Hotel Snapshot
Some hotels stay with you long after you’ve departed, and Masseria Torre Maizza is one of them—what many consider Puglia’s best-kept secret refuge. The citrus scent in the air, the whitewashed entryway draped in climbing bougainvillea, the knotty olive groves framing the property—these are just a few of the lasting imprints that remain after a glorious sojourn at this storied, fortified farmhouse turned boutique hotel.
Design & Character
Nestled in the heart of Valle d’Itria, between the Ionian and Adriatic coastlines, this 16th-century masseria is a masterclass in rustic refinement. Restored under the esteemed Rocco Forte banner, it marries Apulian heritage with polished Italian glamour—stone archways meet modern design, and every corner unveils a delight for the senses.
The Rooms
Each of the masseria’s 50 accommodations is a dream. Dressed by the hotelier’s acclaimed Director of Design, Olga Polizzi, these impeccably stylish abodes make you want to linger longer, especially if you’ve chosen a suite with a private garden and plunge pool out back.
Typical Pugliese touches can be seen throughout: original vaulted ceilings, oggetti d’arte (ceramic artichokes and the like), and a serene palette of neutrals accented by Polizzi’s signature green. A brand-new Borgo degli Ulivi, spread across six suites, has also been unveiled. This sprawling villa can host up to 22 guests—should the mood (and means) strike to take advantage of your own Puglian palace.
Food & Drink
In terms of wining and dining on-site, options abound. Breakfast is a full-blown feast not to be missed. Served at Carosello, guests can savor a slow morning al fresco on the picturesque terrace overlooking the grounds, or inside a dining room so beautiful it’s hard to believe this space once served as the masseria’s animal shelter centuries ago.
Chef Fulvio Pierangelini’s menu reads like a love letter to Southern Italy, drawing inspiration from his nearby garden. Farm eggs are softly scrambled and topped with coppa and local caciocavallo cheese. Caramelized brioche slices arrive blanketed with macerated berries, while fluffy omelets are studded with zucchini medallions and fragrant mint leaves. There’s also a back room buffet where trays overflow with various meats, cheeses, and baked goods still warm from the oven.
Dinner is equally delicious—also at Carosello—featuring crispy tomato bread and homemade pastas piled high with seafood fresh from the Adriatic. Given that Puglia is famous for its orecchiette (tiny, ear-shaped pasta), you can’t go wrong ordering it anywhere, but Chef Pierangelini’s version takes top honors, lacquered in a broccoli cream sauce.
For lunch, head to Lido Bambù, the hotel’s breezy beach club just a few blocks away. A favorite among guests and locals, this lively spot hums with energy in peak season, so it’s worth reserving a table or cabana in advance. There’s nothing like a long, languid meal fueled by spritzes and generous heaps of burrata to remind you why you came. Between sips and bites, cool off with a dip in the cobalt-blue sea before a sandy stroll back to your daybed.
Spa & Wellness
When R&R beckons, the masseria’s Mediterranean-inspired wellness sanctuary awaits. No stay at a Rocco Forte hotel is complete without a little pampering at its crown jewel spa, Irene Forte. Using a blend of organic ingredients and patented botanical extracts, treatments range from age-defying facials with cool volcanic stones from Mount Etna—designed to rebalance, revitalize, and relax—to Puglian body scrubs followed by nourishing massages with Sicilian oils.
The Amenities
Prefer to trade rejuvenation for reps? Adjacent to the spa lies a small but well-equipped fitness center featuring Technogym machines, with private yoga and Pilates sessions available to book. And when the sun climbs high, cool off by the vine-draped swimming pool, ensconced by stone colonnades and teeming foliage. Plush loungers and umbrellas invite long, unhurried afternoons between leisurely laps and chilled glasses of rosato—the perfect recipe for la dolce vita, Puglia style.
Fast Facts
Location: Puglia, Italy
Vibe: An Apulian paradise that feels like a secret sanctuary tucked along the Adriatic coast.
Rating: 4.5-Star
Room Count: 50
Pricing: From $742 USD per night
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: Nibbling sun-ripened figs plucked from the trees in the chef’s garden — the best way to start any day in Puglia.
Dining: Carosello for Pugliese specialties (breakfast and dinner); Lido Bambù for DJ-spun lunches that stretch into the evening; Violetta for wood-fired pizzette poolside; and Bougainvillea Bar for aperitivo with a side of taralli crackers, Puglia’s beloved ring-shaped snack.
Amenities: A full-service spa, par-27 golf course, pool, boutique, rooftop bar, and fitness center.
What’s There to Do? Explore Ostuni, the “White City”; visit the Trulli of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site; charter a boat through secluded grottos and natural sea caves in Polignano a Mare; bottle your own fragrance or learn the art of papier-mâché during one of the hotel’s Art & Lab workshops; take an open-air cooking class; or cycle through acres of olive groves, stopping at Caseificio Aziendale Lamapecora for fresh, milky mozzarella balls and cured salumi along the way.
Airport: Brindisi (40 minutes) or Bari (50 minutes).
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