MASSERIA ANGIULLI PICCOLO | Kristine Standnes

The masseria was abandoned for years, trees grew inside and the interior was completely stripped. Restoration work proved to be a bit of a puzzle and needed patience before it was ready for use. It has been important to take care of the farm's tradition and history.

The house is a so called "masseria", a reinforced brick house that initially was to resist attacks by pirates and Turks. The house is typical of Puglia, but most original details had disappeared at time restoration began.  That is, we had to raise the entire region around to get back into the original floor and stairs stone, which is no longer in production. The house is built in tufo, a type of sandstone which is also very typical of the area. The stone has the advantage that it is very elastic, and preserves the structure. It also regulates the heat fine for outside temperature, making it cool inside in summer and warmer in winter. The seven bedrooms are all differently decorated, but with some common characteristics, they all have a private bathroom, they are bright and cool.

The masseria has been destinated to both private use as well as hotel and restaurant. For this reason, the house has an extremely well-functioning industrial kitchen. The masseria frequently held events, and it is possible for others to rent the place for vacation. The property has a lovely swimming pool which was completed in 2010. The interior harmonizes with the architecture and structure and the decoration integrate modern design against the old in a smooth balance. Rooms are large, and there is extra height ceilings, therefore decided to furnish with some powerful wooden furniture and then I used a lot of pottery from the area, the town of Grottaglie is one of Italy's most famous pottery towns, and is only five minutes by car from the vineyard.

Sprawling over 400 hectares of beautiful rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards Masseria Angiulli Piccolo is much more than just a traditional retreat. Set up as hideaway mixed with culture and nature, our biofarm are the heart of the project. A creatively inspiring and serene place both for individuals and families, our approach was to develop a diverse and international context for the guests of Masseria Angiulli Piccolo. In addition to wine and olive oil production,  the masseria has its own vegetable garden that follows the seasons, and an orchard with everything from fig trees of almonds, plums, peaches and pears, all organic grown.