Masseria Il Frantoio
Ostuni, Puglia
Painting and review are copyrighted work by Ginda Simpson On the outskirts of Ostuni, one of
the most picturesque towns of the Puglia region of Italy we found a true
Pugliese treasure. This masseria,
a fortified farmhouse typical of the area, was constructed in various stages
over the last four centuries amid 72 acres of olive trees that date back as
many years. Armando and Rosalba
Balestrazzi purchased the farm 14 years ago, the only people outside the
original family to have owned it. In
search of a slower, healthier way of life, they traveled the whole of Italy,
only to return to their native Pugliese soil where the time-honored rhythms
of the land set the pace of their days. They have brought the abandoned house
back to life and oversee the land, its produce and the gardens with a
passion. Rosalba reigns in the kitchen where she recreates dishes of the past and newer innovative recipes using the products and herbs grown right outside her kitchen. The farmhouse has ten guestrooms, each one homey yet elegant. Outside, a shade garden and a nearby citrus grove add to the pleasure of the place, but it is in the evening, when guests are invited to succumb to the pleasures of the table (eight-course dinners), that makes a stay here so memorable. |
