The Villa
The location
Masseria Il Trappeto, the villa is set in a hectare of its own land which is positioned in a 500-hectare olive grove, and yet we are a 5-minute drive from the old town of Ostuni which has lots of great restaurants and bars. However, when you are here, you are in the middle of the countryside surrounded by olive trees, some of which are over 1,000 years old and are as big as oak trees.
About Il Trappeto
Puglia produces half of Italy’s olive oil, and Ostuni has been the olive oil capital for centuries. Il Trappeto is a 300-year old olive mill entirely built in stone where all the local olives used to be taken to create the very best olive oil. It was last used in the 1970s but, in 2007, we painstakingly restored this beautiful building ensuring that all the original features and arches have been returned to their original condition.
Outside
The garden and terraces
In front of the house, there is a very large terrace, perfect for ball games and dancing.
There is a three-metre stone table under a large olive tree for outside eating, and a barbecue with a washbasin so that you can cook lunch and dinner easily outside while stayng close to the pool.
To the rear of the house, behind the garden wall, is an orchard of 25 trees and car park with room enough for four cars.
The pergola
In the corner of the front terrace is a pergola of 42 sqm which has a proper roof, Indian canopy ceiling, sofas and chairs for relaxing. Plus the ever-popular table football. The perfect place for an afternoon snooze after a few glasses of rosé.
The pool
Beside this is the 6m x 12m heated pool ensuring that your children are in full view without being bang next to the house. There are steps leading down to a 4m long shallow end so non-swimmers can have a very safe experience while begter swimmers have plenty of room to do lengths.
The limonetto
Puglia likes to grow lemon trees in walled gardens. So, we thought we would do the same but add a stone table for 18 people, a proper outdoor kitchen and large fireplace. So, we can eat and party under the stars while feeling sheltered and apart. The limonetto is just 50 yards from our front door, and is reached by a path lined with shrubs and bushes.
Inside the house
The décor
We have been very keen that the building should sing for itself since what is more beautiful than ancient stone walls? However, we all want comfort, so the house has air-conditioning in six of the seven bedrooms and under-floor heating on both floors.
The house is filled with a mixture of antique furniture from France and India which sits well with the beautiful stone walls, floors and celings.
All the beds have Egyptian cotton sheets.
The Ground Floor
Glass doors open on to the main enormous sitting room (soggiorno), which is 13m long and where the olive pressing took place; the structures are still in place. This fabulous room has a large sofa for 12 people to watch television and an open dining room for 14 people in an alcove at the end. There is also a further small sitting room with its own fireplace leading off to the left of the main sitting room.
Leading off to the right of the sitting room is the large kitchen, which has a stone table sufficient for 10 people to eat, and glass doors opening onto the garden and pool. The kitchen can easily handle large-scale catering with its 1m fridge, first dishwasher, five-ring hob and large oven. There is also an open fireplace here for cosy winter dinners.
Off this is the lavanderia, which has a washing machine and second dishwasher.
Three bedrooms downstairs
There are three bedrooms downstairs: a double with king size bed, and a twin with two large single beds, which share a bathroom and have air conditioning. There is also a large single which has such thick walls, it doesn’t need air con.
The kitchen
The kitchen is easily large enough for everyone to enjoy cooking the wonderful produce at which Puglia excels. All the worktops are made of Puglian limestone. There is a two-metre island with a sink, as well as a four-metre long stone sideboard opposite the hob, oven and main sink. There are two fridges and two dishwashers.
The First Floor
Large terraces, ideal for sunbathing and looking out to the sea and Ostuni, surround the first floor. The back terrace is the perfect place to watch the sun go down.
The four upstairs bedrooms
There are four large bedrooms upstairs with gorgeous Puglian stone ceilings which all have en-suite bathrooms, one of which has its own bath. There are three doubles with king size beds and one with a normaldouble bed; one of the bedrooms has an inter-connecting door with another, which is perfect for families.
We also supply two hair-dryers at the villa.
What we offer
The price of the villa includes all linen, towels, pool towels, pool heating, sunbeds and cleaning either end of your stay. We have 2 travel cots and two high chairs and the pool is perfect for small children as they can play on the steps. We have an orchard where you may pick the fruit; apricots, almonds, figs and peaches. We will give you information about the best restaurants, bars, beaches, beach clubs, where to shop, market information, directions and maps.
The villa is perfect for a large group (sleeps 13 + 1), we can arrange at an extra cost a four course Puglian feast, a cook, cookery demonstrations, a cheese and wine evening, babysitting, food shopping, extra cleaning, a boat trip and bicycle hire directly from villa if you so wish.