaged from a nearby Roman archaeological site. Rates start at $210 per night at Great Small Hotels.
Above: Located in the town of Cisternino in Puglia, this Airbnb rental ($418 per night) is not a masseria but a collection of trulli—19th-century conical stone huts used as agricultural housing and now protected as UNESCO World Heritage sites. This one features five bedrooms with three baths and two kitchens, and is surrounded by a garden, pool, and solarium. We give it extra points for an effort at environmental sustainability.
Above: A lovely 17th-century masseria in Petrarolo, Puglia, will be offered for rent sometime this year; stay tuned for details. The eight-bedroom estate flaunts romantic decor by Alexander Waterworth Interiors, as featured in House Tour: Pastels Go Rustic in an Italian Farmhouse. Photograph by Emily Andrews.
Above: Masseria Otranto in Otranto, Puglia, sleeps 11 people in three buildings: a main villa, a stone trullo, and a detached annex. Stylish interiors and swimming pool aside, it's a 10-minute drive to the local beach. Rates start at $8,600 per week at Masseria Otranto.
Above: A 16th-century masseria on a vineyard in the town of Grottaglie in Puglia sleeps 12 people in six bedrooms with eight baths and a private pool and garden. Rentals start at $775 per night for a minimum one-week stay on Airbnb.
Above: Casa Del Vento is a former monastery on Pantelleria, an island off the coast of Sicily. Located inside a national park, it features a pool, views, and outdoor lounge areas: hammocks, sofas, and chaise longues abound. For rental information, contact Casa Del Vento.
Above: Located in the Marche region, a high-style farmhouse with original stone walls is outfitted with furniture from Vitra, Cassina, and Philippe Stark. It sleeps 11 people with five baths, an infinity pool, and 360-degree hillside views. Rentals start at $5,060 per week at Casa Olivi.
Above: Villa Pizzorusso, a formerly decaying masseria outside of Bari in Puglia, has six bedrooms, a swimming pool, and an orange grove, and sleeps up to 14 people. Shown here, a dining table seats 16 in the masseria's former stables. For more of the estate's eclectic furnishings, see For Rent: A Revived 16th-Century Farmhouse in Puglia. Rentals start at $5,600 per week at Villa Pizzorusso.
Above: The Mazzini residence is located on the border of Umbria and Tuscany in the 11th-century village of Monteleone, perfectly situated for family day trips to Rome and Florence. The 18th-century home sleeps nine people in three bedrooms, sports an indoor pool, and welcomes kids. Here, original stone walls surround a modern eat-in kitchen. Rentals start at $425 per night at Kid & Coe.
Above: This masseria in Muro Leccese in Puglia has a vast collection of modern artwork and an orange garden on a sprawling property. The main building sleeps 14 people in six bedrooms, but arrangements can be made for an additional 19 people on adjoining properties. Rentals start at $1,193 per night for a minimum of two nights on Airbnb.
For more rentals around the world, see:
- Editors' Picks: 15 Favorite Vacation Rental Resources
- Greatest Hits: 33 Top Rental Houses Featured on Remodelista
- Live Like a Londoner: 15 Short-Term Rentals, High to Low
- Airbnb Visit: Under the Radar, Near Capri
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