Within easy reach of Cisternino, Martina Franca and Locorotondo, Casa Calella is an ideal base for exploring Puglia’s white towns, lush countryside and mouth-watering cuisine.
Claimed to be one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, Cisternino is only four kilometres from Casa Calella, and your nearest supply of shops, restaurants and bars. With a history dating back thousands of years, including Greek, Roman and Medieval chapters, it’s brimming with architecture, archaeology and alleyways. The main square, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, is a fascinating place for a refreshing drink and people watching, in between visits to palaces, churches and street markets.
Martina Franca is one of the largest towns in the area, and despite stiff competition, deemed the most picturesque. Featuring grand, baroque-style buildings, white-washed houses and plentiful piazzas, you’re sure to find that perfect gift in the elegant shops lining the streets. Sightseeing highlights include Palazzo Ducale, Basilica di San Martino and the pointed roofs of the Lama district.
Locorotondo – meaning ‘circular place’ – wraps itself around a hilltop in the Valle d’Itria, and is one of three delightful day trips about fifteen minutes from Casa Calella. Head here to admire samples of exquisite, traditional lace and to purchase a bottle or two of locally produced wine and sun-kissed olives, for that night’s aperitivo on the terrace.
A thirty-minute drive east from Casa Calella will bring you to Ostuni’s pretty coastline. Choose from several sandy beaches, coves and coastal villages for family adventures and stunning scenery. Parco Naturale Regionale Dune Costiere stretches from Torre Can to Torre San Leonardo and is an exhilarating mix of wild sand dunes, wetlands, ancient olive groves and pathways for exploring.
The end of the day will take you back home to the peace of your private villa, and after a last dip in the pool, tomorrow’s plans can be made over an al fresco dinner as the sun goes down. Bliss...