On arrival at Villa Pietra e Bianca, your eye is drawn past the large cacti bordering the driveway to the end where the villa, its façade a lovely mix of white walls and warm honey coloured stone, sits. Set in spacious grounds to both the front and rear, this lovely villa, with trulli features, is a wonderful base for both a holiday relaxing by the pool and for exploring the Valle d’Itria and its iconic white washed hilltop towns.
Large patio doors and picture windows put the emphasis on indoor/outdoor living, centred around the courtyard which links the main building and annexe. Slide back the patio doors in the kitchen diner and there is free flowing access from the front terrace through to the courtyard, the focus for alfresco dining. The main building contains the living areas, with two bedrooms accommodated in the beautiful ‘trulli’. With the twin bedroom (no door) accessed via the double bedroom, it is a good option for a family with young children. The annexe is home to two further bedrooms (accessed separately) each with en suite facilities, a suitable option for older teenagers and grandparents. Décor throughout is simple and neutral, with polished concrete floors and crisp white walls. Exposed stonework in warm honey tones form the trulli interiors and can also be found in the vaulted living room ceiling.
Follow the path around the villa to the pool and garden. Hedges, trees and a low stone wall create a border around this area, a relaxing space where the pool is an invitation to cool off and the surrounding terrace an invitation to sunbathe under the Puglian sun.
For everyday essentials, head to both Carovigno (6km) and San Vito dei Normanni (8km). All the iconic ‘città bianche’ in the Valle d’Itria are within easy reach for a morning or evening out. Each one is unique but all offer a great choice of restaurants, bars and cafes, and a beautiful piazza where you can while away the time people watching. Equally appealing (and reached in under 30 minutes) is the coastline of sandy beaches and tiny coves lapped by aquamarine sea and edged with chic beach clubs and towns buzzing with life. And for something different, spend the day in Lecce, the capital of Puglia, where ancient Roman ruins sit alongside extravagantly ornate Baroque palazzi and churches – a truly fascinating place to explore.
