Where: Apulia is situated in the South of Italy and borders with Molise, Campania and Basilicata, surrounded by Adriatic and Ionic sea. With the main town being Bari, Puglia is the most Eastern region of Italy and also the one that counts the longest coast, with 800 km of coast. The territory is mostly flat. The climate of Apulia is typically Mediterranean, with warm and dry summers and mild winters.

What: The Salento area (the area included within the very “heel” of Italy) is the core of the Region, with its wonderful beaches. Among the most beautiful, Porto Selvaggio and Punta Prosciutto – but it’s hard to pick! Within this area make sure to visit Melpignano for the “night of Taranta” – the traditional music of the Region – that is held each year during summer. The wines that most define the Region are Negroamaro and Primitivo: take a chance to visit the vineyards in Salice Salentino, Guagnano, Cellino San Marco e Leverano. Don’t miss Ostuni, Taranto, Lecce, Otranto, the trulli in Alberobello (traditional homes beautifully designed), the Salento, Castel del Monte, the many Romanic churches, the dolmen and the menhir…

When: Apulia is one of the richest archaeological regions in Italy, due to the vast amount of settlers over the ages. The Illyrians and then the Ancient Greeks colonized the area first, and then the Romans. Brindisi was the setting for one of the famous battles between the Roman Empire and Hannibal. Much like the rest of Italy, once the Roman Empire collapsed, Apulia was conquered by barbarians like the Goths and Lombards, and then the Byzantines, the Saracens, the Normans and later the Spanish. At times, Turks and Venetians also held the coast. These different cultures have affected the architecture, food and language, creating this unique melting pot region of Southern Italy.

Why: Food and beautè are the key of the vacation at Masseria San Domenico. The Restaurant is set in a room whose origins date back to the XVIII Century, where the oil mills were kept (up to the XX Century). High-end traditional cuisine is served with ingredients from the biologic cultivated area that surrounds the Masseria. Fish is fresh and local and among the specialties are Eggplants with tomato vellutata, Laganari San Domenico, a local long handmade pasta with the special sauce of Masseria), “Dita degli Apostoli” (“Apostles’ fingers”), a typical dessert with ricotta, chocolate and candied oranges. You want options? There is also the Pool Grill nearby the pool, great for pizza and grilled meat, and the San Domenico Bar and L’Ulivo for delicious cocktails.

The Spa at the Masseria rotates an ingredient the Apulians have plenty of: water. The spa is well heeled in thalassotherapy using seawater, as salinity is very rich in minerals and the abundance of trace elements also makes it a primary source of purification for the human organism. The water used in the centre is drawn from a deep underground stratum, which sits at about 400 meters below the sea level. The seaweed, also plentiful on the Apiluan coast is also beneficial. The concentration of minerals and vitamins, indispensable for the improvement of our biological functions, are crushed and micropolverized and then added to sea water in hydro massage and compresses. For those looking for a signature treatment, the San Domenico Spa also offers facials and body treatments with Carita products. Luxury at its best.

Written by: Elisa della Barba and Valentina Zannoni

Credits: Masseria San Domenico