Villa Fori

If you're craving sunshine somewhere beautiful, then it's time to head down to the sun-blessed heel of Italy - a region of dramatic hilltop towns, olive-green seas, white sands, heavenly food and those gorgeous Trullo houses you won't find anywhere else except Puglia. In fact, in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Alberobello, you'll find a whole town of them.

And to explore this glorious region, you'll need a great base. Fortunately, we've found it: a fantastic stylish villa in the countryside. Made of local white and yellow stone Tufo bricks, you'll instantly recognise it as a Puglian home and walled for privacy, it's also your perfect holiday retreat.

Behind those fabulous walls you'll find simple, elegant rooms; a chic white living room with squashy chairs and TV and a spacious kitchen for cooking up all those delicious Puglian dishes, both featuring a panoramic view over the pool and garden. You'll also discover minimalist, but sumptuous bedrooms, with air conditioning and underfloor heating. Not that you'll probably need it!

But, it's outside that the villa really comes into its own. Underneath the stone arches is a grand, spacious terrace complete with a dining area and chill out space, overlooking the unique-shaped pool. With a shallow area for the children, generous garden all around, sun loungers, a barbecue and outside lighting for the evening - it's the perfect family venue to enjoy al fresco dining and lots of quality time together.

There's also parking for three cars - ideal for larger groups and visits to the white cobbled streets and alleyways of nearby Carovigno - the place to enjoy your evening stroll, or 'passeggiata' to the locals. If you're seeking white sands and olive-green waters, so prevalent in Puglia, there's a lovely sandy beach a short walk away that all the family will love.