For tourists who want to separate themselves from the usual accommodations during their vacation, bed and breakfasts and country inns are a natural option. If you travel to Italy, particularly the Puglia region, you may come across the term ” masseria” or its plurality, masserie , which is another way of saying accommodation in one of the historically restored farmhouses that dot the Puglia region. Many farmhouses are now bed and breakfasts, while some have been transformed into luxury hotels.
Masseria definida
A masseria is a fortified farm or country house on an estate. The term is used most often in the Italian region of Puglia. A masseria is similar to a hacienda in Spain or a plantation in the United States. The masseria was like a fairly large agricultural complex, where the land barons stored their food and possessions from the 16th to 18th centuries in Italy.
History of the masseria
Misery was once the heart of vast estates, surrounded by rolling fields, groves and pastures, inhabited in the summer months by landowners and peasants who tended to crops and farm animals. The complex generally included several other specialized buildings for housing animals, storing crops, or making wine or cheese. Some masses became essentially small villages surrounded and protected by high walls, with a central courtyard surrounded by all other structures.
The squalor was fortified to protect against attacks by Turks or pirates.
The word “masseria” comes from the Italian word masserizie, which means home furnishings, grocery stores, or belongings.
Architecture
The architecture of misery is both austere and luxurious. Simple but spacious rooms retain their original charm, including stone kitchen fireplaces, arched church-style hallways, and restored marble floors. The rustic reds, golden yellows and cornflower blues of classic Italian pop are contrasted with white medieval stucco and stone backgrounds.
Masseria today
In the 1990s there was a trend to restore the crumbling mass to farms and turn them into bed and breakfasts, boutique hotels, rentals, or restaurants to accommodate tourists. Accommodation at Masseria ranges from rustic to luxurious, and most have a pool and garden. Some have a restaurant serving typical Puglia dishes and some have cooking classes for guests. Other luxurious amenities may include full-service spa, golf, and beach clubs. Most are found on working farms that produce olive oil, wine, or produce.
You can find most of the masses in picturesque, country settings.
Also, you can find many farmhouses near the coast between Bari and Brindisi. This area is sometimes known as the “Costa de Masseria”. This is a good place to visit beaches, the Trulli of Alberbello, other picturesque towns and the great archaeological site of Egnazia. Masserie is located on the Salento peninsula (a good location for beaches), the coastal towns of Gallipoli and Otranto, and the Baroque city of Lecce.
Take a look at the Puglia map to plan your trip and find out more about your mass accommodation options in Puglia.
